The stretch run is here, and the NFL has delivered another trio of epic showdowns on the Week 13 schedule.
Week 12 was one of the busiest weeks in the NFL season, featuring a ton of marquee matchups up and down the schedule. There isn’t as much overall depth in Week 13, but there are some heavyweight games on tap, beginning with a showdown in Baltimore featuring two of the NFL’s best teams.
San Francisco 49ers (10-1) at Baltimore Ravens (9-2)
The San Francisco 49ers will start becoming frequent occupants in this space, and this week is no exception. After pummeling the Green Bay Packers last Sunday, the 49ers take their 10-1 record on the road for a tilt with the Baltimore Ravens.
It will be fascinating to see how the 49ers’ stout defense matches up with Lamar Jackson, who has torn apart opponents with both his arms and legs in 2019. This is an early game, so make sure you’re in front of your TV at 1:00 to check it out.
New England Patriots (10-1) at Houston Texans (7-4)
Sunday Night Football has another good matchup this week as the AFC’s best team, the New England Patriots, hit the road for a showdown with another division leader in the Houston Texans. New England didn’t get much done offensively against the Cowboys, but their stout defense was the key to their second straight win.
Houston is now in control of its own destiny with a one game lead over the Colts and Titans in the AFC South, and they have the offensive firepower to challenge the Patriots’ mighty defense. The showdown between DeAndre Hopkins and Stephon Gilmore will be worth the price of admission.
Minnesota Vikings (8-3) at Seattle Seahawks (9-2)
Monday Night Football has also been on a roll, as evidenced by this week’s great game between the Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks. The Vikings were off last week enjoying their bye, but they will look to resume their playoff push behind Dalvin Cook and a strong defense.
Seattle went on the road and picked up a convincing 17-3 win over the Eagles despite a mediocre showing from MVP candidate Russell Wilson. Both teams are trailing in their division races, so a win here could be the difference between contending for a divisional crown or settling for a wild card spot in January.