Week 13 Pick'em

Here are the standings:
 
Reeb: 122-57
Screw: 114-65
Jemp: 112-67
Pep: 108-71
Alx: 106-73
 
You know what time it is! It’s the time of year that brings us joy and removes all fear. It’s Thanksgiving and we’ve got a full weekend of football. How can anyone not think this is the best holiday? Let’s pick some games.
 
Bears at Lions:
Jemp: Lions,  Reeb: Lions,  Pep: Lions,  Screw: Lions
It’s a Thanksgiving tradition like none other. At midday, you are smelling that Turkey in the oven and tune in to watch the Lions get smashed before dinner. But these aren’t your grandma’s Detroit Lions. This year, the demolition in Detroit will look a little bit different, because Dan Campbell holds no prisoners. This year, the Lions will be biting kneecaps and turkey legs, as they are the unstoppable force that keeps rolling through the NFC. Sure, we expected them to win last year and they were steamrolled by an up and coming Packers team, but even last year’s Lions team pales in comparison to this one. Caleb Williams and this Bears offense is on the rise, but not enough to beat these Lions.
Prediction: Lions win 34-17
 
Giants at Cowboys:
Jemp: Cowboys,  Reeb: Cowboys,  Pep: Cowboys,  Screw: Cowboys
While it’s tradition for the Lions to lose on Thanksgiving, the Cowboys usually play their best (Except when RGIII lights them up for 4 touchdowns). However, it has been a sad season for these lowly Cowboys, and they seemed as bad as anyone once Cooper Rush entered the starting lineup. However, they have been granted a gift from the heavens to play a team that is even more pathetic than they are. The Cowboys have won 7 straight against the Giants and 14 of the last 15. This is a Giants team that is so down bad, that they are worried about the fact that Tommy Devito won’t be able to suit up for this one. But maybe Drew Lock is the hero the Giants need right now. I don’t know, I stupidly picked the Giants last week and they hit rock bottom. I think they can rebound against a Cowboys team that is just as bad. I’ll lone wolf the Giants.
Prediction: Giants win 20-17
 
Dolphins at Packers:
Jemp: Packers,  Reeb: Packers,  Pep: Packers,  Screw: Dolphins
I love this matchup of Mike McDaniel vs. Matt Lafleur. These are probably the two most successful offshoots of the Shanahan/McVay offense, yet they’ve done it in very different ways. McDaniel has brought so much flash to an offense that popularized the “cheat” motion, which can function at the highest level when everything is under control. But it is Matt Lafleur that has created a meat and potatoes offense that can win even when Malik Willis is in at quarterback. I expect the Packers to take care of business here, but if the Dolphins can pull this one out, then I can begin to take them seriously. Prove that they can beat a good team in cold weather and then maybe I’ll buy that this isn’t the same old Dolphins.
Prediction: Packers win 27-20
 
Raiders at Chiefs:
Jemp: Chiefs,  Reeb: Chiefs,  Pep: Chiefs,  Screw: Chiefs
Expect your local shopping malls to be as packed as ever, because no one is staying home to watch Desmond Ridder or Aidan O’Connell try and beat the Chiefs. Sure, the Chiefs might pull their usual bullshit and make the game closer than it should be so they can pull it out at the end. But I doubt that they even need to do that in this one. I just don’t see how the Raiders put up more than 14 points against the Chiefs defense with either of these signal callers.
Prediction: Chiefs win 23-13
 
Chargers at Falcons:
Jemp: Chargers,  Reeb: Chargers,  Pep: Falcons,  Screw: Chargers
Justin Herbert played a spectacular game on Monday Night that made me think he was going to be in the running for MVP, until it was clear all his efforts were futile. Quentin Johnston did his best Kadarius Toney impression and showed the weakness of this Chargers team. When Jalen Reagor isn’t your most mistake prone receiver, you know you have a problem. That being said, I don’t think it shows up in this one, because this Falcons defense is a joke. And while I do like those, I don’t think they can stop the Chargers. I do wonder what the loss of JK Dobbins will do to the offense, but I still have to pick the Chargers here, as much as I want to believe in Kirk.
Prediction: Chargers win 27-24
 
Steelers at Bengals:
Jemp: Steelers,  Reeb: Steelers,  Pep: Steelers,  Screw: Bengals
If the Bengals have a miracle left in them, now would be the time. Joe Burrow got a chance for a reset over the bye week, and now he has TJ Watt and company coming to town. I actually think the Bengals match up pretty well against the Steelers. The Steelers are not a defense that they can expect to score against at will, but the Bengals offense is good enough to put up point against anyone. As for the Steelers offense, I don’t think they are built to take advantage of bad defenses. They are a boom-bust offense with those Russell Wilson moon balls, which aren’t what most defenses are used to defending. Because of this, they tend to put up similar production regardless of the defense they are playing, which is great when they play good defenses, but disappointing when you play a bad defense like the Bengals. Then again, I don’t think the Bengals are good enough to blow the Steelers out and the Steelers always seem to win close games, while the Bengals seem to lose them. Still, I’ll ride with the Bengals, because I don’t want to see them fade away.
Prediction: Bengals win 24-21
 
Cardinals at Vikings:
Jemp: Vikings,  Reeb: Vikings,  Pep: Vikings,  Screw: Vikings
I feel like we definitely would have had some Cardinals backers if this game was played a week ago. Then they went to Seattle and forgot how to play offense. Now they have to go to another tough environment against a team that has been the epitome of consistency. Sure, it wasn’t that pretty, but they took care of the Bears last week, just like they do nearly every week. Yet, the Cardinals are so wild that they’ll probably be good this week and win. But I can’t pick them with how up and down they’ve been, especially in Minneapolis.
Prediction: Vikings win 27-24
 
Colts at Patriots:
Jemp: Colts,  Reeb: Colts,  Pep: Colts,  Screw: Colts
15 years ago this was the best rivalry in the NFL, but I don’t think Maye v. Richardson has the same gravitas as Brady v. Manning. These are two teams just hoping that their young quarterbacks will develop, but I don’t feel the need to sit through their growing pains. In the meantime, the Patriots are just a worse team so I’ll take the Colts on the road.
Prediction: Colts win 31-17
 
Seahawks at Jets:
Jemp: Seahawks,  Reeb: Jets,  Pep: Seahawks,  Screw: Seahawks
I’m not sure how much I trust the Seahawks, but it’s way more than I trust the Jets. There are a lot of dumpster fires in the NFL right now, but none is as big and as smelly as these New York Jets. I don’t think anyone want to be there right now, and Aaron Rodgers is probably already in talks of where he’s going next year. He probably should retire, but I feel like his ego will make him try to prove he can succeed somewhere else. But we already know he isn’t succeeding here.
Prediction: Seahawks win 24-10
 
Titans at Commanders:
Jemp: Commanders,  Reeb: Commanders,  Pep: Commanders,  Screw: Commanders
Will Levis had one of the weirdest games I’ve ever witnessed. He took eight sacks, lost a fumble and threw a pick six, and after the game everyone is like “Will Levis really showed some improvement.” That is just the Will Levis experience. But he has no chance in this one because he has to go to Landover.
Prediction: Commanders win 100-0
 
Texans at Jaguars:
Jemp: Texans,  Reeb: Texans,  Pep: Texans,  Screw: Texans
I always forget how many bad teams are in the NFL right now until I write the pick’em. The Jaguars with Mac Jones at quarterback are not a serious operation. However, there is a chance that Trevor Lawrence plays this week, and if that’s the case, I’m not sure I trust the Texans to win this one, which is kind of sad. The Jaguars weren’t good with Lawrence, but they were at least competitive, and that might be good enough to steal one from this Texans team. But without knowing he is playing I can’t bet on the longshot for them to win anyway.
Prediction: Texans win 26-13
 
Rams at Saints:
Jemp: Rams,  Reeb: Rams,  Pep: Rams,  Screw: Rams
This game is actually pretty interesting. I want to take the Rams because they are fun and I’d like them to win the NFC West, but I don’t know if they are actually much better than this Saints team. Since Coach Rizz took over, the Saints are 2-0, and we know this team has some potential as demonstrated by their start to the season. Their defense fell apart under Dennis Allen, but their biggest problem was tackling that may have been attributed to poor effort. And the effort has skyrocketed since Dennis Allen left the building. Still, I don’t think Taysom Hill can continue to carry their offense, so I’ll take the Rams on the road.
Prediction: Rams win 24-21
 
Buccaneers at Panthers:
Jemp: Bucs,  Reeb: Bucs,  Pep: Bucs,  Screw: Bucs
Was that Bryce Young out there or Drew Brees? It’s astounding the improvement we’ve seen from Bryce in his few starts back. He clearly improved in his first game back from the benching, but he’s gotten better every week and last week was a near masterclass. Unfortunately he was playing Patrick Mahomes, so the Panthers couldn’t pull out the win, but that is good for Panthers fans anyway since they finally have a first round pick again. He still has very little around him, so I’m obviously taking the Bucs, but he could actually keep this job next year which seemed impossible after the benching.
Prediction: Buccaneers win 28-20
 
Eagles at Ravens:
Jemp: Ravens,  Reeb: Ravens,  Pep: Ravens,  Screw: Ravens
Easily the game of the week here, as this is a potential Super Bowl preview. Both of these teams played in primetime last week and proved why they are true contenders. These are the probably the two best rushing attacks in the NFL right now, with Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry in a battle for OPOY and potentially MVP as well. I’m surprised everyone is taking the Ravens because I feel like the Eagles are the better team right now. Both offenses are deadly with how well they can run the ball, but the Eagles defense is really coming together, while the Ravens defense is still shaky. The only issue in this one is that while the Eagles have a much better defense overall, the Eagles are built to stop the pass, while the Ravens are built to stop the run. That bodes well for the Ravens as both these offenses are built on the running game.  But I can’t pass up this opportunity to lone wolf a team that I think is better, even if they are on the road in a tough matchup, and I hate them with every fiber of my being.
Prediction: Eagles win 30-27
 
49ers at Bills:
Jemp: Bills,  Reeb: Bills,  Pep: Bills,  Screw: Bills
Well I obviously would not have picked the niners last week if I knew Brock Purdy wasn’t going to play when I wrote the pick’em. However, the niners are so banged up that I don’t think they were winning this with Purdy either. I understand why we thought this was going to be a great Sunday Night Football game, but now I don’t know if it will be. Hopefully Purdy can come back so we can give the 49ers some chance, but even then I would have to pick the Bills at home.
Prediction: Bills win 31-14
 
Browns at Broncos:
Jemp: Broncos,  Reeb: Broncos,  Pep: Broncos,  Screw: Broncos
Jameis Winston revenge game against Sean Payton? This might not be Eagles Ravens, but I think it could be a fun game. While the Broncos have been rolling lately, I’m not sure if I trust them to win every game they should, and Jameis can always play the role of spoiler. Can I count on him to do that? Absolutely not. He just got the improbable win last week, but a coin can come up heads twice in a row. I’m down in the pick’em and I’m just tossing things out there, so I’ll lone wolf the Browns on the road.
Prediction: Browns win 28-24