5 Can’t-Miss Week 13 NFL Games with Major Playoff Implications
By Bryce Olin
Philadelphia Eagles (8-3) at Dallas Cowboys (8-3)
What’s at stake:
In the mid-day Thanksgiving matchup, the Cowboys and Eagles meet in Dallas for the division lead. While the teams play once more this season, the winner of this matchup will have the upper-hand in determining who will have a home game in the playoffs and who will have to head out on the road.
Both teams are going to make the playoffs, but this game is going to be crucial in determining seeding in the NFC.
Breakdown:
Mark Sanchez scares me as the Eagles quarterback. I think he’s a decent quarterback, but there’s still something about him that freaks me out. Maybe, it’s the 50-50 chance that any pass could result in a pick-six, but Sanchez scares me as QB.
This game is going to be ridiculously close, and it should come down to which ever quarterback is going to make the least mistakes.
Each team has a solid running game. Obviously, the Eagles’ LeSean McCoy and Cowboys’ DeMarco Murray are going to be the workhorse backs and should be the premiere matchup heading into this game. I expect the running games to even out by the end of the game.
I also expect each defense to play a very similar game. Both teams need their defense to get after the quarterback and force turnovers to be successful. That means, this game is going to come down to Mr. Not-Clutch, Tony Romo, and Butt Fumble, Mark Sanchez, to decide the game and possibly the division.
Man, this is going to be fun!
Prediction:
Philadelphia 34 Dallas 31
Chip Kelly is going to find a way to exploit a weakness in the Cowboys’ defense that will be the difference in the game.
Next: 3. Denver vs. Kansas City