Week 13 NFC West predictions: Good times roll for 49ers

With a dominant Week 12 win over Seattle, the San Francisco 49ers took a commanding NFC West lead. In Week 13, they get a chance to extend that lead and prove they are the best team in the NFC. Here are this week's predictions:  

Seattle Seahawks (6-5) at Dallas Cowboys (8-3):  The Cowboys, who have won 13 straight at home, are flat-out crushing teams at AT&T Stadium, scoring at least 40 points in three consecutive games. 

This is a terrible matchup for a Seattle defense that has been trending in the wrong direction. The Seahawks have allowed 27.6 points per game and little more than 385 yards per game over the past four games. They are 1-3 during that stretch. 

Quarterback Geno Smith has not come close to duplicating his 2022 performance, leading to an underwhelming offense (15.3 PPG in past four games) despite the talented trio of wide receivers and strong running back duo around him. 

With Dallas on Thursday and the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles looming in Weeks 14 and 15, respectively, the Seahawks are fading at the wrong time. 

PREDICTION: Cowboys, 28-17

Arizona Cardinals (2-9) at Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4). Quarterback Kyler Murray's return to the starting lineup has not really done much to improve the Cardinals' offense. Arizona has scored just 18 points per game in three contests and Murray has turned the ball over three times and taken nine sacks. 

Pittsburgh defense is one of the best in the NFL at creating turnovers (20 takeaways, third most) and getting to the quarterback with an edge-rushing duo of T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. 

The Cardinals also have one of the worst defenses in the NFL, especially against the run (30th in the NFL) and will be facing a Steelers offense that finally broke the 400-yard mark in Week 12. The Steelers have rushed for at least 150 yards four weeks in a row.

It will almost certainly be a close, low-scoring game, but the Steelers' ability to run and win the turnover margin will be the difference.

PREDICTION: Steelers, 24-10

Cleveland Browns (7-4) vs. Los Angeles Rams (5-6). The Rams are back in the NFC wild-card race thanks to back-to-back wins out of their bye week. Los Angeles has a great chance to extend that winning streak at home Sunday against a depleted Browns team.

The Browns still have no idea who their quarterback will be after current starter Dorian Robinson-Thompson left Sunday's game in Denver with a concussion. Down to its backup quarterbacks – could veteran Joe Flacco start? – the offense has been a mess the past two weeks. It should not pose much of a threat to a Rams defense that has allowed just 30 combined points over the past two games. 

The Rams offense might also get a break as superstar edge-rusher Myles Garrett left Sunday's game in a sling and is dealing with a shoulder injury. The Browns defense is highly regarded, but it has allowed at least 24 points in four of its past six games. 

PREDICTION: Rams 20-10

San Francisco 49ers (8-3) at Philadelphia Eagles (10-1). The 49ers spent the entire offseason talking about how if they had not run out of quarterbacks in the NFC Championship Game, they would have won that game. This is their chance to make a statement and back up that talk.

With seven touchdown passes and only one interception over his past three starts, San Francisco QB Brock Purdy is playing some of the best football of his young career.

Despite their record, the Eagles have made a habit out of starting slowly and needing big second-half performances to win. That's not a good recipe against San Francisco.

Per oddschecker as of Wednesday, the 49ers are favored despite playing on the road against the the team with the NFL's best record. 

PREDICTION: 49ers 31-28