- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
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- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
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- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
Week 13 NFL Picks: Spread Advice, Best Odds and Full Game Predictions
- Updated: December 1, 2016
The Green Bay Packers are used to competing in the playoffs, but they have a long way to go if they are going to earn a spot in the postseason this year.
The Packers are two games behind the Detroit Lions in the NFC North heading into Week 13 with just five games left in the season, and they are going to have to raise their level of play if they are going to make the playoffs for an eighth consecutive season.
The big issue for the Packers has been a soft and generous defense. The Packers gave up 89 points in back-to-back games in Weeks 10 and 11, and that came on the heels of allowing 64 points in Weeks 8 and 9.
There were some signs of life in Week 12 as Green Bay figured a few things out in a 27-13 Monday night road win at Philadelphia. The offense held onto the football (35:23-24:37 time of possession advantage) and kept the defense off the field.
There’s no doubt that head coach Mike McCarthy would like to see Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Davante Adams follow that same scenario this week when the Packers host the Houston Texans.
The Packers may find an opponent who is willing to cooperate with that scenario.
The Texans are coming off back-to-back losses to the Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers, and this team often has issues playing well in road games against challenging opponents.
The Texans paid $72M for a 72 Passer Rating pic.twitter.com/Mru0t4y6UD
— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) November 28, 2016
The combination of head coach Bill O’Brien and quarterback Brock Osweiler is not working out well, even though the Texans have a 6-5 record and are in first place in the division. They have dropped four of their five road games, and their only road win came against a disappointing Jacksonville Jaguars team.
The Packers are 6.5-point favorites in this game, according to Odds Shark.
While the Packers have flaws, Rodgers and his receivers should round into form and put pressure on the Texans throughout the game. Osweiler will have a difficult time getting the ball to wideout …
