Week 13: Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Green Bay Packers, 1:00 ET
The Buccaneers, thanks in part to the growth of Jameis Winston, proved they were the real deal last season winning nine games. Interestingly enough, Rodgers and the Packers won only one more game than Tampa Bay did in 2016.
When Week 13 arrives, both NFC teams could be fighting for first place in their respective divisions. This game takes Winston out of his comfortable Florida weather to compete on a potentially frigid afternoon at Lambeau. This will be Winston’s first rodeo at Green Bay.
The Buccaneers and Packers have not played each other since December of 2014, when Tampa Bay managed only one field goal score.
With that said, the Packers are no sure fire bet to win. This preliminary prediction comes as a result of the Buccaneers managing some pretty impressive victories last fall. One that would include holding the Seahawks to only five points last November.
All considered, we decided this particular game makes for the most intriguing of Week 13.
Week 14: Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants, 4:25 ET
These two fan-favorite NFC East teams will have already faced each other in Week 1. Last year, the Giants were one of only two franchises that beat the Cowboys in the regular season. It will be interesting to see if things are different one year later.
Both clubs could have wins registering into the double digits if Eli Manning and Dak Prescott are mirroring last year’s success. It is also highly possible that the team that wins this game breaks a tie for first place within the division.
Manning’s has one of the league’s best trio of receivers on hand in OBJ, Marshall and second-year star Sterling Shepard. If running back Paul Perkins and/or Wayne Gallman lives up to expectations, the Giants’ offense might be nearly unstoppable.
On defense, the Giants held the Cowboys to only seven points last December. It would certainly make things a whole lot more exciting if running back Ezekiel Elliott and wide receiver Dez Bryant spiced things up.
We obviously can’t predict what exactly will happen six months from now. But, it is very likely that the playoffs will be on the line for one or both teams when this December tilt rolls around.