NFL 2023 Week 13 Prequel
Thursday, November 30, 2023, 8pm
Seattle Seahawks at Dallas Cowboys (-9) — The Seahawks are an up and down team. The Cowboys have been looking very good against inferior competition. The Seahawks are inferior competition. At home in prime time, the Cowboys have enough weapons on offense to put this game away. Cowboys cover
Sunday, December 3, 1pm
Los Angeles Chargers (-6) at New England Patriots — Nobody loses close games like the Chargers. Yet the Patriots are just awful. The Patriots have multiple quarterbacks who play badly. Justin Herbert has enough weapons to win this game, but the spread is high for a Chargers team that fails to inspire. Chargers win but fail to cover
Arizona Cardinals at Pittsburgh Steelers (-5 1/2) — The Steelers have been winning ugly, but that is AFC North football. The Cardinals are a mess and Kyler Murray has not been able to stop the losses. The Cardinals are more competitive with him, and the Steelers do no blow teams out. Steelers win but fail to cover
Indianapolis Colts (-2) at Tennessee Titans — The Colts have been playing surprisingly well, and Gardner Minshew is competent. The Titans are injury-riddled. Jonathan Taylor and Derrick Henry can both run the ball. Go with the momentum. Colts cover
Denver Broncos at Houston Texans (-3 1/2) — The Broncos have won five straight games. Their defense is playing fierce. Sean Payton has revitalized Russell Wilson. CJ Stroud is in the running for rookie of the year and has an outside shot at league MVP. The Texans also have a good defense. The Texans lost at home to Jacksonville, and Denver is playing lights out. Upset special, Broncos win outright
Detroit Lions (-4) at New Orleans Saints — The Lions offense has been on a tear this year despite stumbling on Thanksgiving at home. The Saints have been inconsistent. The Saints have a very good defense but their offense is not playing as well as their talent level. The Superdome indoors should allow the Lions track meet offense to stretch the field. Lions win but fail to cover
Atlanta Falcons (-2 1/2) at New York Jets — Both of these teams are afterthoughts. The Jets have a good defense but no quarterback to lead them. The Falcons do not provide such a deep challenge on offense. If the Jets can get even close to average quarterback play at home, their defense will get it done and stop the losing skid. Upset special, Jets win outright
Miami Dolphins (-9 1/2) at Washington Commanders — The Dolphins are very good. The Commanders are not. Ron Rivera’s defense is far below his usual standards. The Dolphins have Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill stretching the field. The spread is high for a road team, and a garbage touchdown from Sam Howell is possible. Dolphins win but fail to cover
4pm
Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-5 1/2) — The Panthers are a flaming mess who just fired he’d coach Frank Reich. The Buccaneers have talent on offense but have been playing below that talent. Yet Carolina is such a mess it may not matter. Buccaneers cover
San Francisco 49ers (-2 1/2) at Philadelphia Eagles — The rematch of the NFC Title Game will be eagerly anticipated. Last year the 49ers had four quarterbacks go down injured but discovered Mr. Irrelevnt Brock Purdy in the process. The Eagles are 10-1 and the 49ers have righted themselves to 8-3 after a three game losing streak. The 49ers are favored, which in itself is shocking. They have a nasty defense, while the Eagles tend to win very close games. The 49ers may be the better team, but the Eagles at home will send a message. Jalen Hurts is special. Upset special, Eagles win outright
Cleveland Browns at Los Angeles Rams (-4) — The Browns have lost two quarterbacks to injury and just signed Joe Flacco. Nobody knows if he can still play. The Browns have a great defense. The Rams are in rebuilding mode. it is hard to trust the Rams, but it is harder to trust Flacco. Matthew Stafford is no slouch. Rams win but fail to cover
8pm
Kansas City Chiefs (-6 1/2) at Green Bay Packers — The Chiefs seem slower than in past years but they are still very good. The Packers got a big Thanksgiving road win at Detroit, but overall are not very good. Patrick Mahomes will tear apart the Green Bay defense. Nobody calls plays like Walrus Andy Reid. The Chiefs defense will hound Jordan Love. Nevertheless, a garbage touchdown at home is realistic against a Chiefs offense that is slightly less potent than normal. Chiefs win but fail to cover
Monday, December 4, 2023, 8pm
Cincinnati Bengals at Jacksonville Jaguars (-8 1/2) — The Bengals without Joe Burrow are finished. Yet the Jaguars are not winning easily. Trevor Lawrence is playing well, but the Bengals has enough of a defense to keep this one close. The Jaguars rarely blow teams out. Jaguars win but fail to cover