NFL Week 13: Trends which will decide each game

It’s the final scheduled week of the season when not every team will play.

It’s the final week of the season in which teams have some time off. The 4-8 Carolina Panthers and the 7-5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers get some much-needed rest while the other 30 clubs will be in action. But this week’s schedule includes 12 Sunday games, a pair of Monday night clashes and a Tuesday night affair at Baltimore.

NOTE: All times ET

Sunday, Dec. 6

New Orleans Saints (9-2) at Atlanta Falcons (4-7), 1:00 pm

Saints: The team’s latest winning streak has reached eight games and the New Orleans’ defense has certainly gotten its act together. Granted, Sean Payton’s club played an undermanned Broncos’ offense on Sunday. But in their last four outings, the NFC South leaders have allowed a combined 28 points and given up one offensive TD.

Falcons: The team has won four of its last six games after a 0-5 start that cost head coach Dan Quinn and GM Thomas Dimitroff their jobs. The Atlanta defense was all over the field in the 37-point conquest of the Raiders. The Falcons came up with five takeaways last Sunday – this after forcing only 11 turnovers in their first 10 games.

Detroit Lions (4-7) at Chicago Bears (5-6), 1:00 pm

Lions: Under the command of new interim head coach Darrell Bevell, the club looks to snap a nine-game losing streak within the division, as well as a five-game skid to the Bears. In three contests vs. their NFC North rivals this season, the Lions have allowed a combined 103 points and surrendered 12 offensive TDs – eight through the air.

Bears: Last Sunday night at Lambeau Field, the Bears gave up a season-high five offensive touchdowns as well as 41 points. Now head coach Matt Nagy looks to remain perfect against the Lions (5-0) and sweep Detroit for the third consecutive year. But the Bears – who turned over the ball 19 times in 2019 – have 17 turnovers in 11 games.