Winners and projections for every matchup, plus fantasy nuggets to get you through the weekend. Catch up on Week 13 here.
We’re previewing the Week 13 NFL slate with score predictions for each game from our Nation reporters, what to watch for in fantasy, Football Power Index projections from ESPN Stats & Information and much more.
Thursday Night Football: Dallas 13, New Orleans 10
Jump to a matchup: BAL-ATL| LAR-DET| ARI-GB| CHI-NYG CAR-TB| CLE-HOU| IND-JAX| DEN-CIN BUF-MIA| KC-OAK| NYJ-TEN| MIN-NE SF-SEA| LAC-PIT| WSH-PHI
Point spread: ATL -1| Matchup quality: 63.1 (of 100)
Jamison Hensley’s pick: Lamar Jackson is making his first NFL road start, which hasn’t been too much of a problem for the other rookie first-round quarterbacks. They’ve combined to go 3-1 in their first games away from home, throwing six touchdowns and three interceptions. Jackson follows suit with the help of the NFL’s top-ranked defense. Ravens 26, Falcons 21
Vaughn McClure’s pick: The inconsistent Falcons lost three in a row, won three in a row and now have lost the past three. Maybe Sunday will mark the start of another three-game winning streak. But it won’t be easy against a Ravens defense that allows just 18 points per game and is the only team that yields fewer than 300 yards per game to its opponents. The Falcons also will have to figure out a way to contain Jackson. Ravens 24, Falcons 21
John Fox likes the Baltimore Ravens on the road in Atlanta, while Tedy Bruschi tabs the Falcons to get their fifth victory of the season.
FPI win projection: ATL, 56.5 percent. The Ravens are the AFC team with the most on the line in terms of the playoff picture this week. Baltimore could see its playoff chances swing by 34 percentage points this week, according to FPI (61 percent with a win, 27 percent with a loss).
What to watch for in fantasy: The blocking grades indicate that the Ravens‘ offense will be more than capable of keeping up with the Falcons‘ high-scoring attack. Baltimore has posted some of the best run-blocking numbers in the league during the past five weeks. Read more.
In case you missed it: Can Ravens win and develop Lamar Jackson? Schedule suggests yes… Friends Jackson, Ridley still rooting for each other… Vick’s advice to Jackson: ‚Proceed with caution’… It’s all on the (offensive) line for the Falcons moving forward
Point spread: LAR -10| Matchup quality: 60.6 (of 100)
Lindsey Thiry’s pick: The Rams are well-rested and healthy coming off a bye week, and they are anticipating the return of cornerback Aqib Talib, who has been on injured reserve since Week 4. None of that is good news for Matthew Stafford and the Lions. The Rams are averaging 35.4 points per game, and Jared Goff will have the same host of playmakers available from their most recent game, when they dropped 54 points on the Chiefs. Stafford and the Lions, averaging 21.6 points per game, are unlikely to keep pace. Rams 38, Lions 20
Everything you need this week:
• Scores, highlights and more »
• Full schedule »| Full standings »
• Weekly stats leaders »
• Updated playoff picture »
• Injuries tracker: Who’s in, out » More NFL coverage »
Michael Rothstein’s pick: The Lions have scored more than 30 points twice this season, and that was before the offense was decimated by injuries ( Marvin Jones Jr., T. J. Lang, Kerryon Johnson) and trades ( Golden Tate). Detroit hasn’t scored 35 points — what the Rams are averaging — once this season. Plus, the Rams‘ defense has a devastating line, so it’s going to be a long, long day for Stafford and the Lions. Rams 42, Lions 17
FPI win projection: LAR, 75.2 percent. The Rams have the No. 1-ranked offense in terms of efficiency, according to FPI, both overall and on the road. They are heavy favorites in Detroit against a Lions team that ranks second worst in defensive efficiency this season.
What to watch for in fantasy: The volume is there for Brandin Cooks and the skill set matches the opponent. He is an elite play this week. Read more.
In case you missed it: What could have been for Lions with Suh, Donald… Talib eager to return and provide Rams‘ defense a boost… Cooter blocking out chatter about his job status
Point spread: GB -14| Matchup quality: 47.1 (of 100)
Josh Weinfuss‘ pick: A week after the Cardinals got shellacked by the Chargers, they have to face Aaron Rodgers in the cold at Lambeau Field. Arizona lost last week in a small, half-full stadium on a perfect Southern California day, so the conditions this week don’t set up well for the Cards to put up much of a fight, especially after they released two starters, and two-fifths of their starting offensive line from last week is hurt. Packers 42, Cardinals 17
Rob Demovsky’s pick: The Packers have the third-easiest remaining schedule, according to FPI, and this might be the easiest game. They’re a 14-point favorite even coming off of losses in four of their past five games. They’re 4-0-1 at home and desperate to keep their playoff hopes alive. It’s just too bad a blowout win doesn’t count double. Packers 37, Cardinals 13
FPI win projection: GB, 92.0 percent. This is the third-biggest favorite the Packers have been in a game in our data set (since 2008), and the biggest since 2012.
John Fox and Tedy Bruschi both expect the Packers to bounce back from their Week 12 loss as they are set to square off vs. the Cardinals at home.
What to watch for in fantasy: Aaron Jones has scored five times in his past three games, and the Cardinals are the most run-on team in the NFL (32.2 carries per game). Read more.
In case you missed it: Run the table was so 2016; Packers have less reason for optimism… Packers can’t close games, and it’s on Rodgers & Co…. Rodgers happy to be ‚The Dude‘ to Rosen
Point spread: CHI -4.5| Matchup quality: 46.8 (of 100)
Jeff Dickerson’s pick: The Bears will win on Sunday because of their defense. Chicago may be without starting quarterback Mitchell Trubisky for another week, but the Bears lead the league with 104 points off 29 takeaways (best in the NFL). Even if Chase Daniel struggles, the Bears will still find a way to score enough points to beat a Giants team already looking ahead to next year. Bears 23, Giants 19
If the regular season ended right now, here’s how the top six would look in each conference. Plus clinching scenarios.
Who wins Saints-Cowboys, Chargers-Steelers, Vikings-Patriots, Browns-Texans and Ravens-Falcons?
Ohio State’s quarterback enters the top 25 of Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest ranking of the top prospects for next year’s draft.
Jordan Raanan’s pick: This isn’t the Bucs, 49ers or an injury-ravaged Eagles defense the Giants are facing this week. It’s the Bears, who have the second-ranked scoring defense. The Giants have faced four top-10 scoring defenses already this season and averaged 14.5 points in those contests. The Bears and Khalil Mack are going to be a problem. Bears 24, Giants 13
FPI win projection: CHI, 53.8 percent. The Bears have the best defensive efficiency in the NFL (77.5 on a 0-to-100 scale). That goes up to 90.3 during their current five-game win streak, the second-highest defensive efficiency in any five-game span this season (Vikings, 91.1 in Weeks 5-9).
What to watch for in fantasy: Although he might not see 20-plus carries this week because of how tough the Chicago front seven is, Saquon Barkley ’s involvement in the passing game should rise to double-digit targets. Read more.
In case you missed it: Next week would seem to be right time for Lauletta debut… The Eli options: How the situation might play out in New York
Point spread: CAR -3.5| Matchup quality: 46.6 (of 100)
David Newton’s pick: If Carolina is going to get over a three-game losing streak, the Bucs are the team to do it against. The Panthers already have beaten Tampa Bay 42-28 this season and they have a history of forcing quarterback Jameis Winston into mistakes. They held the league’s No. 1 passing offense to a season-low 243 yards in the first meeting with cornerback James Bradberry shutting down Mike Evans. Carolina has won nine of the past 11 against the Bucs, and it’ll be 10 of 12 on Sunday. Panthers 33, Buccaneers 24
Jenna Laine’s pick: The Panthers may be on a three-game slide, but this team dominated the Bucs in every facet in Week 9. The Bucs gave up 13 explosive plays (pass plays of more than 15 yards and run plays of 12 or more yards), second most in the league. They were completely lost and out of position trying to contend with Norv Turner’s use of pre-snap motion. Christian McCaffrey had 157 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns. The Bucs will get a boost if they get Lavonte David back and if they can go turnover-free like last week. Panthers 32, Buccaneers 27
The NFL Live crew previews the Buccaneers‘ matchup with the Panthers and discusses why turnovers will be a key factor in determining the winner.
FPI win projection: TB, 49.9 percent. The Buccaneers are the slightest of favorites, and we mean that literally. Tampa Bay has a 49.9 percent chance to win compared with 49.7 percent for Carolina (0.4 percent chance of a tie). Only one game in our data set has been a closer projection (Rams-Saints in Week 9).
