The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

rwells@tribunemedia.net

THIRTEEN NFL teams now hover at one game above or one game below .500 ... Wow!

Whoever said that things become clearer in December wasn’t talking about the 2015 season.

To take it a step further, if you expanded that exact range to three games you have now managed to cover 23 of the league’s 32 teams. Can you say parody?

Week 12 brought with it some definite highs and lows for me, obviously my low being my Patriots losing in Mile High, no pun intended. But, strangely enough my high came in that very game.

Despite having calls loaded against them my guys never let up, they fought and almost managed to pull it out minus a full complement of receivers and linemen.

The Patriots now sit at 10-1 on the year, the loss to Denver pushing me to a 9-7 record on the week.

So, on to week 13.

Green Bay Packers (7-4)

@ Detroit Lions (4-7)

It was Detroit that punched the Packers in the mouth a few weeks ago in Lambeau and sent them on this unexplainable skid. In fact, the Lions have remained hot ever since. Packers want revenge .

PACKERS

Houston Texans (6-5)

@ Buffalo Bills (5-6)

This one has January (playoff) implications written all over it. JJ Watt and that Houston defensive front has scratched and clawed their way back to what most experts thought they could be - dominant.

Meanwhile, the Bills have spent the entire year in Hallowee’n mode, either tricking us into believing that they are the real deal, or treating us to shows of magnificent futility (you saw what I did there).

This week, one team makes it clear exactly who they are.

TEXANS

Baltimore Ravens (4-7)

@ Miami Dolphins (4-7)

By default I want to lean towards the Dolphins. It’s just a sneaking suspicion I have.

The Ravens just have the right amount of grit to pull this one out.

DOLPHINS

Cincinnati Bengals (9-2)

@ Cleveland Browns

(2-9)

Johnny Football looks to be done in Cleveland ... so is the Brown’s season seemingly. BENGALS

San Francisco 49ers (3-8) @ Chicago Bears (5-6)

Was I wrong for doubting Jay Cutler? Probably. Maybe more quick on the trigger than wrong. Cutler has had a fabulous year this far and has his team on the cusp of a playoff berth. They take one step closer.

BEARS

Jacksonville Jaguars (4-7) @ Tennessee Titans (2-9)

The last time these two teams played, Tennessee came so close. Both teams are, at this point, playing for draft picks. I like the home team in this one.

TITANS

Seattle Seahawks (6-5) @ Minnesota Vikings (8-3)

Russell Wilson looks to be rounding into form ... I mean he has been inconsistent so far.

Adrian Peterson, however ... he has been one constant in the league this year - straight savage - at least that what the Twittersphere calls him.

This truly is a tough one to pick because each team has what it takes to slow down the other. I have to go with my logic in this one.

SEAHAWKS

New York Jets (6-5) @ New York Giants (5-6)

I hate New York football teams ... I hate the Giants just a little more than the J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets.

JETS

Arizona Cardinals (9-2) @ St Louis Rams (4-7)

The Cardinals will drop another game or two at some point this month, but this isn’t that point.

CARDINALS

Atlanta Falcons (6-5) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6)

The Falcons mislead us worse than the PLP’s campaign slogan - oh yes, I said that - but I still want to trust them.

FALCONS

Denver Broncos (9-2) @ San Diego Chargers (3-8)

I hate to do this because of what they did to my guys last week, but they are a good team and more importantly, they are better than the Chargers.

BRONCOS

Kansas City Chiefs (6-5) @ Oakland Raiders (5-6)

These two teams have flipped roles over the last five weeks, but both still have their eyes set on post-season play.

RAIDERS

Carolina Panthers (11-0) @ New Orleans Saints (4-7)

Can Drew Brees do it? He is home, the crowd is going to be behind him, Carolina’s defence looks susceptible. This can be the week. To keep it safe, I will roll with Cam.

PANTHERS

Philadelphia Eagles (4-7) @ New England Patriots (10-1)

We get it right this week! Tom strikes back at home.

PATRIOTS

Indianapolis Colts (6-5) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5)

So Matt Hasselbeck and Adam Vinatieri both got surprise drug tests (steroids) this week. Guess the league doesn’t believe 40-year-old men can ball out at will. I can’t either. Can you believe that Hasselbeck is the only other undefeated QB in the league? See that’s the reason I am going with Pittsburgh.

STEELERS

Dallas Cowboys (3-8) @ Washington Redskins (5-6)

Definitely Washington’s game to lose.

REDSKINS