Tampa Bay Buccaneers at San Diego Chargers:
Winners of their last three games, Tampa Bay (6-5) closeout their AFC West portion of their schedule by traveling to southern California to face the 5-6 Chargers. Tampa Bay is currently 1-2 against the AFC West and has a real good opportunity to improve to 2-2. Of course, for Tampa Bay to do that, Jameis Winston will have to rise up and outplay his counterpart, Philip Rivers. As is the case with most opponents Rivers faces, he is the face of the aging veteran, while the opposing quarterback is the young, up-and-coming quarterback. Week thirteen is no different.
While the Chargers probably aren’t mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, they don’t have many lives left. A loss to the Bucs would drop them to 6-6 and most likely out of the hunt for a wildcard spot. Coach Mike McCoy, despite possibly feeling less and less secure with each loss, will have the Chargers ready to go. Even though this may not be a marquee match-up for week thirteen, given the quarterbacks involved, this may be a very entertaining game.
Over the years, the Chargers seem to put up a fight, even when the season seems to be over. For that reason, I am thinking they will find a way to beat Tampa Bay. If that does occur, the Chiefs will be the only AFC West team that lost to the Buccaneers.
Prediction: San Diego 31, Tampa Bay 17
Go Broncos – beat the Jaguars!