NBA Power Rankings: Week 5

9 out of the 10 teams in The Rankings this week were on the list last week, so the NBA is starting to sort itself out in terms of contenders.  However, the Timberwolves have dropped to two games below .500 and the Hawks, Bulls, and Grizzlies have all fallen out of contention for these Rankings.  However, there is still time, and as is evident by the quick rise of the Nuggets, Suns, and Pistons, the On The Verge section may look completely different next week.  I have waited a little longer to write these Rankings because of the indecision in the East, where only the Pacers and Heat have winning records.  The only other team in these Rankings, as you may have seen, is the Celtics, who are a completely different story.  They appeared on the Power Tankings last week but then soared to the 4th seed in the East.  Granted, the East is awful this year, but I still thought they deserved a spot on the rankings because it looks as if they could win their division, guaranteeing a Top-4 seed.  After all, these Power Rankings must take into account placement in a team's own conference, as opposed to record alone.

1.  Indiana Pacers (18-3)
[Previous Ranking: 2]: Still the NBA's best defensive team (89.5 ppg allowed) the Pacers are looking strong, although the true test will be when they play the Heat today in those teams' first head-to-head matchup of the season. If Paul George can somehow match LeBron, and Roy Hibbert can contain the Heat's drives to the basket, the Pacers have a serious shot at securing their placement as #1 in the East.

2.  Portland Trail Blazers (18-4)
[Previous Ranking: 4]: A ridiculous 41.5% 3-point percentage, a 6th-best point differential (+6.3), and scoring 106.2 ppg (2nd in the league) has led them to an 8-2 record over their last 10 games and the top spot in the Western Conference. If they continue on to win the Western Conference, it surely would be the surprise of the season but if you look at their roster, it is not a surprise. LeMarcus Aldridge, Damien Lillard, and the emergence of Wesley Matthews and Robin Lopez make for a very solid core that should contend for the top spot right up to the end of the year.

3.  Miami Heat (16-5)
[Previous Ranking: 3]: Their 3-point percentage has dropped a bit (although it still sits at a strong 39.5%) but they continue to lead the league in turnovers forced per game (18.6). The Heat are looking consistent in all facets of the game and, as I have said before, should be in the Top 3 of these rankings the entire year, and if they can manage to knock off the Pacers a few times, might even take hold of the #1 seed before all is said and done. The real test is tonight for them too, to show the Pacers that they are still top dog.

4.  San Antonio Spurs (15-4)
[Previous Ranking: 1]: The Spurs have fallen off a bit in these rankings, although mostly because of the improvement of the other top teams as opposed to their own poor play. The Spurs will always
be one of the top teams in the West, especially if they continue to lead the league in point differential (+8.7) and only give up 93.1 ppg. There is nothing to worry about for the Spurs, as long as Tim Duncan and Tony Parker are healthy for the playoffs.

5.  Oklahoma City Thunder (15-4)
[Previous Ranking: 5]: The Thunder score 104.7 ppg and as long as Durant and Westbrook are in the game, there is nothing really new to say. They have gone 9-1 in their last 10 games, but they have always been expected to contend for the top spot in the West this year, so their success is not much of a surprise. The Thunder are very consistent and should continue to be.

6.  Houston Rockets (15-7)
[Previous Ranking: 8]: Leading the league in points scored (107.5) is a good way to rise up in the standings and these power rankings. But turning the ball over 18.3 times per game (worst in the league) is not a good way to sustain that level of offensive success. As is always the case with these Rockets, they are able to win on pure talent, but to take their game to the next level their ball security and defense will need to greatly improve. Nothing new here.

7.  Los Angeles Clippers (14-8)
[Previous Ranking: 6]: The Clippers are a bit of an enigma in that they are 4-5 against the very week Eastern Conference, even though they score more points per game (104.1) than any team from the East. The good news, for them, is their 10-3 record against the West, which will be all that matters when push comes to shove and the standings are determined for the playoffs. The Clippers will look to improve on their poor play against the East, as 5 of their next 8 games are against Eastern Conference teams, in order to stay relevant in their own conference.

8.  Golden State Warriors (12-10) 
[Previous Ranking: 9]: The highest 3-point percentage (41.7%) the league should give the Warriors one of the best records in the West, but instead they hold only the 9th seed, which would not even give them a playoff birth. This has something to do with the fact that most of the good teams in the NBA are in the Western Conference, but also proves that teams that rely mostly on 3-point shooting (the Heat do not count for they have many other ways to score) are not as effective as they should be. However, the Warriors are still ranked as high as they are on these rankings because they have Stephen Curry who has become a superstar and Andre Iguodala who is not playing up to his enormous potential. They should get back on track soon enough and justify their ranking on this list.

9.  Dallas Mavericks (13-8) 
[Previous Ranking: 7]: The Mavs have fallen a bit, going 5-5 in their last 10 games, but still ought to be considered a contender in the West (that word West certainly has appeared a lot in these rankings, hasn't it?) They are forcing a very good 16.8 turnovers per game and scoring a lot of points, and Monta Ellis has really meshed well with Dirk Nowitzki. Many will be surprised at the end of the year when they see the Mavericks in one of the Top 5 spots in the West.

10.  Denver Nuggets (13-8) [Previous Ranking: Unranked]: The Nuggets have come out of nowhere and have gone on a 8-2 run over their last 10 games. An underrated thing that they do well is control the basketball, as displayed by their mere 13.8 turnovers per game (3rd best in the league). They also have a 29.0% offensive rebound percentage, which is also 3rd best in the league. They might get stuck in the race for one of the final playoff spots in the West, but by staying consistent and being good at the less publicized aspects of the game like ball security and rebounding, they should have a pretty good chance.

*11.  Boston Celtics (10-12)
[Previous Ranking: Unranked]: I decided to add this extra spot because the Celtics are on such a roll right now (3 game winning streak, including a 41-point rout of the Knicks on Sunday) and with the mess that is the Eastern Conference, have a very good chance at landing the #3 seed for the playoffs. Although it is probably not beneficial for them to be winning so many games, Brad Stevens has taken a bunch of bench players and turned them into a serious contender for that 3rd sport in the East (ex. Jordan Crawford being named player of the week for last week). I had to include them because of their potential and situation that could lead them to make a run in the playoffs much farther than anyone expected.

On The Verge: Phoenix Suns (11-9) [Previous Ranking: Unranked], Atlanta Hawks (11-10) [Previous Ranking: Unranked], Charlotte Bobcats (10-11) [Previous Ranking: Unranked]

*Special 11th team for this week

Week 14 Predictions

Game to Watch: Seahawks @ 49ers: The Seattle Seahawks are undisputedly the number on team in all of football. Their win over the New Orleans Saints by a score of 34-7 on Monday Night Football showed that this team is in a league of their own. Especially when they are playing at home. This Sunday, the Seahawks will go on the road to play San Francisco in CandleStick Park. The 49ers have not quite lived up to expectations so far in 2013, especially their starting quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The 49ers are 8-5 this season, currently the 6th seed if the season ended today. But with teams like Philadelphia and Arizona not too far behind, it is key for San Francisco to beat their division rival at home on Sunday. The last time these two teams played, Seattle absolutely annihilated Harbaugh and the Niners. This Sunday won't be any different.
Seattle over 49ers 23-13

Stand Out Performance: WR Calvin Johnson: As of Week 13, Calvin Johnson has eclipsed the 100 yard receiving mark 7 times this season, and in one of those games, Megatron caught 14 passes for 329 yards. Calvin Johnson has made a name for himself as the best wide receiver in the league, and as Detroit squares off Philadelphia on Sunday, Johnson is projected for yet another big day. In his past three games, Megatron has caught 19 passes for 395 yards and 3 touchdowns, while the Eagles defense against wide receivers ranks dead last in the NFL. Fantasy football owners, make sure to start Megatron for as the fantasy football playoffs start this Sunday.
WR Calvin Johnson: 125 receiving yards, 2 TDs

Player to Watch: QB Geno Smith: At the start of November, it appeared that the New York was a legitimate threat to nab a spot in the playoffs in 2013; however, all playoff hopes have been dashed as a result of poor play by their starting quarterback, Geno Smith. Smith started the year with 7 touchdowns in his first 5 games, but since Week 5, Geno has passed for just 1 touchdown with a whopping 11 touchdowns. On the year, Smith's passer rating stands at 60.4, and it is surprising that New York has not benched their quarterback. Sunday's game will be a decisive game for Geno Smith, where yet another poor performance will surely have him sitting on the bench for the rest of the season.
QB Geno Smith: 185 passing yards, 1 rushing TD, INT

Week 14 Predictions:

Ravens over Vikings

Bengals over Colts

Patriots over Browns

Jets over Raiders

Chiefs over Redskins

Falcons over Packers

Eagles over Lions

Dolphins over Steelers

Bills over Buccaneers

Broncos over Titans

Cardinals over Rams

Seahawks over 49ers

Giants over Chargers

Saints over Panthers

Bears over Cowboys

Start 'Em, Sit 'Em (Week 14)

Start 'Em:
Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Last week against the Eagles, Mendenhall defiantly took the starting job back from Andre Ellington (who was hurt).  Mendenhall received a season-high eighteen carries for 76 yards against an improved Eagle's run defense.  This week he gets a Ram's defense that has allowed an average of one touchdown a game to opposing running backs.  If Mendenhall gets the same amount of carries as he did last Sunday, he should put in a big week.

Alshon Jeffery, WR, Chicago Bears
This Bears offense may be the second most difficult matchup in the NFL behind the Denver Broncos. Both Jeffery and Brandon Marshall command double teams, they are simply to big, fast, and strong for one defender to handle.  The problem is, if you double team them both, all the Bears have to do is hand the ball off to Matt Forte.  Thus, most teams choose to double just one of the wideouts and take their chances with the other.  Every week it is inevitable that one of them is going to have a huge game, and my guess for this week is Jeffery, who should dominate Morris Claiborne, the Cowboy's underperforming second cornerback.

Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore Ravens
I don't believe Flacco is a top ten quarterback in the NFL, however, with the right matchup he could be a very productive fantasy play.  It is likely that Flacco will be able to shred a miserable Viking's secondary that is worst in the NFL in allowing fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.

Sit 'Em:
Zac Stacy, RB, St. Louis Rams
Stacy has been an absolute revelation this season for fantasy owners, however this week he should be sitting on your bench with a tough matchup against the Cardinal's defense that is first in the NFL in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs.  Last week this same defense managed to slow down the Eagle's LeSean McCoy, so you should temper your expectations for Stacy.

Marques Colston, WR, New Orleans Saints
Outside of one big week, Colston has been terrible this season, registering over ten fantasy points just twice all year.  Fantasy owners just have to accept that Colston is not longer a big part of the Saint's offense.  In the red zone Jimmy Graham receives all of the targets, while the Saint's versatile set of running backs gets the attention in the rest of the field.  Bottom line, there is no way Colston should be in your lineup any time soon.

Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco 49ers
Though Kaepernick has put together a couple successful weeks in a row now, he will run into a roadblock this weekend against the Seahawk's defense.  This outstanding unit has allowed over ten fantasy points to an opposing quarterback just six times this year and none of those performances passed eighteen points.  Kaepernick is a solid quarterback, but he won't look one against the Seahawks defense.

John Fox Will Coach Against Tennessee

Denver Broncos coach John Fox will be on the sidelines for the first time since his heart surgery that took place on November 4th. Since the date of his surgery, the Broncos have been 3-1 under temporary head coach Jack Del Rio, where two of those wins came against the Kansas City Chiefs. Following Friday's practice, John Fox told reporters, "I'll be on the sidelines just like normal. I had three pretty food days of practice. The doctors and medical people feel good about it, so that's where I'll be."

SEC Championship Preview: Missouri vs. Auburn

Battle of the athletes at QB

The SEC title game, for the past 6 or 7 years, has sent its winner to the national title game, where said SEC champion always wins big. But this year, incredibly as it seems, that probably will not happen. In all likelihood the SEC's run of 7 straight national champions is officially over. I don't want to bring up that whole issue right now, but the bottom line is that this game, whatever the implications of victory might be, will be a good matchup. If you had said that the SEC title game would involve these two teams (neither of which received a single vote in the preseason AP top 25, much less was ranked) I would have pointed you kindly to the nearest mental hospital. Missouri and Auburn combined for just 2 conference wins last season. But here we are, and undeniably the Tigers (both of them) deserve to be here. They are not the most talented teams in the SEC, but they have won the games that count and have played great football all year. To be honest, I place priority on watching Ohio State vs. MSU, the Big 10 title game this weekend, if only because better talent will be on display. That said, this will be fun to watch.

The Tigers… oh wait… Mizzou has consistently improved this year. Initially picked 6th in the East (so, last) after a dismal 5-7 record in 2012, the Tigers have come back from behind to win in 6 games this season, including 3 games in which they have won in the last 30 seconds of play. It's just been that type of season. Their one loss this year came in double overtime against South Carolina, without senior stud quarterback James Franklin. Redshirt freshman Maty Mauk however quickly stepped in when he went down, showing remarkable poise in several games throughout the season. Week by week they steadily climbed in the rankings, as Mauk turned in plenty of clutch performances, but the onus is now on Franklin again to get the job done. After he impressively outplayed Johnny Manziel and his Aggies to punch the ticket to the SEC title game (a 28-21 victory last week), Franklin looks to do the same against Auburn on Saturday. He does have a 1,000 yd rushing season under his belt, so we know he is dual threat, but his main potential is through the air: he has almost 2,000 passing yards this season in just 8 games.

James Franklin needs to step up big on Saturday

Meanwhile, Auburn is obviously coming off the biggest win in the past 5 or so years of regular season college football. That would seem like hyperbole, until you remember that the Iron bowl is one of the top 5 rivalries in the sport, and that Alabama hadn't previously lost in almost 3 years. If senior cornerback leader (and… field goal returner?) Chris Davis has caught his breath yet, the defense should be raring to go against the Tigers for the title on Saturday. They certainly proved they could make the big stops when they needed to against the Crimson Tide, and I see that carrying over into Saturday. If you can stop TJ Yeldon when it counts, then you can play defense against anyone. Coach Gus Malzahn deserves a crazy amount of credit here. His War Eagles (a much better mascot, by the way, Tigers is overused and sounds like the local high school squad) failed to win an SEC game last year. Not one, en route to a 2-14 season. He went from that to undeniable success all season, capped by a huge win in a huge rivalry game, one of the biggest regular season wins in the program's rich history. A cool note: Auburn now possesses the Iron bowl game football, at an estimated value of $50,000 and quickly climbing.

Works 60% of the time, all the time.

So now, what do I see happening here? Last week's Iron bowl was not only incredibly entertaining, but we also learned something about Auburn's offense. That "triple option" run is really, really effective. It is in no way like an academy style triple option but rather quarterback Nick Marshall can either handoff to his stud running back Tre Mason, keep it and run, or keep it and throw a little shovel or screen pass. Auburn runs this a lot, approaching every play at times, but it didn't stop working last Saturday even against the Nick Saban coached squad. Normally Saban would have adjusted impressively, but here he was unable to and Auburn rode that set of plays to victory. You may have noticed that on about 50% of the plays they ran, the clearly faked out the cameraman. He would follow the wrong man. This was not just funny, it showed how effective this style offense can be. Maybe Auburn with Nick Marshall at quarterback isn't an incredible passing team, but they get the job done. They just proved that they can beat the best team in the country using this system, so go with what works I guess. I don't see Missouri doing what Alabama couldn't, so to keep it simple I go Auburn 31-Missouri 20.

BREAKING NEWS- JACOBY ELLSBURY SIGNS WITH YANKEES

BREAKING NEWS- Former Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury has signed with the Yankees. John Heyman of CBS sports reports that the deal is worth 153 million over 7 years. Speedster Ellsbury batted .298 for the Red Sox in 2013 along with 9 home runs and 52 stolen bases. This signing will surely intensify the already-heated rivalry between the Red Sox and Yankees. With Ellsbury anchoring the outfield, the Yankees lineup will likely be the following for the 2014 season.

1B- Mark Texiera
2B- Robinson Cano (Currently free agent)
SS- Derek Jeter
3B- Alex Rodriguez
LF- Brett Gardner
CF- Jacoby Ellsbury
RF- Alfonso Soriano
C- Brian McCann
DH- Ichiro Suzuki

This deal all but promises that the Yankees will be over the Luxury Cap and will seriously impede any efforts by the Yankees to pursue free agents over the next few years as they have multiple long-term contracts that will pay over $20 million per year.

Big 10 Championship Preview: Ohio St vs. Michigan St

The college football regular season has come to a close, which means the time has come. Hoard the chips and salsa, stockpile all the cheap beer you can muster, and prioritize this Saturday. By prioritize, I mean cancel all other commitments that don't involve important weddings (so… your own, maybe) or funerals. Now that Alabama has tumbled, we will see a refreshing slate of championship match ups this weekend. Other previews will come, but in brief, here's what I see happening in Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis on Saturday. This will be a great game, with two terrific teams going at it on the big stage, it seems in many ways like a match made in heaven. (Ohio St. is favored by 6.5 points, but they have not covered the spread in the last 3 weeks.)

Ohio St is coming off the most entertaining college football game I have seen to date, a rivalry renewed against Michigan. We all recognize that this is one of the best rivalries in sports, period, but in case you had forgotten you had only to watch last weekend. In the Big House, this one involved 3 ejections, a fairly legitimate fight (more than shoves, and a lot more) and one unnamed Ohio St. lineman walking to the stands and flipping off the entire Michigan community, some 114,000 strong who had turned out to watch a great game. That's exactly what they got, as the Buckeyes poured themselves into the game, the only way they were able to keep up with the Wolverines emotionally charged play. This one was incredible, the comeback bids almost inevitable and the huge plays following each other like clockwork.The final score was 42-41, if you missed it, as Michigan lost on a 2 point bid to win the game in the last 30 seconds. Coming off such a huge win, and with the national championship in their sights, I see Ohio St. playing some great football this Saturday. 

They will need to do just that, however, to beat the Spartans. This is arguably the best defense in the country, as quietly all year they have put up numbers like 11.8 points against, good for 4th best in the nation. In fact, this Spartan squad boasts one of the most dominant defensive units in college football in recent memory. They get to the quarterback and then promptly put him on his back, and as for the occasional running back who crosses the line of scrimmage, he is quickly taught a thing or two as well. The Spartans' one loss this year has come in a quirky 17-13 defeat to the Fighting Irish, but other than in those 2 or so quarters, they have looked simply to be an excellent, fundamentally sound team. They are allowing 64 yards on the ground per game, and have allowed a whopping total of 5 rushing touchdowns this year! This is not to forget their passing defense, as in total they are allowing just 237 total yards against per game. Numbers like these are rare, but especially rare in a team with the schedule that Michigan St. has. This is probably the most underrated team in the country. Certainly their defense is, a unit which has been overlooked all year as ESPN analysts fawn and drool over the SEC. They simply don't like letting people score.

So… a couple of things to watch for:

Obviously, the matchup begging to be noticed is the ever dynamic Braxton Miller and less dynamic, maybe, but more "I-will-run-through-you-like-you-weigh-110-lbs" Carlos Hyde. The Buckeye running back is a scary man, as at 240 lbs he moves more like 200. Those skinny cornerbacks who try to stop usually get dragged along for 6 or 7 yards in the process. So, how will this talented pair fare against such a stingy defense? The answer to that will probably decide the game. This is truly strength against strength, as Carlos Hyde ran for well over 200 yards (close to 240, in fact) against Michigan last week. It looked at times like Michigan admitted defeat, and towards the end of the game he simply ran at will all over them. So one of the best running backs in college football (certainly top 3) with one of the most mobile quarterbacks in college football (also probably top 3) will face the best rushing defense in the country. How can you not watch this game?

Another thing to note is if Michigan St. can find the end zone, especially on the ground. Ohio St can and will score, so although this will be a low scoring affair overall it may come down to a last minute drive. There, they will have to count on junior RB Jeremy Langford, a formidable presence. With 16 touchdowns this year, he will have to score at least once for the Spartans to win this one. They do not have an incredible passing game, so here at least we know what to expect. 

There are countless story lines here, from Spartan coach Mark Dantonio's history as a Buckeye to the entire legitimacy of a conference at stake. As everyone mocks the Big 10 perennially, this is the moment to prove that these men can play football. We rarely see these teams as national contenders, but this year they undoubtedly are. Ohio St. is also playing to punch their ticket to the national championship… Emotions will definitely run high. In the words already out there on the Big 10 website, "This is what good football looks like." I have to agree wholeheartedly. This is why I am a fan, and I will watch this game from start to finish. Two great teams, two great strengths, and, as a personal element, Urban Meyer's pride (and unblemished record) at stake. Those are some powerful factors in this one.

Now I am not normally a bold person, but I was really tempted to go with the upset here. I'm a big fan of Michigan St., but I fear they would be an emotional pick as really I just wish ESPN would give them a little more love. So I have to say Ohio St. 21 MSU 17. 

Start 'Em, Sit 'Em (Week 13)

Start 'Em:
Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco 49ers
After seven straight weeks of ten or more fantasy points, Gore has failed to reach this mark in each of his last two games, registering a mere 79 yards and no touchdowns.  His week 11 output of just four points was understandable as Gore was going up against the tough Saints defense.  However, last week against the woeful redskins, Gore put up just three points.  Hopefully, for fantasy owners, week 12 was an outlier as opposed to the normal.  Gore will have a great opportunity to redeem himself in a matchup against the 31st ranked Rams defense.

Michael Floyd, WR, Arizona Cardinals
Floyd has broken out in a huge way over the past two weeks, posting 297 yards and a touchdown. With Carson Palmer's resurgent season, the Cardinals finally have a solid quarterback to throw to their stud wide receivers.  Additionally, Fitzgerald will command a lot of the coverage, allowing Floyd to run one-on-one against the secondary cornerback.  That secondary cornerback will be a member of the feeble Eagle's secondary.  Chances are, the Cardinals will tear up the Eagle's defense, and Floyd will be a big part of that attack.

Josh McCown, QB, Chicago Bears
McCown has performed fantastically in replacing the injured Jay Cutler, and the fun shouldn't stop now with an easy matchup against a Viking's defense, which has allowed more than 12 points to opposing fantasy quarterbacks in every week so far this year.  This may be McCown's last week as a starter, but he will look to go out with a bang.

Sit 'Em
Bobby Rainey, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After his huge week 11 performance, Rainey failed to impress in week 12, only registering 35 yards. The reality is, his performance should be expected to be a middle ground between these two weeks. However with a tough matchup against the Panthers, I don't think that Rainey will put up a significant amount of points.  He is going to get fed the ball a lot, but if he only gets around 2 yards per carry (like last week), your fantasy team could be in trouble.

Keenan Allen, WR, San Diego Chargers
Allen is having a breakout season, recording four 100 plus yard games already.  However, his inability to be an effective red zone threat for the Chargers has reduced his fantasy value, and against a tough Cincinnati Bengal's defense, I wouldn't expect this disappointing theme to change.

Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts
Don't get me wrong, Andrew Luck is always a decent fantasy start.  But, this week, if you have a solid backup quarterback (see: Josh McCown) available, it may be worth it to start him over Luck.  He is going up against a Titans defense that has allowed just two passing touchdowns over the last seven weeks.  One of these games included a matchup against Luck, himself, where he didn't manage to register a passing touchdown.  It is always difficult to sit a guy with the credentials that Luck has, but there are simply better options out there this week.

Week 13 Predictions

Game to Watch: Saints @ Seahawks: As we mentioned in an earlier post, this game is bound to be the same game seen in the NFC Championship Game later in the season. Both New Orleans and Seattle are off to spectacular starts, and a win on Monday Night would almost ensure the number one seed in the playoffs. The game is being played in Seattle, where the Seahawks have not lost a game in CenturyLink Field since December of 2011. Russell Wilson and the Seahawks offense has been absolutely spectacular, which also includes a fabulous running game led by Marshawn Lynch. Clearly the most valuable asset of this team is the defense, who have been impenetrable, particularly at home. Drew Brees and the Saints are leaving the safety of the Superdome to play the Seahawks outdoors. In the past, Drew Brees' spectacular numbers have seen a slight decrease when he plays outdoors, especially in poor conditions. The crowd in Seattle is always a factor in big games, so we predict the frightfully loud fans, mixed with Seattle well rounded team, will lead to a New Orleans Saints loss.
Prediction: Seahawks over Saints 23-13

Stand Out Performance: RB Adrian Peterson: Even though Adrian Peterson will likely fall short of the 2,000 yards rushing mark in 2013, he has already achieved 997 rushing yards with 10 rushing touchdowns. Last week, Peterson rushed for 146 yards and a score, whereas the defense he is facing this upcoming week, the Chicago Bears, allowed a whopping 196 yards and two touchdowns in their game against St. Louis last week. The last time Peterson played the Bears, Chicago forked up 100 rushing yards, but Peterson was unable to register a rushing touchdown that game. That will change on Sunday.
RB Adrian Peterson: 110 rushing yards, 2 touchdowns

Player to Watch: QB Robert Griffin III: The entire Robert Griffin III debate (to play, or not to play?) has taken a new turn following Washington's embarrassing loss to the 49ers. The Redskins are now 3.5 games out of the playoffs, and quarterback RGIII is clearly not playing like the same quarterback we saw last season. RGIII's passer rating in 2013 has dropped almost 20 points compared to his passer rating last season, and his 11 interceptions are currently ranked 9th in the league. Sunday will be a decisive game, as the Redskins coaching staff will need to decide between starting RGIII or Kirk Cousins in the following game.
QB Robert Griffin III: 225 passing yards, 1 passing TD, 1 rushing TD, FUM

Week 13 Predictions:

Lions over Packers (Correct)

Cowboys over Raiders (Correct)

Steelers over Ravens (Incorrect)

Panthers over Buccaneers

Browns over Jaguars

Patriots over Texans

Colts over Titans

Bears over Vikings

Dolphins over Jets

Cardinals over Eagles

Bills over Falcons

49ers over Rams

Broncos over Chiefs

Bengals over Chargers

Giants over Redskins

Seahawks over Saints