Week 13 NFC East predictions: 49ers, Cowboys gain ground on Philadelphia
The Giants have the week off after beating the Patriots while the rest of the NFC East teams get tough home matchups against winning teams.
Seattle Seahawks (6-5) at Dallas Cowboys (8-3):
The Cowboys have outscored their opponents 127-37 while winning their last three games. The Seahawks have two straight losses against division opponents as quarterback Geno Smith looks nothing like the 2022 AP Comeback Player of the Year.
Smith threw for 180 yards and no touchdowns while taking six sacks against the 49ers and has just three touchdowns in his last four games. Dak Prescott has 10 touchdowns and 924 yards over his last three games (all wins).
Seattle’s best chance of winning the game could hinge on the availability of running back Kenneth Walker III. Walker missed last week’s game with an oblique injury and is questionable for Thursday’s game. His backup, rookie Zach Charbonnet, will have to do better than 47 yards if the team has any hope of beating the Cowboys.
Dallas hasn’t beaten a winning team but is 5-0 at home this year. Look for the Cowboys to end the first streak and extend the other to six home wins.
PREDICTION: Cowboys 31-17
Miami Dolphins (8-3) at Washington Commanders (4-8):
After trading the team’s best two pass rushers at the deadline, the Commanders continued their purge on defense by releasing defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio and defensive backs coach Brent Vieselmeyer after last week’s loss to Dallas.
None of this will help against Miami’s top-ranked offense. The Dolphins still haven’t beaten a winning team, but they’ll have no trouble against a Washington defense allowing a league-high 29.2 points per game. The Commanders have lost three straight games and put up just 10 points against the Cowboys. Miami’s defense isn’t as formidable, but they’re still a top-10 unit.
Miami better get backup quarterback Mike White ready because Tua Tagovailoa won’t see the field in the fourth quarter. The same goes for running back Raheem Mostert if De’Von Achane plays.
PREDICTION: Dolphins 34-14
San Francisco 49ers (8-3) at Philadelphia Eagles (10-1)
After losing quarterback Brock Purdy to an early elbow injury and last year’s NFC Championship Game in Philadelphia, 49ers fans, players and coaches were less than complimentary about the city and its football team.
San Francisco believes it is the better team, and will arrive at Lincoln Financial Field with a chip on its shoulder in a game that could determine home field in the NFC playoffs. They 49ers will also bring Christian McCaffrey, the NFL’s leading rusher, and a defense allowing a league-low 15.5 points per game.
The Niners opened the week as two-point favorites against Philadelphia, which could serve as motivation for a 10-1 Eagles team that still hasn’t played its best football. Philadelphia doesn't run the ball like it used to and often forget it has the NFL’s fourth-leading rusher in D’Andre Swift.
Swift tied quarterback Jalen Hurts with 14 carries (three in the first half) against the Bills, which could explain why Philadelphia needed overtime to win the game. Of course, both teams are excellent against the run, so the game could come down to a single catch from any of the game's three top-20 wide receivers or San Francisco’s Pro Bowl tight end.
Philadelphia would like nothing more than to get to 11-1 and put some distance between themselves and the 49ers, but after emotional comeback wins against the Chiefs and Bills, the Eagles are due to let one slip. With a game against the rival Cowboys up next, this will be the one that gets away from Philly.
PREDICTION: 49ers 24-20
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