NFL Week 13 Picks
There are just five weeks remaining in the 2008 NFL Regular Season concludes and playoffs start. Our team of writers and handicappers hand out four picks for Week 13.
Miami Dolphins (6-5) at St. Louis Rams (2-9), 1:00 PM ET
Still hoping to make the playoffs, the Miami Dolphins likely can’t afford their play or any individual attitudes to further unravel in the final weeks of the season.
The upstart Dolphins have a good chance of bouncing back from their first defeat in a month when they visit the lowly St. Louis Rams on Sunday.
Looking to sweep its season series with defending AFC champion New England, Miami (6-5) fell short last Sunday, losing 48-28 at home to the Patriots. It snapped a four-game winning streak for Miami, which fell into a tie with Buffalo for third place in the AFC East, two games back of the division-leading New York Jets.
Pick: Miami – View Game Matchup | Best Line: -7.5 SBG Global
New York Giants (10-1) at Washington Redskins (7-4), 1:00 PM ET
The New York Giants’ last five games were all against teams with winning records, but those opponents did nothing to slow down the defending Super Bowl champions.
The Giants will try to extend their winning streak to seven games Sunday in what should be an emotional environment when they visit the NFC East rival Washington Redskins, who will induct the late Sean Taylor into their Ring of Fame in a pregame ceremony on the one-year anniversary of his death.
New York (10-1) owns the best record in the NFC, thanks in part to an offense that has produced a league-high 329 points – including 138 in the first four games of November. After a win over San Francisco on Oct. 19, the Giants’ last five victories have all come against playoff contenders.
Pick: NY Giants – View Game Matchup | Best Line: -3 SBG Global
Atlanta Falcons (7-4) at San Diego Chargers (4-7), 4:15PM ET
Michael Turner made the most of limited opportunities with the San Diego Chargers. Now, nobody’s getting the ball more often than LaDainian Tomlinson’s former backup.
The Atlanta Falcons, one of the NFL’s top rushing teams thanks to Turner, look to at least keep pace in the NFC South when they visit the struggling Chargers on Sunday.
Turner has been perhaps the best free-agent pickup of the offseason, helping to make Atlanta (7-4) a surprise playoff contender by easing much of the burden that has been placed on rookie quarterback Matt Ryan. The Falcons are second in the NFL in rushing with 151.5 yards per game, and Turner tops the league with 251 carries.
Atlanta has won four straight against San Diego and leads the series 6-1. In the teams’ last meeting, the Falcons won 21-20 at home on Oct. 17, 2004.
Pick: Atlanta – View Game Matchup | Best Line: +4.5 SBG Global
Carolina Panthers (8-3) at Green Bay Packers (5-6), 1:00PM ET
The Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers are both coming off defensive efforts they would like to forget.
Each team looks to bounce back from a disappointing road loss when they meet Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field
Though both teams find themselves in the NFC playoff picture, they certainly didn’t play like teams ready for the postseason last week.
Carolina (8-3) was pushed around in a 45-28 loss at Atlanta last Sunday, allowing the most points in coach John Fox’s seven seasons guiding the Panthers. Despite the outcome, Fox won’t panic knowing his team is tied for the NFC South lead with Tampa Bay, and currently owns the conference’s top wild-card spot.
Jake Delhomme was 21-for-35 for a season-high 295 yards with a touchdown last week. He has thrown for 490 yards and four touchdowns with one interception in two contests against the Packers, who have won four of the last five meetings between these teams.
Pick: Green Bay – View Game Matchup | Best Line: -3 SBG Global
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Posted: 11/29/08 9:00PM ET
