GERRY DULAC’S WEEK 13 FORECAST • LAST WEEK: 11-5 (.687) • SEASON RECORD: 116-60 (.659)
Cincinnati Bengals (2-8-1) at Miami Dolphins (7-4): 1 p.m. … About the best the Bengals can expect in the final five games is to be an annoyance to the Steelers and Ravens. Maybe even the Dolphins, who haven’t given up hope they can still win the AFC East. Prediction: Dolphins, 27-10
Cleveland Browns (8-3) at Tennessee Titans (8-3): 1 p.m. … The Browns nearly were taken to OT vs. the Jaguars, arguably the NFL’s worst team. They need to show they can beat a team with a winning record. So far, they have done it only once. And the Titans just beat that team by 19. Prediction: Titans, 37-29 Jacksonville Jaguars (1-10) at Minnesota Vikings (5-6): 1 p.m. … The Jaguars have already parted with their GM and presumably are just waiting for the season to end before Doug Marrone is out as head coach. The Vikings, who have won four of five, will only add to the misery. Prediction: Vikings, 41-15
Las Vegas Raiders (6-5) at New York Jets (0-11): 1 p.m. … The Raiders being annihilated by the Falcons, 43-6, one week after nearly beating the Chiefs for a second time, ranks up there with CBS renewing “MacGyver.” But what happens in Atlanta, stays in Atlanta. Prediction: Raiders, 35-16
New Orleans Saints (9-2) at Atlanta Falcons (4-7): 1 p.m. … The Saints will have to recalibrate their offense after rushing 44 times and attempting just 16 passes vs. the QB-less Broncos. The Falcons lost the first meeting two weeks ago, but that’s their only loss in the past four. The Upset Special. Prediction: Falcons, 34-31
Detroit Lions (4-7) at Chicago Bears (5-6): 1 p.m. … The Bears have lost five in a row and are wondering how they drafted Mitch Trubisky ahead of Patrick Mahomes and DeShaun Watson. Why, that’s enough to have their GM get the same treatment Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia received in Detroit. Prediction: Bears, 22-15 Indianapolis Colts (7-4) at Houston Texans (4-7): 1 p.m. … Two weeks after they thrashed the Titans in Tennessee and beat the Packers in OT, the Colts got horse-whipped at home by the Titans. Meanwhile, the Texans are starting to look like the team they used to be. Prediction: Texans, 30-27 (OT)
L.A. Rams (7-4) at Arizona Cardinals (6-5): 4:05 p.m. … Figure out the Rams. They beat the Seahawks and Buccaneers on back-to-back weeks, but sandwich those victories with two losses to the 49ers and another to Miami. The Cardinals have lost three of four and had problems scoring. Prediction: Rams, 30-28 New York Giants (4-7) at Seattle Seahawks (8-3): 4:05 p.m. … OK, let’s not get too excited about the Giants and their three-game winning streak. The three teams they beat are a combined 9-22-2. The Seahawks are trying to tighten a defense that needs to better complement their offense. Prediction: Seahawks, 34-20 Philadelphia Eagles (3-7-1) at Green Bay Packers (8-3): 4:25 p.m. … Didn’t know it was possible to find an offense in the state of Pennsylvania more disjointed and unimaginative than the one at Penn State, but the Eagles might have surpassed it. Prediction: Packers, 34-16
New England Patriots (5-6) at L.A. Chargers (3-8): 4:25 p.m. … The Patriots have managed to win three of four, but their schedule is getting tougher than a three-day-old pork chop. They get the Rams, Dolphins and Bills after the Chargers, who are no cupcake. Prediction: Patriots, 26-24
Denver Broncos (4-7) at Kansas City Chiefs (10-1): 4:25 p.m. … It doesn’t matter if the Broncos will get three of their quarterbacks back after last week’s fiasco with the Saints. Unless they are named Elway, Marino and Montana, they will not be able to compete with the Chiefs. Prediction: Chiefs, 35-14 Washington Football Team (4-7) at Steelers (11-0): 5 p.m. Monday … The Steelers would like to remain unbeaten until their prime-time game in Buffalo, but they need to bounce back in a big way after that performance against the Ravens. Don’t forget, the WFTs are a first-place team. Prediction: Steelers, 37-16 Buffalo Bills (8-3) at San Francisco 49ers (5-6): 8:15 p.m. Monday … The 49ers nestle into their new home in suburban Phoenix. They have three “home” games in Arizona and a “road” game against the Cardinals. Hey, it beats playing in Buffalo in December. But not necessarily playing Buffalo. Prediction: Bills, 27-23 Dallas Cowboys (3-8) at Baltimore Ravens (6-5): 8:05 p.m. Tuesday … After being soundly whipped by one team from the Beltway, the Cowboys could be headed for a tarring from another. The Ravens have lost four of five and can’t afford another defeat if they want to make the postseason. Prediction: Ravens, 34-9