Tag: week 13

Post-Week 13 Power Rankings

Cover photo taken from AP News.

1 – 49ers (9-3) 1

I told you they were back.

2 – Eagles (10-2) 1

It’s about damn time.

3 – Cowboys (9-3) 2

Still need to see it against real competition to believe it. Real chance to make a statement on Sunday night.

4 – Ravens (9-3)

We’ll see what happens.

5 – Chiefs (8-4) 2

Real problems.

6 – Lions (9-3)

Keep finding ways to win.

7 – Dolphins (9-3)

See: Dallas. Only difference is this schedule is still a joke until Christmas Eve.

8 – Texans (7-5) 5

Best win in years.

9 – Jaguars (8-4) 1

Is Lawrence ok?

10 – Packers (6-6) 7

Am I about to be vindicated?

11 – Colts (7-5) 4

Just a solid team that always pulls it out. Playoffs are in sight.

12 – Broncos (6-6) 3

Still a chance, but it just got a lot harder.

13 – Bills (6-6) 2

Season comes down to Sunday.

14 – Browns (7-5) 4

Shockingly, Joe Flacco isn’t the answer.

15 – Seahawks (6-6) 3

It’s starting to fall apart a wee bit.

16 – Rams (6-6) 4

Consider me proven wrong.

17 – Chargers (5-7) 1

That was ugly.

18 – Vikings (6-6) 2

One last push?

19 – Steelers (7-5) 5

It’s over.

20 – Bengals (6-6) 1

That was unexpected.

21 – Raiders (5-7) 1

What do you possibly have left in the tank?

22 – Falcons (6-6) 1

That was ugly x2.

23 – Saints (5-7) 4

Yikes.

24 – Buccaneers (5-7) 1

That was ugly x3.

25 – Titans (4-8) 1

Yikes x2.

26 – Bears (4-8)

This is fun, but don’t blow the top five pick, now.

27 – Giants (4-8)

See: above.

28 – Cardinals (3-10) 2

Almost called it.

29 – Commanders (4-9) 1

Good lord.

30 – Jets (4-8) 1

It has never been more over.

31 – Panthers (1-11) 1

Somehow not 32nd this week.

32 – Patriots (2-10) 1

Officially the worst team in the league. Scoring double digit points isn’t rocket science.

Week 13 Picks

This week is bringing the heat with some fantastic matchups — including the potential game of the year — which will undoubtedly leave their mark on the playoff picture.

Cover photo taken from Action Network.

Last Week: 12-4

Season Total: 110-60

Cowboys 27-16 Seahawks

Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video

I don’t know what to expect from the Seahawks anymore. Dallas is on fire and should breeze to a win.

Titans 23-20 Colts

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

This game is a coinflip. I took the Colts the first time around. Looks like I have to flip the coin to the other side here.

Patriots 20-17 Chargers

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Gut feeling. I think this is the game that gets Brandon Staley fired.

Lions 26-19 Saints

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX

Feels like it’ll be close, but the outcome doesn’t feel in doubt.

Jets 13-10 Falcons

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX

Yuck.

Steelers 21-13 Cardinals

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Not exactly the worst game on paper, but will likely be unwatchable. I’d keep my eyes peeled for an upset.

Dolphins 30-17 Commanders

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX

Miami’s weapons vs. Washington’s secondary. Good lord, save the women and children.

Texans 23-20 Broncos

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Unexpectedly awesome matchup. Feels like a spot for CJ to step up again. Denver is due for a loss.

Buccaneers 22-14 Panthers

Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS

Yuck x2.

Rams 23-16 Browns

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX

Cleveland’s defense can take them plenty far. But without Myles Garrett, and with DTR at the helm, it’s hard to put any faith in them.

Eagles 23-20 49ers

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX

They are inevitable. I’ve given up on picking against them. They just always find a way. And it is always infuriating.

Chiefs 27-20 Packers

Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC

Should be fun, but I think Kansas City’s secondary will bring Jordan Love back to earth.

Jaguars 24-17 Bengals

Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN

Might be close, but there’s no conceivable way the Bengals win this game.

Post-Week 13 Power Rankings

Last week lived up to the hype and has caused a plethora of shuffling in this week’s rankings, including some potentially controversial placements.

Cover photo taken from The Boston Globe.

1 – Eagles (11-1) 2

The Eagles are back on top after another complete, dominant performance featuring one of the best revenge games you’ll ever see. I’ve been waiting for them to look like themselves again, and they did that emphatically on Sunday. Jalen Hurts was magnificent with 380 passing yards and 3 touchdowns as well as a rushing touchdown, and AJ Brown showed the Titans why they never should have let him go with an incredible 8/119/2 statline featuring two dominant touchdown catches. The defense showed up and showed out, and the Birds finally looked the part of the team with the best record in football again. There’s no reason to slow down now.

2 – Bengals (8-4) 4

They did it again. For the third time in the calendar year, Joe Burrow and the Bengals took down Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. That’s pretty staggering, especially considering the manner in which they’ve won every game. They just keep on outplaying the team that has been the class of the NFL. For that, the Bengals are my new top AFC team. Burrow has just been masterful all year long after getting off to a slow start, the offense looks fantastic no matter who lines up, and the defense is finally getting the recognition it deserves for being one of the best in the NFL right now. They may not get the numbers, but they make the plays, and that makes the difference. This team is as complete as any in the league, and considering the situation in Baltimore, I think it’s only a matter of time before they lock up the division.

3 – Chiefs (9-3) 1

I’m not going to fault the Chiefs too much for losing a close road game to a great team by 3 when I predicted them to lose by 3. But they were certainly the inferior team on Sunday. They didn’t play poorly by any means, but they struggled at times and really have only themselves to blame for the loss. Travis Kelce was a non-factor, and when he did get one of his only touches, he fumbled. They couldn’t convert fourth downs. They missed a key FG (side note: Harrison Butker is simply not reliable anymore). They were simply stifled on both sides of the ball against a great team. The good news for Kansas City is that the remaining schedule is a cakewalk, and I’d be shocked if they lose another game this season en route to a potential 1 seed. But we’ve seen them lose to Buffalo and Cincinnati now, so who knows what could happen in January?

4 – 49ers (8-4) 2

The NFL is a brutal league. I truly believe this 49ers team is the best in the NFC. But with Jimmy Garoppolo’s season over, they now turn to Brock Purdy, their 3rd string QB. Crazier things have happened in this league, and this team is remarkable across the board, but I just don’t see how they live up to their potential anymore. They still won convincingly with Purdy against a great Dolphins team, and it wasn’t in spite of him by any means, but I just don’t know what to expect moving forward. I know this defense is going to ball out no matter what, but it might be a matter of how far they can take this team as a whole.

5 – Cowboys (9-3) 1

The Cowboys absolutely ran away from the Colts in the fourth quarter, but it certainly wasn’t easy for the first three. It was a real struggle for most of the game on Sunday night, but I don’t see too much of an issue with that. Indy has been a competitive team all year long, and that fourth quarter was pretty impressive to watch. This team is as solid as any in the NFC, and the door is now wide open for them to make a run as a wild card team (most likely). Dallas is simply as complete as they come, and that will be crucial for them down the stretch.

6 – Dolphins (8-4) 1

Like the Chiefs, I’m not going to fault the Dolphins for losing a tough road game to a great opponent. I’m actually impressed with how they were able to get back in the game. Tua Tagovailoa struggled for the most part, but made some key plays to make it a game again. Tyreek Hill was great as always, which helps any young QB. The run game was invisible, but that was fairly predictable when they’re facing a front as stout as the 49ers’. The defense was arguably the weakest link as they got carved up by a 3rd string QB. I don’t expect them to look that porous again, but they need to tighten up ASAP as the remaining schedule is brutal.

7 – Vikings (10-2)

For the trillionth time this season, the Vikings escaped by the skin of their teeth with a close win. I’ve never faulted this team for doing that, because it’s honestly a skill for a team to have, and I won’t fault them now. Their defense bent a lot, but never broke, making all of the plays necessary to win the game in the end. Kirk Cousins wasn’t great, but he also made the throws he had to when it mattered. Justin Jefferson once again put the team on his back, and it was awesome to watch. This team obviously has a clear ceiling, but they can certainly compete with anyone in this league. I don’t consider them to be contenders, but I still feel like they shouldn’t be this disrespected by everyone.

8 – Bills (9-3)

The Bills got back to their dominant ways on Thursday by completely shutting down the Patriots in a tough road environment. I had been waiting for them to put together a complete performance, and they finally did it. I can safely say that was their best game since they beat the Chiefs. Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs were masterful, James Cook got involved out of the backfield, and the defense asserted themselves all game long. Buffalo now sits atop the AFC with the 1 seed, and while that may not last, I now have way more faith in them to look like a complete team down the stretch.

9 – Seahawks (7-5) 2

The Seahawks are becoming a weird team to assess, but one thing remains certain: watching Geno Smith play is so damn fun. I love this offense so much, even though Kenneth Walker has disappeared into the void. Their passing attack with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett isn’t getting the respect it deserves as one of the best in the league. The lack of running game and the defense’s decreasing quality are causes for concern, however. I don’t know if this team has what it takes to make a playoff push down the stretch if they lack the two key elements of a great team. The schedule isn’t awful, so it’ll be up to Geno and company to get the job done. I have plenty of faith in him.

10 – Jets (7-5)

Despite getting vastly outplayed and absolutely stifled for most of the game on Sunday, I can make the argument that the Jets deserved to win. They had every opportunity down the stretch, but poor decisions or overthrows or other self-inflicted wounds gave them another loss. I still really like what this team has going on. Mike White has been really solid, Garrett Wilson continues to be a revelation, and the RB room keeps on producing. The defense wasn’t the issue, but they gave up one or two plays too many for the offense to make up for it. I like this team a lot, but the remaining schedule is brutal, and I don’t know if they’ll be up to the task of staying in a playoff spot with some other teams nipping at their heels.

11 – Commanders (7-5-1) 2

Thinking about Sunday’s game infuriates me, so I’ll make this quick. We were the vastly superior team on Sunday. A combination of self-inflicted wounds (mostly poor playcalling) and some of the most one-sided refereeing you’ll ever see in this league is what made us end up with a vaunted tie. I’m proud of this defense for playing their tails off for most of the game, and while the offense sputtered after a hot start, they also did what they had to do down the stretch. Despite not being able to come away with a win, I feel immensely confident in our ability to come out of next week’s bye, learn from our mistakes, and crush the Giants in primetime.

12 – Titans (7-5) 3

The wheels are coming off the Titans. All of a sudden, they don’t do a single thing well. Derrick Henry hasn’t eclipsed 50 yards in his last 3 games, the passing attack was nonexistent when Treylon Burks got hurt, and the defense is surprisingly getting pushed around quite a lot. I wanted to drop Tennessee a lot further, but I’m going to give them a couple more chances in the next few weeks in some make or break games.

13 – Giants (7-4-1) 3

The Giants played about as well as I expected them to on Sunday. They should have lost, like I predicted they would. But, the refs and Lady Luck were on their side, so they escaped with a tie. I’m still pretty bitter, so I don’t want to talk about this team. Just know that a reckoning is coming in two weeks.

14 – Lions (5-7) 5

The Lions continue to look fantastic, and Sunday was a coming out party for the defense. We know what their offense is capable of, especially at home (did you know Jared Goff has a passer rating of 105 at Ford Field?), but the other side of the ball finally asserted their dominance, completely shutting down a solid Jags offense. Amon-Ra St. Brown has been one of the best WRs in football in recent weeks, Jamaal Williams won’t stop scoring, and Jameson Williams is about to provide this team a new level of athleticism. We might have to watch out for the Lions as a potential wild card team.

15 – Raiders (5-7) 6

The Raiders might as well be the Lions of the AFC. I completely wrote this team off, even dubbing them as the worst team in the league a few weeks ago, and all they’ve done is string together great performance after great performance to get back in the playoff hunt. I love the way this team is playing right now, especially offensively. Who would have thought the Raiders would be one of the most fun teams to watch at this point? Davante Adams has been incredible, getting back to his WR1 level, Josh Jacobs continues to be perhaps the best RB in the league this year, and the rest of the offense is starting to pour in contributions. Most importantly, the defense is finally stepping up as well. They’re making plays, forcing turnovers, and actually winning this team games. I love the way they play, and their trajectory could have them firmly in the hunt as the season winds down.

16 – Ravens (8-4) 4

I’m getting so sick and tired of talking about the Ravens. It seems counter-intuitive, but this team doesn’t deserve to be 8-4 at all. They are such an eye sore with a horrible offense and a lackluster defense. With Lamar Jackson being sidelined for the next week or so, their flaws are really going to show. I can’t wait for them to lose this division race and inevitably be a first round exit.

17 – Chargers (6-6) 2

The Chargers are the Chargers. There’s not much more that can be said. They lose every game in virtually the exact same fashion, and they cannot be trusted in any regard. That’s exactly why I picked against them on Sunday, and I’ll continue to do so. There’s only so much Justin Herbert can do. The kid has looked amazing lately, but it means nothing when his defense is as poor as it is. Gotta feel bad for him.

18 – Patriots (6-6) 4

Remember the two week stretch where the Patriots offense looked pretty solid? Yeah, those were the days. They’re back to being incompetent on that side of the ball with poor QB play and virtually no weapons on the roster. It also doesn’t help that the wheels have seemingly fallen off the defense, which was the strong suit of the team for so long. They simply don’t do anything well right now, and they’re not going to make the playoffs for that reason. They could turn it around, but it just seems too unlikely with the roster in its current state and a very tough remaining schedule.

19 – Browns (5-7) 2

The Deshaun Watson return was extremely anti-climactic and lackluster in every regard. The offense was absolutely abysmal from start to finish, and the Browns needed help from the incompetent Texans to rack up defensive and special teams scores to win. I don’t know if it was rust or what, but it was pretty embarrassing. I do think they’ll turn it around, but man. That was not a promising sight at all.

20 – Buccaneers (6-6) 2

Even at age 45, Tom Brady can still be Tom Brady. So, that’s cool. It’d be even cooler if wasn’t the most blatant script in the history of the NFL, but it doesn’t really matter to me. The real Buccaneers were the team we saw for the first 55 minutes on Monday night: incompetent offensively with a solid defense. That will be enough to win them this dreadful division, but that’s about it. Unless Goodell busts the scripts out for the playoffs. I won’t put that past him.

21 – Packers (4-8) 1

Aaron Rodgers still owns the Bears. Not exactly breaking news. Still, the Packers are showing things to like, especially offensively. Christian Watson has simply been on fire, and the offense looks a lot more balanced now that they can effectively throw and run the ball. The defense is still nothing short of a mess, but they made all the necessary plays on Sunday to win. It doesn’t really mean anything, but the Packers should feel good about themselves. Wins have been hard to come by, so they should cherish them all.

22 – Steelers (5-7) 3

Like Detroit and Vegas, the Steelers are a team that has been playing great ball and have a great trajectory. Unlike those teams, this team has a clear offensive ceiling that holds them back. There’s nothing remotely special about that side of the ball in Pittsburgh. But, the defense is still fantastic, and that’s all they need to win games like Sunday’s. We’ll see how far it can take them.

23 – Falcons (5-8) 1

The Falcons are another team that I just don’t want to talk about anymore. They are just so boring and so bad at everything that I don’t see a reason to talk about them. I’ll just sound like a broken record. I think there’s a future in Atlanta, but this season is beyond cooked.

24 – Jaguars (4-8) 1

The Jaguars may have gotten smoked on Sunday in Detroit, but they did come away with one win. Trevor Lawrence coming out of a scary, low hit completely unscathed is honestly miraculous. It looked like a season-ending injury, but he’s completely fine. That’s great to see. The young QB has been solid, and an injury like that would have been awful to see. The rest of the team was pretty awful to see, however. On any given week, the Jags are either going to look like a solid young team with a great future or a complete dumpster fire. I’m pretty sure they flip a coin in the locker room to decide which one it’ll be every Sunday.

25 – Cardinals (4-8) 1

Mercifully, the Cardinals had the week off. This is where I’d make a Kyler Murray COD joke, but I won’t stoop that low. All I know is that this team will continue to be its weird little self as the season winds down, and it’s not going to be very fun to watch.

26 – Colts (4-7-1)

As I said before, the Colts were very competitive for three quarters on Sunday night. The fourth quarter was a nightmare. But it was such an anomaly that I don’t want to bump this team down. I know they’re a solid bunch that’s nothing special. Their identity has been clear for several weeks now, and that’s not going to change.

27 – Bears (3-10)

Once again, the Bears did exactly what they had to do. They let Justin Fields cook, and they lost. It’s the perfect outcome, and they’ve done it for months now. Keep on doing this, Chicago. Go get that top 3 pick you deserve and build this team around #1.

28 – Panthers (4-8)

The Panthers won the bye week by releasing Baker Mayfield. Good for them!

29 – Rams (3-9) 1

I’ll give the Rams credit, they were competitive to the bitter end, and John Wolford looked really solid. He toughed out a late injury and did what he had to in order to give his team a fighting chance. That was very valiant and cool to see. The defense didn’t exactly follow suit, which was fairly predictable. But maybe this team will be competitive if nothing else down the stretch. Maybe.

30 – Saints (4-9) 1

I just don’t know. There are so many problems with this team, and repeating them is a complete waste of time. Just clean house and start over, for our sake and your own.

31 – Broncos (3-9)

I mean, good lord guys. This is getting so embarrassing that I don’t think I can quantify it in words. I don’t know if anything or anyone is capable of fixing this offense at this point. If I was on the Broncos defense, I’d ask for reparations.

32 – Texans (1-10-1)

Enjoy the #1 pick! Please don’t waste it.

All stats taken from ESPN.

Week 13 Picks

Week 13 provides the most stacked schedule of the entire season with incredible matchups and fantastic storylines all over the place. Here’s how I see this inevitably awesome slate playing out.

Cover photo taken from NFL.com.

Last Week: 11-5

Season Total: 106-72-1

Bills 23-20 Patriots

Thursday, 8:15 PM EST, Prime Video

I really wanted to pick the Patriots outright here, seeing as though all signs point towards them winning this game. Both teams are equally rested from playing on Thanksgiving, and New England looked arguably better than Buffalo did. Now, the Pats come home for this massive showdown with a ton of implications for the division and the playoffs. I think Bill Belichick is going to have his guys ready, but as much as I want to trust that, I can’t pick Josh Allen and the Bills to lose this game. They need to come out and make a statement, and I think that’s exactly what they’re going to do. Buffalo’s defense will need to step up and play some of their best ball of the season, and without Von Miller, it’s going to be very tough. It’s going to be a slog for a while, and the Patriots will probably lead this one for the most part, but I think the Bills offense will get going in the second half to come back and steal a win in Foxboro.

Steelers 17-14 Falcons

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

These teams are on par with each other in my mind. I’d typically pick the home team in a situation like this, but I think the Steelers are simply trending in a much better direction than the Falcons are. Pittsburgh’s young pieces are finally starting to gel and the defense is back to playing very well now that they’re healthy again, and I simply don’t see how Marcus Mariota and the Falcons’ anemic offense is going to put up enough points on them. The Steelers offense should do just enough, regardless of whether Najee Harris plays or not, to win this game.

Packers 24-21 Bears

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

As much as I would love to pick the Bears in this game, predicting Aaron Rodgers to lose to Chicago is simply sacrilegious. Justin Fields should be back for the Bears, which makes them the better team, but until they show me that they can actually beat the Packers, I won’t predict them to. If Fields is fully healthy and plays like his usual self, then Chicago should win this one fairly easily. This is their best opportunity to prove me wrong.

Lions 27-24 Jaguars

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

This may look like a gross matchup on paper, but I think this game is going to be so much fun. These are two young teams that are seemingly starting to get it going, and I think there’s going to be points galore in Detroit in a very exciting contest. I’m not sure how the Jaguars are a road favorite against a Lions team that has been so solid at home, especially ATS, but I do understand the sentiment. Jacksonville looked really great last week, and Trevor Lawrence is doing his thing. But, the same can be said about the Lions. They almost beat the Bills, and we know how dangerous they are at Ford Field. I think their prowess at home is enough to put them over the top in a game like this against an opponent that’s on their level. It wouldn’t shock me if it goes the other way, seeing as though the Lions always find a way to lose games like this. Regardless, I’m actually really excited to see it play out.

Vikings 21-20 Jets

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

It’s strange to see a game like this mean so much at this point in the season, but here we are. This one is going to be extremely impactful on the playoff races in both conferences. The Vikings squeaked by for a win yet again last week, while the Jets are flying high after Mike White’s heroics last week and the continued lights-out play by their defense. I actually think this is a super solid matchup for the Jets. I think their defensive front will be able to lock up Dalvin Cook, and I think Sauce Gardner can hold his own against Justin Jefferson (in what’s probably the best WR-CB battle of the season). But it feels too difficult to pick against the Vikings at home coming off a mini-bye, especially with 1PM Kirk Cousins being activated. They should be able to do just enough offensively towards the end of this game to snatch another victory out of the jaws of defeat and inch closer to a division title.

Commanders 20-17 Giants

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

It has been six years since the last meaningful Washington-New York game this late in the season. There is so much on the line on Sunday in East Rutherford when it comes to the Wild Card race. Neither team can afford a loss, and a win puts someone firmly in position to lock up a playoff spot in the coming weeks. These teams are trending in completely opposite directions; the Giants are coming off a mini-bye after being handled by the Cowboys on Thanksgiving, which was their third loss in their last four games, and the Commanders are coming off their sixth win in seven weeks on Sunday against Atlanta. So, it’s no secret why Washington is favored in this one, even on the road. Vegas is right. We are the better team and there is no excuse to lose this game, even on the road. We can effectively stop everything that the Giants do well offensively, and if our offense does its job and limits its mistakes, then we will win this game. I think it all boils down to which QB loses the game for their team. I want to believe it won’t be Taylor Heinicke. And I really, really want to be proven right.

Eagles 22-17 Titans

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

This game looks a lot better on paper than it will actually be. I think it’ll be close, but it will be pretty ugly and run-centric from start to finish. That says a lot about these two defenses, which are both great. I think both offenses are capable of doing great things, but not in a matchup like this. The two fantastic front sevens will control this game, with both teams desperate to establish the run. So, it’ll probably come down to whoever can make the most plays through the air. There’s no doubt who the better passing team is here. The Titans have certainly found something in rookie WR Treylon Burks, but the Eagles have plenty more weapons and the vastly better QB in Jalen Hurts. At home, they will make all the plays necessary in the passing game to win this one late.

Ravens 19-10 Broncos

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

Both of these teams annoy me, so the fact that they’re playing against each other this week really annoys me. The Ravens are simply the better team by a longshot, so they will obviously win this game. But it’s going to be ugly and there will not be a lot of points put on the board thanks to the level of both defenses. So, my two pieces of advice are: don’t watch this game and take the under.

Browns 27-10 Texans

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

Deshaun Watson is back in the NFL and back in Houston. Certainly this wasn’t deliberate on the part of the league! Regardless, Watson should be thankful that he’s getting such an easy tune-up in his first game back. Houston will definitely be hostile for him on Sunday, but the Texans themselves certainly won’t be. He should have a field day against their dreadful defense, and the Browns will likely look like the great team that they have the potential to be.

Seahawks 24-13 Rams

Sunday, 4:05 PM EST, FOX

It’s no surprise that more money is coming in on the Seahawks than any other team this week. Everyone knows the Rams will be completely overmatched in this game despite being somewhat competitive last week. Yes, the Seahawks looked absolutely brutal defensively on Sunday, but Los Angeles doesn’t pose any sort of offensive threat. This is a perfect bounce-back opportunity for Seattle’s defense, and their offense should have an absolute field day once again. Even in a road environment against a divisional opponent, the Seahawks should dominate this one.

49ers 20-17 Dolphins

Sunday, 4:05 PM EST, FOX

What a gorgeous matchup this is. Two of the best teams in the NFL that play nearly identical football facing off in a massive matchup and potential Super Bowl preview in December. The student in Mike McDaniel vs. the teacher in Kyle Shanahan: who can execute the system better? It’s a difficult question to answer. I’m picking the 49ers for a few reasons. The first of which is their defense, which is miles better than any other in the NFL right now. Even against a phenomenal Dolphins offense, I think they’ll be able to keep things under control. The second reason is what I mentioned earlier: Kyle Shanahan is the teacher. He should know all the ins and outs of Mike McDaniel and his system, since Shanahan is the one who started it. The final reason is the most basic, Raza reason of all time, which is the 49ers being at home. But the first two are my main rationale behind picking the Niners here. I just think it’s a great matchup for them, and Miami needs to prove to me that they’re up for this incredibly difficult test.

Bengals 30-27 Chiefs

Sunday, 4:25 PM EST, CBS

Here it is. Perhaps the game of the year in a rematch of last year’s regular season thriller and playoff classic. Two of the best QBs in the NFL facing off in Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow. Two of the best weapons in football on display in Travis Kelce and Ja’Marr Chase. Two fantastic offenses and two improving, stout defenses facing off against one another. This game is certainly going to live up to the hype, and it might exceed it somehow. I’d typically be wrestling with myself in making this pick, but I actually feel very confident in the Bengals to win this game, and I even think they should be favored here. For starters, they’re at home. They got DJ Reader back, which immediately made the defensive front infinitely better, and the Chiefs don’t pose much of a rushing threat (although Isiah Pacheco is certainly giving them a lift). They’re getting Ja’Marr Chase back, and Joe Mixon is likely returning as well, providing their offense with the biggest possible lift. Joe Burrow has never lost to Patrick Mahomes, and I see no reason for that first loss to come here. If Cincinnati’s offensive line can keep Burrow afloat, he should have a field day against a secondary that simply hasn’t seen an offense this stacked yet this season. Look for Chase to have a massive game against Chiefs rookie DB Trent McDuffie. This is a perfect matchup for Cincy, and while Mahomes and company are obviously going to do their thing, I just think the Bengals have what it takes to win this game and stake their claim for the AFC. Bengals stocks are skyrocketing, and this is their best opportunity to keep them rising. I virtually never pick against the Chiefs, but this just makes sense to me. Which of course means it’s going to explode in my face.

Raiders 27-24 Chargers

Sunday, 4:25 PM EST, CBS

If I know anything about both of these teams (which I rarely ever do), then I know this game is going to be hilarious and must-see TV from start to finish on Sunday evening. They don’t make many games with much more potential to be a complete clown fiesta than this one. These teams in this time slot in a divisional showdown is just bound to create fireworks. Neither of these teams moves the needle at all. Neither one does anything particularly well other than force feed their star RBs. Neither of these defenses are good, so those RBs should pop off like they always do. That alone makes this worth the price of admission. I don’t even know how to assess this matchup or make a pick here, so I’m just going to take the Raiders for being at home and looking flashier last week. They might come back to Earth and completely crash after last week, or they could carry that momentum into this big game and pop off yet again. Regardless of what I predict, the opposite will happen.

Cowboys 27-16 Colts

Sunday, 8:20 PM EST, NBC

This is one of the more simple picks of the week. Dallas has extra rest after playing on Thanksgiving. They have the vastly superior offense and a much better defense. They are playing some of the best football in the league. The Colts are solid and competitive, but they will simply be overmatched here from start to finish. They might hang around for a while, but I don’t think they have a semblance of a chance in this game.

Buccaneers 16-13 Saints

Monday, 8:15 PM EST, ESPN

This is gross. Buccaneers-Saints games always are, but this one might be the worst of them all. For both of these teams, the ceiling is mid and the floor is unwatchable garbage. I expect this matchup to bring out the worst in both sides. It’s going to be ugly, defensive, low-scoring, and littered with turnovers. And the slightly better team will prevail. It’s pretty simple in theory, but it’s going to be awful in reality.

All stats taken from ESPN.

Post-Week 13 Power Rankings

The Patriots used a strong run game and resilient defense to knock off the Bills and leap to the AFC’s #1 seed. (h/t Associated Press)

1 – Packers (9-3)

The Packers had their very late bye this week, and they’re taking full advantage of it, as some key contributors are returning to the fray this week. Jaire Alexander, Za’Darius Smith, and David Bakhtiari could all come back this week. The team has been fine without them, and they don’t necessarily need all hands on deck to beat the Bears, but it will only make them more dangerous and continue solidifying their case as the best team in football.

2 – Cardinals (10-2)

Speaking of beating the Bears, the Cardinals looked mighty impressive in doing so this Sunday. The return of Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins lifted the offense in more ways than one, and the defense played a solid game to help put things to bed early. Kyler’s use of his arm and his legs has been his forte all year long, and even in his first game back from a nagging ankle injury, he looked like his old self once again. I expect to see more of the same from him as the season winds down, and he’ll need to be on his A game this week as the Rams come into town.

3 – Patriots (9-4)

I think we can all agree that the Patriots offense wasn’t exactly the most fun to watch on Monday night. Amidst the wind and bone-chilling cold, Mac Jones played handoff simulator for 3 hours to the tune of just 3 passes thrown with 2 completed for a whopping 19 yards. But, all three Pats backs did their jobs, with Damien Harris being the star of the show. The defense also continued its stellar level of play, bending at times but never breaking when the Bills entered the redzone. It was the resilience of that unit that won the game for New England, which shouldn’t come as a surprise. This has been their identity, and I doubt we’ll see a situation where Mac only throws the ball 3 times again.

4 – Buccaneers (9-3)

The Bucs are back in rhythm and really strutting their stuff. There’s not a lot I can say about them that I haven’t said for the last few weeks, but there is one thing I want to mention. The emergence of Leonard Fournette in both the run game and the passing game has added another level to this offense that I never expected to see. It’s allowing them to open up the playbook and spread the field more than they had in the past, and I think it makes them that much more dangerous offensively. Tom Brady continues to stuff the statsheet on his way to another MVP, and the defense is clearly improving by the week as they continue getting healthier. This week’s contest against the Bills will be a tough one, but at their current pace, I like Tampa’s chances.

5 – Chiefs (8-4)

The Chiefs at home are one of the NFL’s weirdest anomalies. Something about playing in Arrowhead sucks all of Patrick Mahomes’ and his offense’s powers away. I can’t explain it, but at this point, it doesn’t matter. KC’s defense is playing like a truly elite unit, which is something I never saw coming 2 months ago. Between getting stops, forcing turnovers, and playing stout in the redzone, the Chiefs have become a team that simply doesn’t let you score. On their now 5-game win streak, they haven’t allowed a single team to score over 17 points. The last time they gave up 20 or more was on October 24th. Once again, the offense doesn’t have to be its usual firework show. The defense will get the job done.

6 – Colts (7-6)

After all the wackiness of the last month or so, I think the Colts truly relished in the proverbial tune-up against the Texans this week. They simply went out there, played their brand of football, and walked away with a clean shutout victory. What more can you ask for? Now, they head into their bye week with some great momentum as they continue pushing for a potential division title. Considering their final stretch of games, they need this week off to get themselves together and continue playing their best ball moving forward.

7 – Rams (8-4) 4

I really don’t know what to make of this team. They’re getting bumped up this high simply because other teams decided to slip up this week. Blowing out the Jaguars isn’t the most impressive thing in the world, but the Rams certainly needed that after a tumultuous last month. It was nice to see them seemingly come to fruition on both sides of the ball, but again, I won’t overreact. This is a team that has made light work of their poor schedule all year long and subsequently folded against any teams with a pulse. This can get them to the playoffs, but I don’t consider this to be an elite team at all.

8 – Cowboys (8-4) 4

I’ll be honest. I wasn’t very impressed with the Cowboys last Thursday. Like the Rams, they’re being bumped up this much because of the actions of teams above them. The offense was clearly rejuvenated by the return of Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb, but I still thought they didn’t play their best game on that side of the ball. The defense had themselves a day, but that’s easy to do when Taysom Hill is the opposing “quarterback”. I think this week’s game against a red hot Washington team will be a better indication of where the Cowboys stand on both sides of the ball. We’ll just have to wait and see.

9 – Bills (7-5)

Realistically speaking, the Bills only have themselves to blame for Monday night’s loss. If you know that the other team is going to run the same play for the entire game and you still let it beat you over and over, you deserve to lose. If you get into the redzone time and time again and don’t get any points out of it, you deserve to lose. If you can’t run the football at all in run-centric conditions, you deserve to lose. If you take bad sacks and make bad throws, then guess what? You deserve to lose. This is a good team that just can’t get out of their own way. None of their problems will fly against truly elite competition. It will hurt them in the playoffs, assuming they even get there at this point.

10 – Ravens (8-4) 2

I knew that Sunday’s game would be close. I thought the Ravens could lose, but I didn’t see it actually happening. And while any loss is concerning, this one almost felt natural. This team is still clearly struggling to find itself offensively, and a good Steelers defense ripped them apart. Meanwhile, the defensive woes reared their ugly head once again. Now, the Ravens are no longer the 1 seed in the AFC, and they only have themselves to blame. If they can’t figure out these issues soon, then it’ll be a quick one-and-done for them in January.

11 – Chargers (7-5) 3

This is an extremely bold proclamation, but I truly believe that it’s true. I think I have finally figured the Chargers out. Like I said last week, this team flip-flops every single Sunday. Last week it was a stinker against Denver, this week was a firework show against Cincinnati. I didn’t pick them to win, but I did say that it wouldn’t shock me if they did. This team has a pattern and they follow it to a T. I’m not saying they’ll lose to the Giants next week, but do not be shocked if it happens.

12 – Bengals (7-5) 5

Just when things looked like they were back on track in Cincinnati, they quite literally fumbled everything away. Despite starting the game down 24-0, the Bengals truly could have and arguably should have won on Sunday, but two key plays ruined their day. A poor Jamarr Chase drop on a perfect throw that should’ve resulted in a TD and an inopportune Joe Mixon fumble when the team was driving to take the lead that was returned for a touchdown killed any hopes of an improbable comeback win. It also didn’t help that the defense forgot how to play football for a while. I still like what this team has going on, but that was a truly poor showing from a group that knows it’s better than this. Next up is a very tough game against the team one spot below them, and a loss could truly derail what was once a promising year for this young team.

13 – 49ers (6-6) 3

I just hate good teams losing to bad teams. I hate it even more when the good team should actually have won the game. The 49ers only have themselves to blame for Sunday’s loss. Between a poor safety taken and not being able to punch the ball in with the game on the line, there can be no excuses made for this team. While they still hold a playoff spot, things can go very south very quickly with a difficult schedule ahead of them. I think they’ll be fine once Deebo Samuel comes back, but they better hope that’s ASAP. They need him badly.

14 – Titans (8-4) 1

Even after a bye, I have no idea what to make of the Titans. Without Derrick Henry, their offense is still going to be an eye sore. They better hope their defense can carry them to victory in these next few weeks.

15 – Washington (6-6) 2

I really have no idea how we got here. But we did, and it’s fun. Out of nowhere, the WFT has the longest winning streak in the conference and the 3rd longest in the league, and the team now sits in the 6 seed in the NFC. Simply put, this team finds ways to win. They play hard-nosed football and they go out and earn it every Sunday. The defense is still playing fantastic ball, the run game has found itself once again, and Taylor Heinicke is a rollercoaster, but he’s tougher than a $2 steak when it matters most. Now, the season comes down to 5 straight games against NFC East opponents, starting with the Cowboys this Sunday. As I said last week, everything is directly in front of this team to take. The playoffs essentially start now. I’m hoping and praying that they don’t let me down.

16 – Eagles (6-7) 3

You know what really impresses me in this league? Winning with backup QBs. It says a lot about a team when you can do that. Even against a lowly opponent like the Jets, Gardner Minshew and the Eagles’ performance on Sunday left a good impression. Jalen Hurts should be back after this bye week, and this team is trending in a very good direction. I have no doubt that they’ll be in the playoff mix for the next month.

17 – Broncos (6-6) 1

The Broncos played a weird game on Sunday night. Their defense was excellent from start to finish thanks to some lucky breaks. They were able to get the ball downfield, especially with the run game thanks to a huge night from Javonte Williams, but they simply refused to score. Between missed kicks, turnovers, or just bad breaks, this team couldn’t get out of their own way. It’s unfortunate, but it happens to everyone. This is still a solid team that is right in the thick of the wild card race, and I really think they have what it takes to sneak into the playoffs. But they have to stop beating themselves first.

18 – Vikings (5-7) 3

Let’s be honest. We all should have seen that coming. Even after this team battled back to take a late lead, we should have known what would happen next. A loss on a touchdown at the buzzer to the Lions to give them their lone win is a perfect microcosm of what this team is in 2021. And that’s all I’ll say about the Minnesota Vikings.

19 – Raiders (6-6) 1

The Raiders didn’t play their worst game by any stretch on Sunday. They were simply stifled enough offensively to have their defense lose the game late. It could’ve gone either way. It was the 4th loss in 5 games for this team that continues to fall apart from a record perspective, but I still think this is a solid team. Maybe not a playoff team, but they can give anyone a game on their best day. Sunday was simply not their best day.

20 – Steelers (6-5-1) 1

I knew the Steelers wouldn’t lay down and die again on Sunday, and I will say that I was very impressed with their ability to actually win the game. They showcased an energy on both sides of the ball that I hadn’t seen from them in a while. The return of T.J. Watt was truly a catalyst for that defense, as he had 3.5 sacks himself and the rest of the unit did enough to win the game late. The offense also had a pulse, which is always a shock. It was an emotional game against their biggest rival, so these things make sense. But, I still doubt this team’s ability to replicate this in the future.

21 – Browns (6-6) 1

Thankfully for my eyes, I didn’t have to watch the Browns this week. They return from their bye with a tough game against the Ravens, who they just lost to last week. After seeing how that game played out, I don’t see why this week should go any differently.

22 – Dolphins (6-7) 1

The second longest winning streak in the NFL resides in South Beach. The Dolphins have won five in a row. And guess what? I don’t care. Those wins have come against the Texans, Jets, Ravens, Panthers, and Giants. All teams who are either straight up bad or struggling right now. But, wins are wins, and this team has played their way into the playoff mix. Their defense has looked very good, and their offense is playing efficient football that wins them games. It’s a solid formula, but I just don’t think it will work against truly great teams. Luckily for the Dolphins, they don’t have any of those left on their schedule outside of a Week 18 game against New England. So, believe it or not, this team could somehow make the playoffs.

23 – Saints (5-7) 1

I just have one thing to say to the Saints. Please stop doing this Taysom Hill thing. He’s a solid player and a true gadget guy, but he’s not an NFL QB. Not even close. He can win games when the team around him is elite, but that’s not the case with this Saints team. And thus, it will only fail miserably. I don’t know why Sean Payton is so in love with Taysom Hill, and I never will. But I do know that this is ugly. Just start Trevor Siemian. Unless you’re actively trying to lose games.

24 – Falcons (5-7)

The Falcons essentially played exactly how I predicted they would on Sunday. After a while, it’s pretty easy to get a read on this team. There’s nothing I can say right now that hasn’t been the case for so many weeks at this point. There’s still hope that they can end the year strong, but other than that, there’s not a lot of hope in Atlanta.

25 – Panthers (5-7)

I enjoy weeks where I don’t have to watch Cam Newton play football. Those are some pretty good weeks. Hopefully that doesn’t mean I won’t enjoy this week. But I know that I won’t enjoy watching this team play.

26 – Seahawks (4-8) 2

Against all odds, the Seahawks won a football game. And they didn’t look awful doing it. They easily could have lost on Sunday, but they did what they had to do to pull off a pretty nice win. Good for them. I still think this team is awful, but I’ll respect them this week because Tyler Lockett put up some nice numbers for my fantasy team. Thanks, guys.

27 – Bears (4-8) 1

This is a very bad football team. There’s not much more that can be said. Justin Fields returning to the lineup this week provides a bit of an offensive spark, but we’ve seen enough of this offense to know that sparks die very quickly. And against the Packers, they might not even light that spark.

28 – Giants (4-8) 1

I can’t fault this team for losing with a backup QB. I told you guys how bad they’d play with Mike Glennon at QB, and that’s exactly what happened. Can’t expect too much out of an already bad team starting a bad QB. At least this team is on pace for two top 10 picks. But, knowing the Giants, they’ll probably find some way to mess them up.

29 – Jets (3-9)

Getting steamrolled by Gardner Minshew isn’t a very good look. But then again, this is the New York Jets. They haven’t known what a good look is in 50 years.

30 – Jaguars (2-10)

I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times. The Jaguars have been the exact same team for almost this entire season. But it’s not like there’s anything wrong with that. This is who we expect the Jaguars to be every week. This is how rebuilds work.

31 – Lions (1-10-1) 1

They did it. The Lions finally captured that elusive first win, and it took a touchdown at the buzzer to do it. I’m genuinely happy for them. You could see how much it meant to Jared Goff, Dan Campbell, the rest of the team, and especially the fans. I can imagine it’s quite a feeling. Good for them. I told you guys this team wouldn’t go winless. And when am I ever wrong?

32 – Texans (2-10) 1

Somehow, the Texans have returned to the #32 spot. They just can’t escape this. And if you wan’t answers, go look at the box score of Sunday’s game. That should tell the story just fine.

All stats taken from ESPN.

Week 13 Picks

Mac Jones and the Patriots head to Buffalo to take on Josh Allen and the Bills in a pivotal AFC matchup on Monday Night Football.

December is here, meaning only one month remains in the regular season. It’s do or die time for playoff contenders across football, of which there seem to be more than ever before. This week promises to not only be pivotal for the playoff race, but also very fun to watch in the process. I went a measly 8-7 last week, bringing my season total to 109-69-1. Can’t afford another mediocre performance. Let’s get into this week’s picks:

Cowboys 24-23 Saints

Thursday, 8:20 PM EST, FOX

Two teams that got embarrassed on Thanksgiving at home trying to make up for it a week later to start December. What a storyline. I was very close to picking the Saints in this game based on how the Cowboys have been playing lately and the fact that New Orleans is starting Taysom Hill in this game, who for some reason fires up this team more than anyone. But, Alvin Kamara is still out, and that makes it impossible for me to trust that offense. Plus, the Cowboys are getting some reinforcements with Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb returning to the lineup to help out the offense. While I don’t think Dallas will necessarily look prolific, they’ll do enough against a struggling Saints defense to win a tough game on the road.

Buccaneers 31-14 Falcons

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

Tampa Bay seems to have found their rhythm again after back-to-back good looking wins. Atlanta isn’t exactly much of a threat to throw that rhythm off. I think the biggest thing about last week’s win for the Bucs was the emergence of their run game. If they can take the load off of Tom Brady’s shoulders, this offense somehow becomes more dangerous. Plus, the return of Rob Gronkowski appears to have helped Brady a ton. So, I expect to see another big offensive day from Tampa against a Falcons team that doesn’t show up against teams with a pulse.

Cardinals 30-13 Bears

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

Could this be the week the Cardinals get Kyler Murray back? Even if they don’t, this should be an easy win for them. The Bears haven’t exactly looked like the greatest offensive team in the world in recent weeks, and if Kyler does come back, then their defense is also in for a rude awakening. The Cards using their bye week to get healthy should terrify the rest of the NFC. Chicago will be the first team to feel that wrath.

Bengals 27-24 Chargers

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

I would be so much more excited for this game if the Chargers weren’t, you know, the Chargers. However, if their pattern is any indication, then they should show up to play this week. The idea of Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert facing off for the first time is enough to get me to watch, but this game means so much more in the bigger picture. The Bengals need to keep winning games if they want to get closer to a potential division title, and the Chargers can’t afford to lose many more games in pursuit of their own playoff spot. Both of these teams will be playing with urgency, and the Bengals have proven that they are the far better team when faced with that circumstance. Their last 2 games have been complete clinics, whereas the Chargers are a complete coinflip from week to week. One team gives you an indication that they’ll show up, the other has no idea. I’ll roll with the more consistent team.

Vikings 26-17 Lions

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

I really don’t want to say this will be easy for the Vikings considering how their first matchup with Detroit went this year. But, I feel like they’ll be playing with a lot more urgency in this game. The loss of Dalvin Cook undoubtedly hurts, but Alexander Mattison has proven himself as a worthwhile backup that will be very productive. Moreover, the Lions will be without DeAndre Swift, so I just don’t see them getting anything going offensively. This could be close for a bit, but if the Vikings don’t win, it won’t only be a shock, but a disgrace. And somehow, it would still make so much sense.

Dolphins 23-13 Giants

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

The Dolphins are hilarious. This stretch of their schedule has been so easy, and they are just tearing through it. Now, they get a Giants team with a backup QB in Mike Glennon, and seemingly another easy W. The Giants already had no offense with Daniel Jones under center. Do you really expect anything more with Glennon? I don’t. Especially not against a Miami defense that has played very well as of late. Plus, their offense has found a groove as well. This should be a breeze for the Dolphins to extend their winning streak to a whopping 5 games.

Eagles 28-17 Jets

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

The Eagles squandered a perfect opportunity to establish themselves as a true playoff contender in the NFC last week against the Giants. Luckily for them, they get the other New York team here. The Jets did just win, but that was the Texans. The Eagles are a real football team. Or at least they’ve looked like one in the last month or so. If they screw this up, then there will be nobody to blame but themselves. I just don’t see that happening.

Colts 30-10 Texans

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

The Colts have returned to their old ways of not being able to hold onto leads. It’s really a shame to see. Luckily for them, they get a team that isn’t really capable of coming back this week. The Texans are definitely at their best with Tyrod Taylor, but their best is nothing close to that of a team as talented as Indy. This is a great opportunity for them to bounce back and potentially find themselves just 1.5 games back of Tennessee for first place.

Raiders 24-20 Washington

Sunday, 4:05 PM EST, FOX

This is a tough one. Both of these teams looked pretty good last week. Washington has looked much better over the last few weeks, but the Raiders still have the talent to win any game. I’m picking them for a few reasons. For one, they played last Thursday, whereas the WFT played on Monday night. Another is that it’s a long road trip for Washington. But to put it plainly, I simply don’t trust us to win a game this important after so many good-looking wins. It’s just not in our DNA. Even without Darren Waller, I can already see Derek Carr carving up this defense that has been so stout for over a month now. I’ve been a fan of this team for too long to not foresee these types of collapses.

Rams 29-14 Jaguars

Sunday, 4:05 PM EST, FOX

If the Rams lay another dud against a team as poor as Jacksonville, we will need to start having some very serious conversations. LA has run through the terrible teams on their schedule all season long, so this shouldn’t be too different. But, nothing would shock me at this point. The Jags have proven that they can play up to their competition. Perhaps this will be closer than I predict.

Ravens 20-17 Steelers

Sunday, 4:25 PM EST, CBS

Nothing better than a Ravens-Steelers game on a cold December evening. Neither of these teams has looked very good in recent weeks, but the Ravens have undoubtedly looked better. The Steelers continue to fall apart more and more with every passing week, and last week was the culmination of all that. At least Baltimore is finding ways to win games. Their defense was the star of the show on Sunday night, and they should do a good job of containing a lifeless Steelers offense. At that point, it’ll just be up to Lamar to play a mistake-free game and win it. I’m not sure how much I trust him to do that right now, but like I said, they always seem to find a way to pull it out.

49ers 23-16 Seahawks

Sunday, 4:25 PM EST, CBS

The loss of Deebo Samuel hurts this 49ers team tremendously. There is no doubt about that. I think they’ll struggle a bit offensively as they figure out a way to get both the ground and air games going without their ultimate weapon. But, their talent and coaching should be enough to overcome that against a team as bad as Seattle. The Seahawks have no offense or defense right now, and any team with a pulse should beat them without any hitches. They needed terrible refereeing and all the luck in the world to even come close to beating Washington last week. The 49ers are a much better team than that.

Chiefs 27-20 Broncos

Sunday, 8:20 PM EST, NBC

It may not seem like it, but this is actually a hell of a game. The Broncos are somehow just a game back of the Chiefs, and a win here puts them in first place against all odds. These teams have both had very strange seasons up to this point, and in a primetime divisional game, anything is possible. I just find it too hard to pick against the Chiefs coming off a bye, especially considering how hot they were beforehand. Their offense was doing enough, and their defense was rising to the occasion. Riding a 4-game win streak into a bye as the best team in football off byes is a pretty good place to be. The Broncos are a solid team that will hang around, but I just don’t see how they come out of KC with their biggest win in years.

Patriots 26-23 Bills

Monday, 8:15 PM EST, ESPN

This might just be the biggest game of the 2021 season thus far. Not only is this game for first place in the division, but if the cards unfold in the right way, it could be for the 1 seed in the AFC. Not to mention both of these teams playing on fire coming into this game. The Bills have slipped up a bit in the last month, but their blowout win on Thanksgiving has them trending in the right direction. Meanwhile, the Patriots are riding the NFL’s best win streak of 6 games coming into MNF. Everything is lined up for this game to be a great one. It’s those aforementioned slip-ups from Buffalo that makes it too difficult to pick them. New England has been so consistent on both sides of the ball, and their level of play has been better than almost any team in football. Their defense has been absolutely suffocating, and considering Josh Allen’s tendency to struggle sometimes (not to mention the complete lack of a run game behind him), it just feels like the Patriots can’t lose this game. I think the Bills will do enough to keep this close, but the better team will come out on top.

All stats taken from ESPN.