Fansided

NFL Week 13 picks against the spread

By Nick Villano

TEMPE, AZ - MAY 23: The NFL logo during the Arizona Cardinals OTA on May 23, 2018 at the Arizona Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ - MAY 23: The NFL logo during the Arizona Cardinals OTA on May 23, 2018 at the Arizona Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Denver Broncos (-5.5) @ Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals are in a tailspin. Ever since A.J. Green went down, they look like a different team. Now, they are starting Jeff Driskel. Tell me honestly, did you know that Jeff Driskel is in the league? He was drafted in the sixth round by the 49ers in 2016, and ended up on a different team that season. Now, he’s a starting quarterback thanks to Andy Dalton’s thumb injury.

Meanwhile, Denver is coming off two of the biggest wins of the season. They played the Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers back to back with their season on the line, and they won. Now, the Broncos are legitimately fighting for a playoff spot.

This would have been a fun game if today’s Broncos were playing the Bengals from five weeks ago. That’s not how it worked out. Green might actually return to the lineup, but who’s getting him the ball? Even if Driskel has some talent, he’s not the type to go off first game in his career. The Broncos are the safe pick here.

Denver 31, Cincinnati 14

Buffalo Bills @ Miami Dolphins (-5)

The Miami Dolphins have been keeping it close to almost anyone they play, but that doesn’t change the fact that they’ve lost six of their last eight games. Ryan Tannehill returned last week, and did not hit his open receivers. Maybe he needed to get last week’s game out of his system before playing better, but in a real “show-me” season, he’s been a disappointment with injuries and lackluster play.

Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bills went from a lock for the first-overall pick in the NFL Draft to a team that’s winning games. Josh Allen is back from his elbow issue. The defense is still very good. There are some redeemable qualities on this team. Things are so crazy in Buffalo, they are talking playoffs.

That’s not happening of course, but playoffs are still possible for the Dolphins. My gut is telling me the Bills defense is going to make this interesting, but the Dolphins have to prove they want to make the playoffs. A loss here could cost Adam Gase his job at the end of the season, and I have more faith in him to get it done.

Miami 28, Buffalo 21