PIGSKIN 2017: Week Thirteen

PIGSKIN

FOOTBALL SUNDAY

Week Thirteen

RESULTS

Week One 

Week Two

Week Three

Week Four

Week Five

Week Six

Week Seven

Week Eight

Week Nine

Week Ten

Week Eleven

Thanksgiving Day
Week Twelve

Scoreboard:

Week Twelve Record:  6-9

Overall Record:  67-81-4

Schmear of the Week:  7-5

Bagels in the Basket:  -12

1st and Ten:

• It's gut check time for Philadelphia.  Since they're not experiencing any resistance from within their own division, we now get to see what the 10-1 Eagles are really all about.  This week and next, they will be facing their toughest competition of the season to date.  Their performance against the Seahawks and Rams, both on the road, will either validate their season, or start emboldening naysayers.  In turn, the Eagles next two games will also go a long way towards deciding the NFC West.  Seattle beat the Rams earlier this season, and the two face off again in three weeks.

• The Battle for the NFC South is on!  With 8-3 records, the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers are tied for first place.  Saints are favored by four.  They previously defeated the Panthers 34-13 in Week Three.

• It's time for the Jacksonville Jaguars to take sole possession of first place in the AFC South.  Tied with the Jags with a 7-4 record, the Titans sport a -24 point differential.  The Jaguars on the other hand, have allowed the fewest points in the NFL, and are fourth in the AFC in scoring.

• The Patriots, Steelers, and Vikings, continue traveling along paths of least resistance.

2nd and Long:

• With five games remaining in the regular season, the second place Bills, Ravens, and Lions, are all three games behind their respective division leaders.

No Gain:

• The AFC West is an absolute mess.  Despite losing five of their last six games, the Chiefs still lead the division with a 6-5 record.  With no shot at winning a Wild Card spot, the Chargers and Raiders, both with 5-6 records, can still emerge as division winners.

PUNT!

• After making 210 consecutive starts at quarterback, the head coach and front office of the New York Giants have decided to bench Eli Manning in favor of Geno Smith.  Giants owner John Mara said he underestimated the backlash.  C'mon, man!

ICYMI: Giants Decide Eli No Longer The Mann..

WEEK THIRTEEN

Friday Line ~ NYDN

RAIDERS -9 (Giants)

Two words: Geno Smith.  Giants front office is gonna learn a sad lesson in bad karma.
Loss  24-17 Raiders

Chiefs -3 (JETS)

The free falling Chiefs need to pull themselves together, and fast.  Therefore, I'll base this pick on desperation.  As well(?) as the Jets have battled this season, they are coming off a very disheartening loss.  Any Jets win would be very counter-productive at this point, and that's exactly why I wouldn't bet against them.  Stay away!
Loss  38-31 Jets

Lions +3 (RAVENS)

Blame this one on NFL scheduling.  Lions should have worked off all that Thanksgiving turkey by now.  Ravens are coming off a Monday night game.  Never know which Joe Flacco shows up these days.
Loss  44-20 Ravens

BEARS -3 1/2 (49ers)

Jimmy Garoppolo will start for the Niners!  So what.  Bears should still be able to muster a win at home.
Loss  15-14 Niners

FALCONS -3 (Vikings)

Tough call ... toughest of the day.  I like Minny in my heart; they've won seven in a row.  But the Falcons are finally starting to click again.  They've won three in a row.  I'll go with the home team and a little luck.
Loss  14-9 Vikings

Patriots -9 (BILLS)

Patriots are averaging 13 points allowed over their last seven games.  Bills won't be breaking that trend.
WIN  23-3 Patriots

DOLPHINS +1 1/2 (Broncos)
There's bad, then there's worse.  Miami has lost five in a row, but the Broncos have lost seven in a row.  This boils down to which team cares less, or more, or at all?  A game otherwise perfectly suited for London.  Jay Cutler is back for the Sea Mammals.  Be sure and bet the children's college fund.
WIN  35-9 Dolphins

Texans +7 (TITANS)

I still say the Titans are pretenders.  We'll see.
Loss  24-13 Titans

JAGUARS -10 (Colts)

See Titans game ... Jags will take over sole possession of the AFC South.  Colts and Hogs are the only two teams so far to have surrendered over 300 points this season.
WIN  30-10 Jaguars

Bucs +1 (PACKERS)

When the Packers are only laying one point, at home, in December, you know there's something wrong.
Loss  26-20 Packers

SAINTS -4 (Panthers)

Panthers still look like they're sipping on the cat nip.  Take the Saints with confidence.
WIN  31-21 Saints

CHARGERS -14 (Browns)

After two big wins, the Bolts are suddenly energized again.  I'll take the hot hand against the Browns who are just 2-9 against the spread this season.  Duh!
Loss  19-10 Chargers

Rams -7 (CARDINALS)

Arizona is good at stopping the run.  But I can't come up with two reasons why the Cardinals might make this close.
WIN  32-16 Rams

Eagles -6 (SEAHAWKS)
Vegas is daring people to overlook the Seahawks.  I believe Philly gets it done this week on defense.  If they keep Russell Wilson trapped in the pocket, Seattle's noise pollution issues won't matter.
Loss  24-10 Seahawks

Schmear of the Week:

Rams -7
WIN

There will be no Guten Appetit this week.  Too many chores.


Good luck, and have a great Football Sunday, everyone.


Post Game:
Week Thirteen Record:  5-9
Overall Record:  72-90-4
Schmear of the Week:  8-5
Bagels in the Basket:  -13