NFL
National Football League
Weekly picks from USA TODAY Sports' NFL staff
USATODAY
The fourth quarter of the NFL season begins this week, and one of the most intriguing matchups will occur between two regional rivals in the Battle of the Beltway — a game that leaves our experts split.
Red-hot Robert Griffin III and the Washington Redskins will try to sustain their playoff charge against a Baltimore Ravens squad fresh off a stinging defeat but still in position to nail down a postseason berth Sunday with a win and some help.
Week 14 will conclude with what should be a dandy between the Houston Texans and New England Patriots, who have combined for 20 wins heading into their Monday night showdown.
Here's how USA TODAY Sports' NFL staff sees it all playing out:
| Jarrett Bell | Jim Corbett | Nate Davis | Mike Garafalo | Lindsay H. Jones | Robert Klemko | Pete O'Brien | Simon Samano | |
| 2012regular season | 122-69-1 (.638) | 123-68-1 (.643) | 128-63-1 (.669) | 101-74-1 (.577) | 21-11 (.656) | 123-68-1 (.643) | 124-67-1 (.648) | 133-58-1 (.695) |
| Week 13 | 13-3 | 8-8 | 9-7 | 11-5 | 9-7 | 8-8 | 10-6 | 11-5 |
| *Lockof the Week* | 10-3 | 11-2 | 11-2 | 9-3 | 1-1 | 10-3 | 8-5 | 9-4 |
| Denverat Oakland | *Broncos* | *Broncos* | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos |
| Baltimoreat Washington | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Ravens | Ravens | Redskins | Ravens |
| KansasCity at Cleveland | Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns |
| SanDiego at Pittsburgh | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | *Steelers* |
| Tennesseeat Indianapolis | Colts | Colts | Colts | Colts | Colts | Colts | Colts | Colts |
| N.Y.Jets at Jacksonville | Jaguars | Jets | Jets | Jets | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jets | Jaguars |
| Chicagoat Minnesota | Vikings | Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears | Vikings |
| Atlantaat Carolina | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | *Falcons* | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons |
| Philadelphia at Tampa Bay | Bucs | Bucs | Bucs | Bucs | Bucs | Bucs | Bucs | Bucs |
| St.Louis at Buffalo | Bills | Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams | Bills | Bills |
| Dallasat Cincinnati | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Cowboys | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals |
| Miamiat San Francisco | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | *49ers* | 49ers | 49ers |
| NewOrleans at N.Y. Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants |
| Arizona at Seattle | Seahawks | Seahawks | *Seahawks* | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | *Seahawks* | Seahawks |
| Detroitat Green Bay | Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers |
| Houstonat New England | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Texans | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots |
| Midseason Super Bowl Picks | Jarrett Bell | Jim Corbett | Nate Davis | Mike Garafolo | Lindsay H. Jones | Robert Klemko | Pete O'Brien | Simon Samano |
| AFCchampion | Steelers | Broncos | Texans | Broncos | Patriots | Texans | Patriots | Texans |
| NFCchampion | Falcons | Falcons | 49ers | Bears | 49ers | 49ers | Packers | 49ers |
| SuperBowlXLVII champion | Steelers | Falcons | 49ers | Broncos | 49ers | 49ers | Patriots | 49ers |
| Preseason Super Bowl Picks | Jarrett Bell | Jim Corbett | Nate Davis | Mike Garafolo | Lindsay H. Jones | Robert Klemko | Pete O'Brien | Simon Samano |
| AFCchampion | Ravens | Ravens | Texans | Broncos | -- | Texans | Patriots | Texans |
| NFCchampion | Packers | Packers | 49ers | Bears | -- | 49ers | Packers | 49ers |
| SuperBowlXLVII champion | Packers | Packers | 49ers | Broncos | -- | 49ers | Patriots | 49ers |
| Therecord book | Jarrett Bell | Jim Corbett | Nate Davis | Mike Garafolo | Lindsay H. Jones | Robert Klemko | Pete O'Brien | Simon Samano |
| 2011regular season | 169-87 (.660) | 170-86 (.664) | 171-85 (.668) | -- | -- | 163-93 (.637) | 169-87 (.660) | -- |
| 2010regular season | 156-100 (.609) | 160-96 (.625) | 168-88 (.656) | -- | -- | -- | 162-94 (.633) | -- |
| 2009regular season | 169-87 (.660) | 163-93 (.637) | 173-83 (.676) | -- | -- | -- | 176-80 (.688) | -- |
| 2008regular season | 161-94-1 (.631) | 161-94-1 (.631) | 170-85-1 (.666) | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2007regular season | 163-93 (.637) | -- | 174-82 (.680) | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2006regular season | 143-113 (.559) | -- | 158-98 (.617) | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2005regular season | 156-100 (.609) | -- | 172-84 (.672) | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Note:Picks are made straight up,not against the spread. | ||||||||
| Completeprofootball coverage | ||||||||
Featured Weekly Ad