Like all great teams who make a push around Thanksgiving, I rebounded on the picks front in Week 13, correctly predicting 12 winners and getting just four games wrong. It takes my season totals to 128-69. As we move on to Week 14, here's who I think will win and a brief reason why.
Green Bay Packers (9-3) at Detroit Lions (11-1)
The Lions are the best team in the NFL and the greatest story of this 2024 NFL season. Only a fool would write them off. Hello, that's me! I think the Packers can spoil the Thursday Night party.
Neil's Pick… Green Bay
New York Jets (3-9) at Miami Dolphins (5-7)
The Dolphins have to win out to have any shot at the playoffs. I don't think they can do that, but I do believe they will beat the Jets. This is what Miami does. Beats poor teams in warm weather.
Neil's Pick… Miami
Atlanta Falcons (6-6) at Minnesota Vikings (10-2)
The Vikings have made hard work of their last two wins but have won those games, to their credit. The Falcons have been an offensive mess for the past month. This is a hard place to get right.
Neil's Pick… Minnesota
New Orleans Saints (4-8) at New York Giants (2-10)
This feels like it could be a big Alvin Kamara game. It will likely need to be if the Saints are to take this one on the road, which I think they will do.
Neil's Pick… New Orleans
Carolina Panthers (3-9) at Philadelphia Eagles (10-2)
The Eagles have won eight in a row and they are at home. Easy prediction, right? Not the way Carolina have played in their past four games. This is tricky but I'm still back Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley.
Neil's Pick… Philadelphia
Cleveland Browns (3-9) at Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)
The first meeting in the snow saw Jameis Winston and Myles Garrett emerge victorious. The Steelers cannot afford to mess around this time and I think that focus powers them to the win.
Neil's Pick… Pittsburgh
Las Vegas Raiders (2-10) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6)
After back-to-back wins, the Buccaneers are once again competing to take the NFC South. And there is not much the Raiders can do to slow their progress.
Neil's Pick… Tampa Bay
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10) at Tennessee Titans (3-9)
Mac Jones at quarterback for the injured Trevor Lawrence, Doug Pederson under serious pressure to keep his job and yet I'm going to pick the Jags one last time in this dreadful 2024 season.
Neil's Pick… Jacksonville
Seattle Seahawks (7-5) at Arizona Cardinals (6-6)
The Seahawks have owned the Cardinals in recent years and are top of the NFC West. Arizona have kicked too many field goals since their bye week but I have a sneaky feeling they take this one.
Neil's Pick… Arizona
Buffalo Bills (10-2) at Los Angeles Rams (6-6)
The Rams can be dangerous or dormant, depending on the week or the stage of the game. Either way, Buffalo will have too much firepower and motivation as they chase the top seed in the AFC.
Neil's Pick… Buffalo
Chicago Bears (4-8) at San Francisco 49ers (5-7)
The 49ers are on their knees, but technically still alive in the playoff race. I keep saying that, but they are running out of weeks. San Francisco simply have to win here or it's over.
Neil's Pick… San Francisco
Los Angeles Chargers (8-4) at Kansas City Chiefs (11-1)
There will probably be some funny bounce of the ball that ruins things for the Chargers, but Jim Harbaugh's men are more than capable of going into Arrowhead and handing KC a second loss.
Neil's Pick… Los Angeles Chargers
Cincinnati Bengals (4-8) at Dallas Cowboys (5-7)
The Cowboys should have the greater motivation as they are still alive in the playoff race, but I believe in Joe Burrow and I believe in Ja'Marr Chase. I'm backing the Bengals to end Dallas' playoff fantasies once and for all.
Neil's Pick… Cincinnati
