NFL Picks - Week 13

Week 12 of the NFL regular season is history -- I was 9-6-1 in week 12 picking winners (98-61 -3 on the year), while Las Vegas was 10-6 picking winners in week 12 (114-57-5 on the year).

Here are my picks for Week 13 (solely based on my Power Ratings with a 3-point edge for home field - Las Vegas odds in () ):

THURSDAY, 27 November:

Tennessee (10-1) (-11) at Detroit (0-11): Tennessee by 22
Seattle (2-9) (+12.5) at Dallas (7-4): Dallas by 15
Arizona (7-4) (+3) at Philadelphia (5-5-1): even

SUNDAY, 30 November:

Denver (6-5) (+7.5) at New York Jets (8-3): New York Jets by 10
San Francisco (3-8) (+7) at Buffalo (6-5): Buffalo by 10
New Orleans (6-5) (+3.5) at Tampa Bay (8-3): Tampa Bay by 8
Carolina (7-4) (+3) at Green Bay (5-6): Carolina by 3
New York Giants (10-1) (-3.5) at Washington (7-4): New York Giants by 6
Miami (6-5) (-6) at St. Louis (2-9): Miami by 10
Baltimore (7-4) (-7) at Cincinnati (1-9-1): Baltimore by 13
Indianapolis (7-4) (-4.5) at Cleveland (4-7): Indianapolis by 4
Pittsburgh (8-3) (+1) at New England (7-4): even
Kansas City (1-10) (+3) at Oakland (3-8): Oakland by 8
Atlanta (7-4) (+5) at San Diego (4-7): Atlanta by 3
Chicago (6-5) (+3) at Minnesota (6-5): Minnesota by 3

MONDAY, 1 December:

Jacksonville (4-7) (+3.5) at Houston (4-7): Houston by 2

I think the highest potential for upsets (versus Las Vegas) are New Orleans over Tampa Bay, Chicago over Minnesota, and Pittsburgh over New England. Teams in a must-win situation are San Diego, Green Bay, Philadelphia, Buffalo and Miami.

Here are my NFL power ratings after 12 weeks:

1. New York Giants (10-1) -- 32
2. Tennessee Titans (10-1) -- 31
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3) -- 27
4. Tampa Bay Bucs (8-3) -- 27
5. New York Jets (8-3) -- 27

6. Carolina Panthers (8-3) -- 26
7. Baltimore Ravens (7-4) -- 25
8. Arizona Cardinals (7-4) -- 24
9. Atlanta Falcons (7-4) -- 24
10. New England Patriots (7-4) -- 24

11. Washington Redskins (7-4) -- 23
12. Dallas Cowboys (7-4) -- 23
13. Indianapolis Colts (7-4) -- 23
14. New Orleans Saints (6-5) -- 22
15. Miami Dolphins (6-5) -- 21

16. Minnesota Vikings (6-5) -- 21
17. Philadelphia Eagles (5-5-1) -- 21
18. Buffalo Bills (6-5) -- 21
19. Chicago Bears (6-5) -- 21
20. Green Bay Packers (5-6) -- 20

21. Denver Broncos (6-5) - 20
22. San Diego Chargers (4-7) -- 18
23. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-7) -- 17
24. Cleveland Browns (4-7) -- 16
25. Houston Texans (4-7) -- 16

26. San Francisco 49ers (3-8) -- 14
27. Oakland Raiders (3-8) -- 13
28. Seattle Seahawks (2-9) -- 11
29. Cincinnati Bengals (1-9-1) -- 9
30. Kansas City Chiefs (1-10) -- 8

31. St. Louis Rams (2-9) -- 8
32. Detroit Lions (0-11) -- 6

I predicted the Colts win over the Chargers exactly, 23-20. My Chargers played better on offense, but made critical mistakes. The defense couldn't stop the last Colts drive. The coach made a game management error too. One more loss and the Bolts probably don't make the playoffs (I said that last week too). Now the Falcons come to town with ex-Charger Michael Turner. I call it Falcons 27, Chargers 24.