The San Francisco 49ers are a missed field goal in overtime away from being a perfect 11-0, the Seattle Seahawks are still just one game back of them for the best record in the NFC, while the Dallas Cowboys have yet to beat a team with a winning record this season. All of those three teams will play in the five most important games of Week 13:
Buffalo Bills @ Dallas Cowboys
Odds: Cowboys -7
The Cowboys had their opportunity to take down the New England Patriots before eventually falling 13-9. While the Dallas defense did its job, the offense and special teams both made key mistakes that ultimately cost them from securing their first win of the year over a team that currently owns a winning record. Now, the Cowboys go back to the drawing board hoping they can pick up that elusive victory against a Buffalo side that still isn’t getting much credit – even at 8-3. The Bills are being listed as eight-point underdogs for this Thanksgiving Day matchup.
San Francisco 49ers @ Baltimore Ravens
Odds: Ravens -4.5
Just in case the Thanksgiving Day trio of games doesn’t completely satisfy us, we get one of the matchups of the year featuring the 49ers and Ravens. San Francisco is coming off back-to-backs wins over the Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers to improve to 10-1. Now the 49ers head to Baltimore for a chance to make another statement against the Ravens in a rematch of Super Bowl XLVII. Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore offense have looked unstoppable this season but will face a 49ers defense that is ranked first overall in yards and second in points per game allowed (14.8).
Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Odds: Browns -1
Two weeks after one of the most egregious incidents in NFL history took place when these teams met on Thursday Night Football, the Browns travel to Pittsburgh for a rematch with major implications. Cleveland has clawed its way back in to the AFC Wild Card picture with three straight wins. Meanwhile, the Steelers have trended in the opposite direction of late, barely scraping past the Cincinnati Bengals with a 16-10 win on Sunday. Tensions will be high in this one but it may be dulled slightly if quarterback Mason Rudolph is benched as he was at the end of last week.
New England Patriots @ Houston Texans
Odds: Patriots -3.5
After back-to-back wins over the Philadelphia Eagles and Cowboys, the Patriots head to Houston looking to inch one win closer to securing the best record in the AFC. This will be a difficult matchup for New England for a couple of reasons. First, they have to deal with slowing down Deshaun Watson and a Texans offense that has the potential to put up big numbers. Second, Houston is fighting for its playoff lives in a battle for top spot in the AFC South. Finally, the Texans are coming off a Thursday Night Football win over the Colts and will have had an extra few days to prepare for this AFC showdown.
Minnesota Vikings @ Seattle Seahawks
Odds: Seahawks -3
After a loaded slate of games, Monday Night Football and MNF sports bettors won’t be a letdown with the Vikings travelling to Seattle to face the Seahawks. Minnesota, at 8-3, has a chance to close the gap on the Packers for the best record in the NFC North. Meanwhile, Russell Wilson and Seattle keep finding ways to win in different ways, improving to 9-2 and keeping the pressure on San Francisco at the top of the NFC standings.