LAST WEEK’S RECORD:(9-4)

THURSDAY NIGHT RECORD:(6-6)

FRIDAY NIGHT RECORD:(0-1)

MONDAY NIGHT RECORD:(10-4)

SEASON RECORD:(114-65)

NFL WEEK 13 STRAIGHT PICK-EM

TURKEY THURSDAY GAMES

CHICAGO BEARS(4-7) AT DETROIT LIONS(10-1)

The Lions have roared to 9 straight victories and always play their best on Thanksgiving Day. Can the Bears find a way to upset the Lions as losers of 5 straight games? The Bears gave the Packers and the Vikings a battle the last two weeks. In both games they shot themselves in the foot at the end. Meanwhile the Lions even when they play bad they can overcome mistakes unlike the Bears. The Lions have played mistake-free most of the season and that’s why they are the cream of the crop of the NFC. I don’t trust the Bears, too many rookie mistakes by Caleb Williams behind center. Then the head coach of the Bears, Matt Eberflus, should just be defensive coach somewhere. The mistakes he makes with time management and when his team is going for it on 4th down. Mind baffling. Add in all the penalties. How can I make a case for the Bears to upset the Lions? Lions are the better team across the board.

OUR PICK: LIONS

NEW YORK GIANTS(2-9) AT DALLAS COWBOYS(4-7)

Tommy DeVito versus Cooper Rush are your starting quarterbacks in this week 13 match up on Thanksgiving. You may want to pass on the stuffing. You may want to schedule your turkey feast when this game is on. The Giants have lost six straight. The Cowboys awakened from a giant losing streak to knock off the Commanders last week in a thriller. In DeVito’s first start of the year the G-Men offense did not do anything against Tampa Bay. The Cowboys offense can still move the ball with Cooper Rush. Rush is now 6-3 as a starter and Devito is 3-4 which most of those games came last year. This Giants team is going through the motions right now. Dallas has not played well at home but this will change. Dallas should be able to finish New York off by the time dessert hits your plate.

OUR PICK: COWBOYS

MIAMI DOLPHINS(5-6) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS(8-3)

The Miami Dolphins are on the verge of getting back to the 500 mark versus the Packers. The Packers are trying to keep up with the Vikings and the Lions in their own division. The Dolphins have won three straight as Tugo Tagovailia is wheeling and dealing in TUA time in Miami, winner of three straight games. The Packers knocked off the 49ers last Sunday as San Francisco were playing without their starting QB Brock Purdy. How cold will it be in Green Bay? That is my first question. Remember the Dolphin ice cubes in the post season last year versus the Chiefs. We know it will not be that cold. Miami on the road trying to beat a team with a winning record is the smoking gun to go Packers. The Packers have played well on both sides of the ball. Jordan Love can keep up with Tua. Love just needs to avoid the turnovers and I like the Pack at home in this one.

OUR PICK: PACKERS

BLACK FRIDAY

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS(2-9) AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS(10-1)

You know Amazon has to have their own day as they will host the Black Friday game. Last year when the Raiders upset the Chiefs on Christmas Day, that game was hosted by Nickelodeon. Everyone probably thought another Raiders/Chiefs game has to be on National Television. We did not know how the Raiders have sunk since then. The good news is the silver and black with starter Aidan O’Connell behind center.

No chance. Gardner Minshew suffered a broken collar bone last week versus the Broncos and it could have been Desmond Ridder getting the start for the Raiders. O’Connell suffered a broken thumb was out a few weeks but being back gives the Raiders a better chance. Who knows, the Panthers took the Chiefs to OT last week. Chiefs would prevail but definitely got a scare. This is a division game, so it could be a close game for little while. I love to see Mad Max Crosby disrupt the Chiefs offense and get a few good licks on Patrick Mahomes. The Raiders have lost 7 straight. The Chiefs are a tough opponent when they play at home. Watching this game is better than shopping.

OUR PICK: CHIEFS

THE SUNDAY SLATE

LA CHARGERS(7-4) AT ATLANTA FALCONS(6-5)

The Chargers are finally playing some tougher teams as they gave the Ravens a battle but the 30-23 score was not as close as you think. Meanwhile the Falcons have lost two straight games and come off their bye week as they still are perched on top of the NFC South. It will be a short week for the Chargers and a long flight to Atlanta. The Chargers defense has played well this season. Mostly they played inferior competition. I think the Falcons will be ready for this game. The Falcons offense went dormant in the two losses. I think Kirk Cousins steps up and has a big game. Justin Herbert has played well, but Falcons defense will be geared up. The Bolts will still be stunned from the Monday night loss as the Falcons balanced offense will keep the Charger defense off their game. It will be a close game in the end and Falcons find the win column once again.

OUR PICK: FALCONS

PITTSBURGH STEELERS(8-3) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS(4-7)

I feel we will start seeing the wheels on the Pittsburgh bus start falling off after the loss to Cleveland on Thursday.

The Bengals who had a bye last week have a 4-7 record. You know Joe Burrow and his striped friends think Cincinnati can go on a hot streak starting at home with the Steelers and perhaps sneak into the back door of post-season play. Russell Wilson is now starting to look like the Denver version of himself. The Steelers number one wide receiver George Pickens blames the snow for the loss in Cleveland. Like the Browns were not playing in the snow. When they had the ball it was rainbows and unicorns with sunny skies. I feel this game could have one final gasp from the Bengals that their season is not over. Burrow and that Bengals offense can outscore Wilson from his Seattle days.

OUR PICK: BENGALS

HOUSTON TEXANS(7-5) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS(2-9)

It seems like CJ Stroud is feeling the sophomore slump after taking the NFL by storm last week. The Jaguars may have their starting QB back in action. Will Trevor Lawrence suit up? I really don’t know why the Jags would risk further injuries on their franchise QB who should just be shut down the rest of the way. The Texans were victim of an upset by the Titans last week. The Jaguars were on their bye week as they have lost 4 straight games. I like the Texans getting back in the win column quickly. That bad Jaguars defense should be a good way to build some late season confidence for Stroud.

OUR PICK: TEXANS

ARIZONA CARDINALS(6-5) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS(9-2)

Which team do you trust here? The Cardinals offense disappeared last week in a division game versus the Seahawks. The Vikings just got by the Bears and won their 3rd straight road game. The Vikings won 4 straight game and overall are finally back at home. Neither of these teams I would have thought would have winning records this late in the season. The Vikings have been winning despite Sam Darnold not playing that well. He did play well last week in Chicago. I like the Viking defense to rattle Kyler Murray’s cage and keep him from getting off clean passes. I think Darnold can get a big touchdown strike from Justin Jefferson who was too quiet last week in Chicago. Home cooking prevails for the purple. Anyone for Cardinal chili?

OUR PICK: VIKINGS

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS(5-7) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS(3-9)

The Colts offense was not seen last week versus the Lions. The Patriots have lost two straight games and those losses did not look good. Drake Maye could generate some points against this Colts defense. I expect the Colts offense to be able to score off the legs of Jonathan Taylor. Anthony Richardson has shown some signs of improvement over the last few games. Richardson behind center this season has a 4-4 record. He is 6-6 since his rookie season last year. He has some nice weapons to throw to on this Colts offense and should be able to make all his throws versus a Patriots defense that is vanilla right now. This game will stay reasonably close, but Colts distance themselves late in the second half for the victory.

OUR PICK: COLTS

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS(6-5) AT NEW YORK JETS(3-8)

Which quarterback in this match up has more to prove: Aaron Rodgers or Geno Smith? I think it’s Rodgers because he is running out of excuses after each loss. Talk in the media is he’d like to be elsewhere in 2025, and then some rumblings he’d like to stay in New York. If Rodgers continues to play like he has and be the cancer in the locker room, he will not be playing anywhere next year. Career over on a whimper along with crying and screaming as we should expect. The Seahawks had a big win versus the division rival Cardinals last week. Could the Jets be a trap game as Seattle meets Arizona next week in the desert. Geno Smith in two games versus his old team the Jets has done well. The Seahawks defense has recently got their mojo back. The Jets are not a disciplined team and make too many bone-headed mistakes. I don’t trust them. I like Seattle escaping Jersey with a big win before they head to Cardinal-land.

OUR PICK: SEAHAWKS

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS(5-6) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS(3-8)

The Buccaneers came off their bye week healthy and gave the G-Men a beat down. That is nothing special as the Giants are terrible. Baker Mayfield giving the fans and Giants QB the Italian capiche gesture after a a Buccaneer score. The Panthers have won 2 out of their last three games and gave the Chiefs a scare in Carolina. Bryce Young is suddenly finding his NFL groove as he struggled last year and in the first half of this season. The Panthers are no easy task. I like the Buccaneers as Mayfield is playing on another level, has his guys back, and that Tampa Bay defense is swarming once again. Mayfield may have other worries in the future.

OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS

TENNESSEE TITANS(3-8) AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS(7-5)

Suddenly the Commanders season is crumbling as they have lost 3 straight games. The Titans stunned their division rival Houston Texans last Sunday scoring 32 points with Will Levis behind center. The Commanders were sitting pretty a few weeks back & then lost two tough games against solid opponents in the Steelers and Eagles. How do you explain a bad Cowboy team taking down the Commanders last week? Sometimes heated division rivals know you the best which explains the Titans win over the Texans. Look for Jayden Daniels to stop the bleeding in this one. I can’t jump on the Titan bandwagon on one good game. The Commanders are the better football team and will look like it at the end of this one.

OUR PICK: COMMANDERS

LA RAMS(5-6) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS(4-7)

How do you figure out this match up? When I pick either one of these teams to win, they come back to bite me on the rear. The Saints are 2-0 under their interim head coach Darren Rizzi. The Rams offense with that running game and all those talented wide receivers you wonder why their record is below 500. What have the Saints been drinking the last two games to turn their season around? Their offense is humming and the defense is playing well. Derek Carr versus Matthew Stafford on their best day you have to lean towards Stafford. The Eagles put 37 points on that Rams defense. The Eagles put up 12 points on the Saints defense earlier this season. The Rams defense has been up and down this season. The Saints have scored 55 points in the last two games. The Saints offense is well-balanced and has a much faster pace. I like the Saints to keep on rolling here.

OUR PICK: SAINTS

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES(9-2) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS(8-4)

Could this match up be a preview of the upcoming Superbowl? Sorry, lost my head. No Chiefs? The NFL writers would be appalled with us going off script. The Eagles are one of the hottest teams in the NFL winning seven straight games. The Ravens showed up on Monday night and flexed their offensive muscles and took care of business against the Chargers after being knocked off by Pittsburgh the week before. The Eagles destroyed the Rams, a playoff team from last season. Jalen Hurts has this Eagles offense playing well. Lamar Jackson is 23-3 all-time versus NFC opponents. The Eagles have the better defense as the Ravens are still MIA this season. The Eagles have many young pieces assembled on their defensive unit. With Derrick Henry and Jackson who’s running when Lamar is passing might be complicated for the younger guys seeing this unfold in front of their eyes. This game could go either way. I like the Ravens ending the Eagles winning streak. Which may benefit Philly in the long run.

OUR PICK: RAVENS

THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS(5-6) AT BUFFALO BILLS(9-2)

The Bills are at home with snow in the forecast and will be facing a Californian team on Sunday night. Sounds like a winning recipe to me. The Bills are well-rested and coming off their bye week. The 49ers may be without their starting QB Brock Purdy for the second straight week. The 49ers did not look good with their Allen in Brandon as their staring QB last Sunday versus the Packers. The Bills went on their bye week beating the Chiefs and giving Kansas City their first loss of the year. The 49ers are not the same team from the past Superbowl. They seem like a shell of their former selves. Riddled with injuries. The Bills have some injuries, but they welcome back their stud linebacker Matt Milano who has missed over a year of action on the field. It is tough to win in Buffalo especially in cold temperatures. I like Josh Allen and the way this Bills team has played the last several weeks. The defense of the Bills is getting back to their stingy ways. Milano gives this team that extra lift and motivation to get the job done. The Bills win this one.

OUR PICK: BILLS

THE MONDAY NIGHT PARTY

CLEVELAND BROWNS(3-8) AT DENVER BRONCOS(7-5)

Jameis Winston has started 4 games for Cleveland. Winston has prevailed over the Ravens and then the Steelers last week. The Broncos have won two straight and have one of the best defensive units in the NFL. Winston has lost to bad teams, but can he manage a clean game versus this Broncos wrecking crew on the road? The Browns defense played well last year. This season the Browns defense has given up more points and are not the same stingy unit as they were in 2023. The Broncos offense may have the best rookie QB in the league in Bo Nix. Nix’s completion rating has been off the charts especially in the last few games. Winston is normally a turnover machine. He has not won back to back games in a Cleveland uniform. I like the Broncos stopping Nick Chubb to fluster Winston. Nix does his thing and Denver is getting closer to a playoff spot.

OUR PICK: BRONCOS