I am unsure how a lot wine I drank over Thanksgiving weekend, however apparently I drank sufficient to begin hallucinating as a result of that is the one approach to clarify the NFL headlines I have been studying on the web over the previous few days.
I imply, I am 99% positive I learn a headline that mentioned the Ravens-Steelers sport nonetheless hasn’t been performed but? Is that actual? And the 49ers are transferring to Arizona? And the Broncos needed to play a sport with ZERO quarterbacks on their roster? HOW IS ANY OF THIS POSSIBLE?
All the things I simply listed seems like one thing I might make up in a drunken sport of NFL-themed Mad Libs. Additionally, I am chopping down on the wine for Thanksgiving subsequent yr. On the price we’re going, the Ravens and Steelers aren’t going to play till March, the 49ers are going to have to maneuver to Las Vegas with the Raiders, and the Broncos, nicely, let me simply say, I’ve by no means been extra entertained by a sport that ended with a 34-3 last rating. God Bless the Broncos.
Talking of 34-3, that is not a rating I am predicting this week, however I’m predicting loads of different scores, so let’s get to the picks and discover out what they’re. By the best way, these are my Week 13 picks, which should not be confused with my Week 12 picks and I am solely mentioning my Week 12 picks as a result of Week 12 technically is not over but because the Ravens and Steelers are scheduled to play Wednesday. Principally, for those who’re in search of a Ravens-Steelers choose, you may have to take a look at final week’s article, which you are able to do by clicking right here. Though perhaps you should not learn that since I am fascinated about altering my choose now that half the Ravens’ roster is out with COVID.
Earlier than we get to the Week 13 picks, here is a fast reminder that you could try the weekly picks from each CBSSports.com NFL professional by clicking right here. Should you do not click on over, I will not be offended. Nevertheless, I shall be offended for those who do not join CBSSports.com’s NFL publication, which my bosses have put me answerable for for some purpose.
Should you do enroll, it is like an early Christmas current for each of us: I get extra sign-ups and also you get an e-mail from me each weekday, which suggests it is actually like 5 presents. If you wish to subscribe, all you need to do is click on right here and enter your e-mail handle. I promise to not spam you and I promise to not ship you photos of my cat.
Additionally, I would really like you guys to know that I recorded a podcast on Monday night time with Will Brinson and Ryan Wilson and we spent 45 extremely entertaining minutes debating whether or not the Eagles ought to blow issues up and begin over after their loss to the Seahawks. If you wish to hear, and also you undoubtedly ought to, you are able to do that under.
Alright, let’s get to those picks as a result of if we do not do it now, the NFL goes to reschedule the Ravens-Steelers sport once more and I will need to rewrite this whole factor, and belief me, nobody desires that.
NFL Week 13 Picks
Cleveland (8-3) at Tennessee (8-3)
1 p.m. ET (CBS)
On the listing I’ve fabricated from all of the loopy issues which have occurred in 2020, let me simply say that the CLEVELAND BROWNS being in competition for a playoff spot this late within the season is certainly on the prime. It is 4 spots forward of the pandemic, seven spots forward of the homicide hornets, 9 spots forward of the locusts and two spots forward of the squirrel who in some way acquired bubonic plague. I imply, I am unable to bear in mind the final time the Browns performed in a considerably vital sport this late within the season, however right here we’re. That being mentioned, we most likely ought to have all seen this coming, as a result of the Browns attending to the Tremendous Bowl within the one season the place followers will not actually be allowed to attend the Tremendous Bowl would undoubtedly be probably the most Browns factor ever.
As for this sport, for those who love ahead passes, you then’re most likely not going to wish to watch, as a result of we’d not see a single one one between these two groups on Sunday. This sport is giving us the NFL’s No. 1 dashing assault (Cleveland) in opposition to the league’s No. 3 dashing assault and I am absolutely anticipating each operating again on each groups to place up large numbers. I will not be shocked if Derrick Henry, Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt all prime 100 yards.
For me, the massive distinction on this sport is at quarterback. With the Titans, I really feel like Ryan Tannehill is an ideal complement to Henry, however in Cleveland, I really feel like Baker Mayfield sort of holds the offense again. As a matter of truth, if the Browns removed Mayfield and simply snapped the ball on to Chubb, I believe that might arguably make them a greater crew.
The Browns are good this yr and they need to make the playoffs, however this week they’re operating right into a crew that has the higher operating again, the higher quarterback and actually, the higher every thing. Properly, the Browns do have Myles Garrett and he is a significantly better pass-rusher than something Tennessee has, however the Titans are higher at every thing else and what I am making an attempt to say right here is that I am taking Tennessee in a blowout.
The choose: Titans 34-20 over Browns
Which groups do you have to again this week along with your bets, and which Tremendous Bowl contender will get an enormous scare? Go to SportsLine now to see who wins and covers each NFL sport this week, plus get the precise last rating, all from the acclaimed mannequin that has returned over $7,900 on its top-rated picks.
L.A. Rams (7-4) at Arizona (6-5)
4:05 p.m. ET (Fox)
We’re 13 weeks into the season and I’ve to confess, I nonetheless do not know what to make of the Cardinals. Simply after I was beginning to suppose they may truly be good, they arrive out of their Week 8 bye and fall flat on their face. Within the 4 weeks since their bye, they’ve gone 1-3 and the one purpose they did not go 0-4 is as a result of Kyler Murray threw a miraculous game-winning Hail Mary in opposition to the Payments in Week 10. If that Hail Mary did not occur, the Cardinals would have had the identical November report because the Jets (0-4) and as I believe I say almost each week, if I point out you in the identical sentence because the Jets, there’s roughly a 99.9% probability that I will choose you to lose your sport that week. You by no means wish to be talked about in the identical sentence because the Jets below any circumstance. Final week, I discussed Matt Patricia in the identical sentence because the Jets and look what occurred to him.
I am unsure why the Cardinals have fallen aside, however I believe certainly one of their points is that Kyler Murray’s shoulder nonetheless appears to be bothering him. He injured it in Week 11 in opposition to the Seahawks and ever since then, he appears hesitant to run. For many groups, it is not often an enormous deal when your quarterback is not operating the ball, however it’s a problem for the Cardinals as a result of Murray operating the ball is like 90% of their offense. It isn’t simply his operating that opens up their offense, however the specter of him operating. Throughout Arizona’s upset loss to New England on Sunday, Murray was hesitant to run and he seemed like he was a bit anxious on the considered taking huge hits.
The issue for Murray this week is that nobody provides larger hits than Aaron Donald. I believe the Rams are going to stay Jalen Ramsey on DeAndre Hopkins and dare Murray to throw some place else. I additionally suppose that that is the worst potential matchup that the Cardinals might have gotten this week and that is as a result of Arizona has by no means overwhelmed Sean McVay. Since McVay was employed in 2017, he is gone 6-0 in opposition to Arizona and the Rams have scored at the least 31 factors in each single a kind of video games. I see that streak persevering with on Sunday .
The choose: Rams 31-24 over Cardinals
New England (5-6) at L.A. Chargers (3-8)
4:25 p.m. ET (Fox)
Newest Odds:
Patriots
+PK
Over the previous few years, the Chargers have made some fairly embarrassing choices — you already know, like after they left San Diego — however nothing was worse than each resolution they made throughout the fourth quarter in opposition to the Payments on Sunday. Each time the Chargers decided within the quarter, it turned clear fairly shortly that they might have been higher off doing the other. I am not going to cowl every thing they did fallacious, as a result of we would be right here for 3 hours, however here is a take a look at what they did fallacious in simply the ultimate minute.
I imply, watch these last 10 seconds: The Chargers cannot even run a QB sneak appropriately. Am I bitter as a result of I picked the Chargers to cowl the unfold, which might have occurred if that they had scored there? Clearly. The Chargers do not know what they’re doing and I am absolutely satisfied that if their teaching workers did the other of every thing they thought they need to do, this crew could be 11-0 proper now. As a substitute, they’re 3-8.
This week, we’ve got probably the worst-coached crew in soccer enjoying in opposition to the best-coached crew in soccer and when that occurs, I by no means choose the worst-coached crew. Earlier this season, the Chargers truly seemed good, however Justin Herbert has slowly been regressing over the previous few weeks and for those who’re a rookie quarterback who’s regressing, the final coach you wish to be going up in opposition to is Invoice Belichick. The Patriots coach is 20-6 all time in opposition to rookie quarterbacks, which suggests I undoubtedly cannot choose the crew with the rookie quarterback.
The choose: Patriots 23-20 over Chargers
Buffalo (8-3) vs. San Francisco (5-6) in Arizona
Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Should you’ve ever been kicked out of your own home across the holidays, then you already know precisely how the 49ers really feel proper now after being kicked out of Levi’s Stadium for the subsequent three weeks. Usually, I would say that being kicked out is a foul factor, however I am beginning to suppose that there is not any one happier concerning the 49ers being pressured to maneuver than the 49ers. I imply, simply give it some thought: For one, they do not need to play at Levi’s Stadium this week, which is an efficient factor, as a result of they’re 1-4 at Levi’s Stadium this yr. The 49ers are most likely hoping that the whole stadium burns down whereas they’re gone.
The opposite purpose the 49ers are most likely a fan of transferring to Arizona for this week’s sport is as a result of there is a 99% probability the Payments are going to undergo from PTSD as quickly as they stroll within the stadium on Monday and that is as a result of the final time they performed at College of Phoenix Stadium, this occurred:
Though the Payments have since rebounded from that loss, they nonetheless apparently do not know learn how to guard a Hail Mary as a result of the Chargers additionally accomplished one throughout Buffalo’s win over Los Angeles on Sunday. That being mentioned, so long as this sport would not come right down to a Hail Mary, I just like the Payments.
My greatest downside with the 49ers is that they’ve struggled with extraordinarily cellular quarterbacks. They could not beat Russell Wilson, they could not beat Kyler Murray and I believe they will have some severe points making an attempt to decelerate Josh Allen.
The choose: Payments 30-27 over 49ers
Lock of the Week
N.Y. Giants (4-7) at Seattle (8-3)
4:05 p.m. ET (Fox)
Newest Odds:
Seahawks
-10
I do know what you guys are pondering and sure, I agree: The “Lock of the Week” ought to most likely begin coming with some form of warning. I am unsure what that warning needs to be, however I am pondering one thing alongside the strains of “Though the precise choose itself is sort of all the time proper, it’s best to choose the other crew that Breech picks in opposition to the unfold.”
Keep in mind after I missed each Thursday sport for the primary two months of the season, nicely, that is what the “Lock of the Week” has become. Though I am 5-1 straight-up over the previous six weeks, I am 0-6 in opposition to the unfold. It is so dangerous it is nearly good.
That winless streak would have ended final week if Giants coach Joe Decide, who purportedly is a particular groups professional, ACTUALLY KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT SPECIAL TEAMS. I picked the Giants to cowl as a 5.5-point favourite in Cincinnati and the one purpose the Giants did not cowl in opposition to the Bengals is as a result of they gave up a 103-yard kickoff return for a landing.
I am so upset with the Giants that I am making them a “Lock of the Week” for the second straight week, besides this time, I am choosing them to lose. Look, I will be trustworthy, this sport has catastrophe written throughout it for the Giants. To start with, they won’t have Daniel Jones, who’s battling a hamstring harm. Principally the Giants have two choices at quarterback — a hobbled Jones or Colt McCoy — and if these are your solely two choices you would possibly as nicely have zero choices.
Additionally, the Giants have scored the third-fewest factors within the NFL this yr and now, they will need to face the league’s third-highest scoring crew, and name me loopy, however I do not suppose their quarterback scenario goes to assist issues right here. Principally, the Giants are going to a gun combat and all they’ve of their pocket is the thimble piece from Monopoly. Certain, the thimble is good, as a result of whoever has it all the time wins in Monopoly, however it’s not going that can assist you in a gun combat. Oh, did I point out that the Seahawks are the one crew within the NFC that is nonetheless undefeated at residence this yr? As a result of the Seahawks are the one crew within the NFC that is nonetheless undefeated at residence this yr.
The choose: Seahawks 34-17 over Giants
Lock of the week report: 12-2 straight up, 6-8 in opposition to the unfold
NFL Week 13 picks: All the remaining
Saints 23-16 over Falcons
Lions 20-16 over Bears
Dolphins 27-13 over Bengals
Vikings 30-20 over Jaguars
Raiders 24-17 over Jets
Colts 27-20 over Texans
Packers 37-27 over Eagles
Steelers 31-17 over Washington
Chiefs 34-20 over Broncos
Ravens 27-17 over Cowboys
BYES: Buccaneers, Panthers
Final Week
Finest choose: Final week, I predicted that the underdog Patriots would beat the Cardinals by three factors and GUESS WHAT HAPPENED? The underdog Patriots beat the Cardinals by three factors. Now, did I do know that Invoice Belichick was going to give you a game-plan that might nearly fully shut down Arizona’s offense? After all I did. Going into Sunday’s sport, Belichick was 37-2 at residence in opposition to first- or second-year quarterbacks and as you most likely know, Kyler Murray is a first- or second-year quarterback. This sport was over earlier than it began.
Worst choose: There is no such thing as a crew I have been worse at choosing this yr than the Atlanta Falcons, which suggests I ought to’ve identified final week that I used to be purported to do the other of my first intuition, which was to select them to lose. The Falcons have been in my head all season: Once I zig, they zag. Once I zag, they make pizza. Once I invite them over for dinner, they cancel and go to Arby’s after which flaunt the truth that they canceled on me by sharing photos on Instagram with the Arby’s cashier. It is out of hand. I am so over the Falcons. I am so over Arby’s. I am so over every thing.
Lastly, for those who’re nonetheless studying, you is perhaps questioning which groups I’ve achieved nicely choosing this yr and here is the reply:
Groups I am 10-1 choosing this yr (Straight up): Chiefs, Jets, Steelers (9-1)
Groups I am 9-2 choosing this yr: Jaguars, Chargers, Packers, Giants, Ravens (8-2)
Longest profitable streak: Jaguars (Eight straight video games right)
Longest dropping streak: Falcons (4 straight video games incorrect).
Additionally, there isn’t a crew I have been worse at choosing than the Falcons (3-8). I am guessing that is karma’s means of telling me that I should not have mentioned all these dangerous issues about Atlanta when i lived there for 3 years.
Picks Report
Straight up in Week 12: 11-4
SU general: 111-63-1
Towards the unfold in Week 12: 5-9-1
ATS general: 79-92-2
You could find John Breech on Fb or Twitter and if he isn’t doing a kind of issues, he is most likely on the physician making an attempt to determine if these wine hallucinations are actual or not.
