2023 COAS Pigskin Pick 'Em: Week 13

The coalition returns, and my hopes for a bump from Thanksgiving crashed and burned.

Adam took six of nine from me, Joe took seven of nine (insert Star Trek joke here), and Joe won five of eight between the two of them.

This results in a widening of the gap in the standings at the top, as Geoffrey now boasts a four game lead.. and then there's me way the heck at the bottom. You can view how we've all picked in relation to each other here.

As we get back to more bye weeks, Adam and I disagree on eight games, Joe and I on just three, and the two of them on nine games out of 13. Let's get to it!

Thursday Night

Seattle Seahawks @ Dallas Cowboys (-7.5)
Lucas: Cowboys. Was hoping for a more competitive afternoon Thanksgiving game, but alas, it was not meant to be. Cowboys win by enough to cover on Thursday night, we'll just see how they choke come January.
Adam: Seahawks. Going against the grain here, seems like an obvious spot for Dallas to falter and the Seahawks to rise to the occasion.
Joe: Cowboys.

Sunday, Early Afternoon

Indianapolis Colts @ Tennessee Titans (+2.5)
Lucas: Colts. Yeah, divisional game, but I'll take the better team.
Adam: Colts. And this is despite the surprise short loss of the tractor Taylor due to a thumb injury. Moss should be able to step in as he did at the start of the season.
Joe: Colts.

Los Angeles Chargers @ New England Patriots (+5.5)
Lucas: Chargers. I'm going back to the anime schedule release well with what was easily my favorite Easter egg. Casting Darth Hoodie as Father from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood... *chef's kiss* Unfortunately for Belichick, this season has gone about as well as the whole Promised Day, absorbing God plan went for the Dwarf in the Flask (sorry for the spoilers, but this show's been out for a decade.)

Adam: Chargers. Seems like a slam dunk line. I am almost tempted to go the other way, but all signs are pointing to the Mac experiment in New England being over for the year. Zappe's in line to make the start.
Lucas note: Let's be honest: Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe are basically the same quarterback.
Joe: Chargers.

Detroit Lions @ New Orleans Saints (+3.5)
Lucas: Lions. After a couple clunkers (ALL HAIL THE WAXING GIBBOUS MOON), Detroit's due to bounce back.
Adam: Lions. Coming off a bit of a surprise loss on Thanksgiving to the Packers, I see a rebound here. Lions by a mile... maybe 8 mile. Sorry, bad Eminem Joke.
Lucas note: I'll allow it.
Joe: Lions.

Atlanta Falcons @ New York Jets (+3.5)
Lucas: Falcons. I really, REALLY want to know what kind of blood magic Aaron Rodgers used to be able to have his practice window opened up on Wednesday. Dude is either going to go God Mode over the final three weeks to somehow sneak the Jets into the playoffs or his leg is going to fall off three snaps into his return. There is no in between.
Adam: Jets. For A A Ron.
Joe: Falcons.

Arizona Cardinals @ Pittsburgh Steelers (-5.5)
Lucas: Steelers. Amazing what getting rid of Matt Canada can do for you.
Adam: Cardinals. I will probably end up regretting this, but yeah... Pitt will likely win the game, but I like Arizona to cover.
Lucas note: Naturally, this means Adam will have yet another hero win because WE CANNOT HAVE NICE THINGS IN THIS WORLD.
Joe: Steelers.

Miami Dolphins @ Washington Commanders (+9.5)
Lucas: Dolphins. Miami's beaten up on the bad teams so far this year. No reason to think we'll see any different here.
Adam: Commanders. Just playing the line here. I know Miami has an explosive offense, but they have cooled off from their super-hot start and I like Washington to come in feisty at home.
Joe: Dolphins.

Denver Broncos @ Houston Texans (-3.5)
Lucas: Broncos. Denver's sneaky good and should give the Strouds a game. Also, eff the Strouds for blowing up the moon.

Adam: Broncos. Denver is coming in hot. On a 5-game win streak I’ll take that plus the points. Could come down to the last play for this one.
Joe: Texans.

Sunday, Late Afternoon

Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-5.5)
Lucas: Buccaneers. Is Dave Tepper the worst owner in the NFL? If he's not, he's gotta be in the running at least. What a dumpster fire.
Adam: Panthers. I like to call this the “We will win this week to spite the coach that just got fired” angle.
Joe: Buccaneers.

Cleveland Browns @ Los Angeles Rams (-4.5)
Lucas: Browns. This line is perfect. Part of me's unsure why the Rams are favored by this much, so I'll take the points.
Adam: Rams. Ok, I’ll bite off the offensive explosion from last week. I see that continuing this week and the Rams out last the Browns.
Joe: Browns.

San Francisco 49ers @ Philadelphia Eagles (+2.5)
Lucas: Eagles. Nick Sirianni can have another win and top the NFC playoff race, but that's the only nice thing he gets. I'm still spamming the Crying Sirianni GIF for the next while because LOL Mount Union lost in the second round at home again.

Adam: Eagles. And I am getting points? Mesa confusedsa. Don’t get me wrong, San Francisco ain't no slouch, but at home AND GETTING POINTS? That just seems too too good to pass up.
Joe: 49ers.

Sunday Night

Kansas City Chiefs @ Green Bay Packers (+6.5)
Lucas: Packers. ALL HAIL THE WAXING GIBBOUS MOON. I don't know that the Packers win this one, but I think they at least keep it competitive.
Adam: Chiefs. Yes, the Packers showed up in Detroit to put a damper on the Lions expected win, but alas the moon aligned in the Packers favor and was a waning gibbon moon. No such deep magic luck this week.
Lucas note: I can't tell if you're mocking me...
Joe: Chiefs.

Monday Night

Cincinnati Bengals @ Jacksonville Jaguars (-8.5)
Lucas: Bengals Jaguars. See, this was the sort of thing that torpedoed me last week. Trying to take the points with inferior/banged up teams. Not again.
Adam: Bengals. A game that would have been oh sooooo good earlier this year seems to have been hit by the injury bug and the regression to the mean. With Burrow out and the Jags not executing as well as I think they can this is a Monday night game that's just meh.
Joe: Jaguars.

Records So Far
Lucas: 77-103 (6-10 last week)
Adam: 97-83 (9-7 last week)
Joe: 88-92 (11-5 last week)
Geoffrey: 101-79 (12-4 last week)
Jim: 93-87 (10-6 last week)