NFL Week 13 serves up another slate of marvelous matchups, divisional rivalries, and games that could begin to shape not only the NFL Playoffs but the NFL Draft order for next April. Can the Los Angeles Rams put an end to the Arizona Cardinals’ quest for the NFC West title? Will the New York Jets lose again? Who will seize the initiative in the AFC South? The answers to these questions and more are right here with our NFL Week 13 predictions against the spread.
NFL Week 13 predictions against the spread
All spread lines are provided by DraftKings and were correct at the time of writing. They are, of course, subject to change the closer we get to kickoff.
Sunday, December 6th, 1:00 pm ET
New Orleans Saints (-3.5) @ Atlanta Falcons (+3.5)
Taysom Hill led the New Orleans Saints to victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 11, and the former BYU quarterback will start for possibly the final time before Drew Brees returns in this NFC South rematch.
The Falcons provided the surprise of Week 12 in beating the Las Vegas Raiders but don’t let the impressive scoreline fool you. In Week 13, they face a Saints run defense that is among the best in the NFL this season, as well as having allowed just 227 passing yards per game.
NFL predictions against the spread for this Week 13 NFC South clash: The Saints win and cover the spread.
Final score predictions: New Orleans Saints 27 Atlanta Falcons 18
Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are on a five-game winning streak in this NFC North rivalry, with a 27-23 victory earlier in the 2020 NFL season being their most recent victory. The Bears will face a new head coach after the Detroit Lions parted ways with Matt Patricia following the humiliating defeat to the Houston Texans on Thanksgiving.
With neither offense particularly prolific, the game should be decided on defense, and the Bears have one of the best in the NFL.
NFL predictions against the spread for this Week 13 NFC North rivalry: No spread available at the time of writing.
Final score prediction: Detroit Lions 18 Chicago Bears 21
Cleveland Browns (+4.0) @ Tennessee Titans (-4.0)
Two of the NFL’s most explosive rushing teams collide in Week 13 as the Derick Henry led Tennessee Titans welcome Nick Chubb and the Cleveland Browns to Nashville. Although the Browns’ run defense is allowing less rushing yards per game than the Titans, the play of A.J. Brown in recent weeks should give Tennessee confidence that they can overcome Cleveland through the air if somehow the Browns manage to contain the juggernaut that is Henry on the ground.
NFL predictions against the spread for this Week 13 rushing rumble: The Titans win and cover the spread.
Final score prediction: Cleveland Browns 24 Tennessee Titans 31
Cincinnati Bengals (+11.0) @ Miami Dolphins (-11.0)
After losing Joe Burrow to a season-ending injury in Week 11, the Cincinnati Bengals were offensively inept against the New York Giants in their Week 12. Although the Dolphins had their own offensive struggles in a win over the New York Jets, they should be able to once again lean on a defense that has carried the team to several victories this season.
With Joe Mixon not eligible to return until Week 14, it is difficult to see where the offensive inspiration will come from for the Bengals.
NFL predictions against the spread for this Week 13 matchup: The Dolphins win but narrowly fail to cover the spread.
Final score prediction: Cincinnati Bengals 14 Miami Dolphins 24
Jacksonville Jaguars (+9.5) @ Minnesota Vikings (-9.5)
The Jacksonville Jaguars fired general manager Dave Caldwell in the immediate aftermath of their Week 12 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Will a change in the front office create some passion on the field? It seems unlikely that a team that has now started three different quarterbacks and engineered just one win suddenly goes on a winning run.
Kirk Cousins threw a game-winning touchdown to Chad Beebe to overcome the Carolina Panthers last time out, and with Adam Thielen returning to the team, they should be easily able to overcome a Jaguars defense that has allowed the sixth-most passing touchdowns and fourth-most passing yards per game.
NFL predictions against the spread for this Week 13 clash: The Vikings win but fail to cover the spread.
Final score prediction: Jacksonville Jaguars 21 Minnesota Vikings 30
Las Vegas Raiders (-7.5) @ New York Jets (+7.5)
Derek Carr went from throwing three touchdowns against the Kansas City Chiefs to having three fumbles against the Atlanta Falcons in a Las Vegas Raiders defeat that was arguably the shock of the week. The Week 13 matchup with the New York Jets offers Carr the perfect opportunity for immediate redemption.
The Jets have given up the third-most passing yards per game and allowed two passing touchdowns per game.
NFL predictions against the spread for this Week 13 game: The Raiders win and easily cover the spread.
Final score prediction: Las Vegas Raiders 30 New York Jets 14
Washington Football Team @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Rookie running back Antonio Gibson gave Washington Football Team fans something to be thankful for as his three touchdowns downed the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving. However, the Steelers have been dominant against the run so far this 2020 NFL season, allowing just five touchdowns and just over 100 yards per game prior to their rescheduled AFC North clash with the Baltimore Ravens.
It is still unclear at the time of writing if Tuesday night’s game will go ahead, and therefore we don’t know if the Steelers will still be undefeated. If Washington is to have any chance of a surprise victory, they will have to attack the Steelers’ passing defense with Alex Smith and Terry McLaurin.
NFL predictions against the spread for this Week 13 game: No spread available at the time of writing.
Final score prediction: Washington Football Team 17 Pittsburgh Steelers 27
Indianapolis Colts (-2.5) @ Houston Texans (+2.5)
The Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts face off for the first of two games in three weeks. The Colts have an overwhelming head to head advantage leading the series 28-9 despite losing the most recent matchup between the two AFC South rivals.
Despite being trampled on the ground against the Titans, the Colts have one of the best all-around defenses in the NFL. The Texans produced an impressive passing performance to defeat the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Thursday, but the Colts provide an entirely different test. It should be a tight game, but I expect the Colts to edge it.
NFL predictions against the spread for this Week 13 AFC South showdown: The Colts win and just manage to cover the spread.
Final score predictions: Indianapolis Colts 27 Houston Texans 24
Sunday, December 6th, 4:05 pm ET
Los Angeles Rams (-2.0) @ Arizona Cardinals (+2.0)
Both of these NFC West rivals suffered unexpected defeats last week, and this now becomes a must-win game for both teams. The Los Angeles Rams lead the head to head record 43-38-2 and have won the last six encounters over the Arizona Cardinals. In those six games, they have shutout the Cardinals offense on two occasions, in 2017 and 2018.
Although it should be a closer game than those recent encounters, the Rams should be defensively strong enough to contain Kyler Murray and a Cardinals offense that struggled against the New England Patriots in Week 12. The Rams run defense has allowed less than 100 yards per game, and their pass rush has the sixth most sacks in the NFL.
NFL predictions against the spread for this Week 13 NFC West showdown: The Rams sneak a win but fail to cover the spread.
Final score prediction: Los Angeles Rams 24 Arizona Cardinals 23
New York Giants @ Seattle Seahawks
The New York Giants overcame the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 12 but at what cost? Quarterback Daniel Jones suffered a hamstring injury, and although the Giants staff initially seemed optimistic, there is a good chance that a scan on Monday will reveal that Jones will miss some game time, starting the clash with the Seattle Seahawks.
The Giants haven’t beaten a team with a winning record so far this season, and I expect that run to continue in Week 13. The Seahawks have one of the most explosive passing games in the NFL with Russell Wilson, Tyler Lockett, and DK Metcalf, and the Giants have allowed the ninth-most passing yards in the NFL so far this season. Even with Jones, there seems little chance of the Giants’ offense keeping pace with Seattle, and even less chance without.
NFL predictions against the spread for this Week 13 matchup: No spread available at the time of writing.
Final score prediction: New York Giants 21 Seattle Seahawks 34
Sunday, December 6th, 4:25 pm ET
Philadelphia Eagles @ Green Bay Packers
Carson Wentz is a quarterback under pressure for the Philadelphia Eagles. with reports indicating that rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts could be set to start taking more snaps in games.
There are no such problems for the Green Bay Packers, with Aaron Rodgers sitting near the top of the passing yards and touchdown rankings as the Green Bay Packers head towards the NFC North title. The Eagles defense has been one of the better units against the pass, but Aaron Jones could take advantage of a run defense allowing over 130 yards per game.
NFL predictions against the spread for this Week 13 clash: No spread available at the time of writing.
Final score prediction: Philadelphia Eagles 24 Green Bay Packers 35
New England Patriots (+1.0) @ Los Angeles Chargers (-1.0)
The New England Patriots did a good job defensively in their win over the Arizona Cardinals, and a repeat performance could provide rookie quarterback Justin Herbert some problems when they face the Los Angeles Chargers in the late afternoon slate. Both starting quarterbacks struggled in Week 12, with Cam Newton throwing two interceptions and Herbert throwing an interception and fumbling twice.
The game should come down to who can dominate the ground game. The Patriots are averaging the fourth-most rushing yards per game, and with the Chargers allowing double-digit rushing touchdowns, that could prove the difference-maker.
NFL predictions against the spread for this Week 13 matchup: The Patriots win and narrowly cover the spread.
Final score prediction: New England Patriots 23 Los Angeles Chargers 21
Sunday, December 6th, 8:20 pm ET
Denver Broncos (+13.5) @ Kansas City Chiefs (-13.5)
The Kansas City Chiefs haven’t lost this AFC West rivalry game with the Denver Broncos since 2015. After winning 43-16 in the first matchup of the 2020 NFL season, the Chiefs look like going through another year with a clean sweep.
Although it is unfair to judge the Broncos offense, that featured wide receiver turned quarterback Kendall Hinton, from their Week 12 blow out against the New Orleans Saints, the defense couldn’t contain Taysom Hill, and if they can’t stop a Saints offense led by the former BYU quarterback, then they have no chance against Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill.
NFL predictions against the spread for this AFC West rivalry game: The Chiefs win and cover the spread comfortably.
Final score prediction: Denver Broncos 17 Kansas City Chiefs 35
Monday, December 7th, 5 pm ET
Dallas Cowboys @ Baltimore Ravens
After a dismal showing on Thanksgiving, Andy Dalton has to lead the Dallas Cowboys against a Baltimore Ravens pass rush that features in the top five NFL defenses for quarterback pressure and knockdown percentages. It figures to be a long night for the Cowboys offense, especially as they continue to struggle on the ground with Ezekiel Elliott.
There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the Baltimore Ravens players entering this game, but if they are at even half strength on that side of the ball, they should be able to handle a Cowboys team that has struggled in 2020.
NFL predictions against the spread for the Week 13 rescheduled Thursday Night Football: No spread available at the time of writing.
Final score prediction: Dallas Cowboys 19 Baltimore Ravens 27
Monday, December 7th, 8:15 pm ET
Buffalo Bills (-3.0) @ San Francisco 49ers (+3.0)
With an injury-ravaged roster, the San Francisco 49ers still managed to upset the Los Angeles Rams in Week 12, breaking a three-game losing streak dating back to late October. Can they build off the back and put another team on upset alert when they face the Buffalo Bills in Week 13?
Although the 49ers rushing attack hasn’t been as potent as last season, they still consistently find the end zone on the ground, and the Bills’ run defense has given up the fourth-most rushing yards per game in the league and allowed amongst the most rushing touchdowns. The 49ers’ defense faces a tough task against Josh Allen but proved they can force turnovers in the passing game with two interceptions of Jared Goff last week.
NFL predictions against the spread for Week 13 Monday Night Football: The 49ers get a surprise win and cover the spread.
Final score prediction: Buffalo Bills 23 San Francisco 49ers 26
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Oliver Hodgkinson is an NFL Draft and NFL analytics contributor for the Pro Football Network. You can follow him on Twitter at @ojhodgkinson.