The New Orleans Saints handled their business on Thanksgiving with an NFC South-clinching win over the Atlanta Falcons, and they received some help in the earlier games considering the greater scope of the NFC playoff picture. The visiting Buffalo Bills ran roughshod over the Dallas Cowboys, who are hanging onto the NFC East title by a thread, while the Chicago Bears outlasted the Detroit Lions, guaranteeing a longer stay for inconsistent quarterback Mitchell Trubisky.
Now, Saints fans get a long, stress-free weekend of football. Here’s who you should hope wins every game left on the Week 13 schedule, with some serious playoff implications on the line. All odds come from BetMGM.
Around the NFC South
Washington Redskins (2-9) at Carolina Panthers (5-6). Panthers by 9.5. It’s time for the other NFC South teams to start playing for draft position, which means it’s in their interest to lose out and get better players next year. Don’t let that happen, and root for Washington to pull off an upset.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7) at Jacksonville Jaguars (4-7). Jaguars by 2.5. If Tampa Bay wins, they’ll have worse draft positioning and maybe talk themselves into sticking with Jameis Winston at quarterback. Root for that.
Painting the NFC Playoff Picture
San Francisco 49ers (10-1) at Baltimore Ravens (9-2). Ravens by 5.5. Root for the Ravens to win and force the 49ers into a tough spot before their game with the Saints next week.
Minnesota Vikings (8-3) at Seattle Seahawks (9-2). Vikings by 2.5. These teams are playing for playoff seeding, so root for the Seahawks to defend the fifth seed and keep the Vikings a guaranteed road team.
Green Bay Packers (8-3) at New York Giants (2-9). Packers by 6.5. The Packers have a tenuous hold on the NFC North; root for chaos, and a big Giants upset.
Los Angeles Rams (6-5) at Arizona Cardinals (3-7-1). Kyler Murray may not play this game due to an injury, but root for the Cardinals either way. The Rams can’t afford another loss and still hope to reach the playoffs.
Philadelphia Eagles (5-6) at Miami Dolphins (2-9). Eagles by 9.5. The Eagles would easily be the worst NFC playoff team if they displace the Cowboys, so root for them to win here.
Leftovers and Lagniappe
Tennessee Titans (6-5) at Indianapolis Colts (6-5). Colts by 2.5. New Orleans has to play both of these teams down the stretch, so it can be hard to pick one or the other in this game. A Colts loss would decrease their playoff chances and maybe make them throw in the towel ahead of their Monday Night Football game with the Saints in a few weeks. Root for Tennessee.
New England Patriots (10-1) at Houston Texans (7-4). Patriots by 3.5. Never pull for the Patriots. Root for the Texans and young star quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Oakland Raiders (6-5) at Kansas City Chiefs (7-4). Chiefs by 9.5. Raiders fans can use a win after their strange loss to the Jets, so root for that despite their long odds.
Los Angeles Chargers (4-7) at Denver Broncos (3-8). Chargers by 2.5. The Broncos are auditioning rookie quarterback Drew Lock, so root for him to thrive and keep Denver from drafting another rookie highly next year (when the Saints are scheduled to visit).
New York Jets (4-7) at Cincinnati Bengals (0-11). Jets by 3.5. Bengals fans don’t deserve this after all their team has put them through. Root for them to finally get a win.
Cleveland Browns (5-6) at Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5). Browns by 1.5. Many LSU Tigers fans can sympathize with embattled Browns wideouts Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry, and cornerback Greedy Williams. Root for them to win and keep their playoff hopes alive.
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