Week 13 of the NFL season is upon us, and that means it's time for another round of bold predictions. As always, this week's edition of fearless prognostications includes a macho helping of audaciousness and abandon as we head into Sunday and Monday's contests. Warning: these predictions are not for the faint of heart.
Bears, 49ers will near record for most rushing yards in a game
In what will be an otherwise unmemorable matchup between the Bears and 49ers on Sunday, we will see both clubs collectively approach an NFL record. By the final whistle Sunday, the 49ers and Bears will come within 100 yards of the NFL record for most combined rushing yards in a game (595, set back in 1951 in a game between Los Angeles and the New York Yanks). Thanks to a plodding passing game on both sides and a pair of defenses that might be interested in hanging up the spikes, Carlos Hyde, Jordan Howard and Colin Kaepernick will burn through yardage on the ground.
-- Conor Orr
Neither Bortles or Siemian pass for more than 199 yards
The Jacksonville offense has performed so poorly this season it's overshadowed how well the Jags' defense has played, especially the pass defense. Jalen Ramsey & Co. entered the week ranked third in passing yards allowed per game at 204.3. The famed Broncos No Fly Zone ranks first, giving up 193.9 yards passing per game. The corner play in Sunday's matchup will be phenomenal, which is bad news for the quarterbacks. Bortles has been awful this season, and his elongated throwing motion will be magnified versus Denver's pass rush and sticky corners that jump routes. Siemian is dealing with a foot injury and behind a terrible offensive line. On paper, this all stacks up for a woeful passing day that could make it look like 1950s football.
- -- Kevin Patra*
Note: This prediction was published prior to the announcement of Siemian's game status.
Lions lose ... by more than seven points
The Cardiac Cats are due for a clogged artery. Detroit has a two-game lead in the NFC North with five weeks to go in the season despite not having played in a game decided by more than one score. The Lions: Good for ratings, bad for heart rates. With the Saints in the Superdome up next, points aplenty are on the horizon, which is bad news for fans of tidy, predictable matchups. Matthew Stafford is a revelation in the Jim Bob Cooter era (#CooterForSecretaryOfState), but he will lag behind Drew Brees, Michael Thomas and Co. in the inevitable shootout. The Saints boast the league's top air attack and scoring offense, while Detroit's secondary allows the highest passer rating in the league. Plus, New Orleans is fresh off dismantling a previously-heralded Rams defense. Lord knows what they'll do to Detroit. No fourth-quarter Cooter counterattack will keep up with that production. Bank on another 40-plus outing from the Saints, and the Lions' first "big" loss of 2016.
-- Jeremy Bergman
Winston, Bucs sink Chargers' playoff hopes
The Buccaneers have quietly become one of the league's hotter teams of late and are starting to make us all forget about their uglier early season performances, with much credit due to quarterback Jameis Winston. This week, Winston squints his way through the Southern California sunshine to break 3,000 yards passing on the season, spreading the ball around and throwing for 300-plus and three scores. Adam Humphries records at least five catches. Heck, even Doug Martin gets in on the action out of the backfield as Winston dumps off a few to the back to avoid San Diego's pass rush. The Bucs rally back from an early deficit at Qualcomm to win their fourth straight and stay hot on Atlanta's tail for the NFC South crown, while San Diego suffers another blow to its playoff aspirations. Maybe we'll even get a "we some dogs; we ain't no puppies!" out of this Winston performance.
- -- Nick Shook*
