Patriots Week 13 Rooting Guide: The Black Friday Showdown That Could Change Everything
Thanksgiving weekend in the NFL always feels like a feast of football — and this year, Patriots fans get one last helping. New England caps off the weekend with a prime-time clash against the New York Giants on Monday Night Football. That’s the headliner, no doubt, but don’t let that game steal the entire spotlight.
Across Thursday, Friday, Sunday, and Monday, fifteen other matchups are on the slate — and quite a few of them ripple into New England’s playoff picture. So, if you’re a die-hard Patriots fan wondering who to root for, here’s how to navigate this stacked Week 13 lineup.
Friday
3 p.m. ET: Chicago Bears (8–3) at Philadelphia Eagles (8–3)
Verdict: Just relax. This one doesn’t touch the Patriots in any meaningful way. Kick back, enjoy a post-Thanksgiving snack, and let it ride. | Amazon
Sunday — 1 p.m. ET Games
Los Angeles Rams (9–2) at Carolina Panthers (6–6): Root for Panthers!
Here’s why: both “strength of victory” and “strength of schedule” are tiebreakers that might matter down the stretch. A Carolina win helps make those tiebreakers tilt in New England’s favor. | FOX
San Francisco 49ers (8–4) at Cleveland Browns (3–8): Root for Browns!
A Cleveland upset would do wonders. Not only would it help those same tiebreaker categories, but it’d also improve the draft pick New England owns from San Francisco through the Keion White trade. | CBS
Houston Texans (6–5) at Indianapolis Colts (8–3): Root for Texans!
The Patriots currently lead the Colts by 1.5 games in the fight for the top AFC seed. The bigger that cushion, the sweeter it gets. | CBS
New Orleans Saints (2–9) at Miami Dolphins (4–7): Root for Saints!
This one might not shift the tiebreaker math, but it sure could sink Miami’s already flickering playoff hopes a little deeper. | FOX
Atlanta Falcons (4–7) at New York Jets (2–9): Root for Jets!
The Patriots have already beaten both teams, so this one’s all about draft positioning. A Jets win pushes them a little farther from those top draft picks that could haunt New England later. | FOX
Arizona Cardinals (3–8) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6–5): Root for Bucs!
Strength of schedule. Strength of victory. Say it again for the people in the back — these are the fine print details that may decide playoff seeding. | FOX
Jacksonville Jaguars (7–4) at Tennessee Titans (1–10): Root for Titans!
The Titans may be struggling, but here’s the deal — they’ve already lost to all of the AFC’s top teams. Meanwhile, a Jacksonville loss helps keep the current sixth seed from creeping closer to the Patriots. | CBS
Sunday — 4:05 p.m. ET
Minnesota Vikings (4–7) at Seattle Seahawks (8–3): Just enjoy it.
It’s being called the Sam Darnold Bowl™ for a reason — no Patriots consequences here. Grab another slice of pie and take in the game. | FOX
Sunday — 4:25 p.m. ET
Las Vegas Raiders (2–9) at Los Angeles Chargers (7–4): Root for Chargers!
Here’s the twist: even though it might feel odd to cheer for the Chargers, a win here actually helps New England in the strength of victory department. Among the Colts, Broncos, and Patriots, only New England hasn’t beaten the Raiders yet — meaning the Chargers winning helps balance the tiebreaker scales. | CBS
Buffalo Bills (7–4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (6–5): Root for Steelers!
Two straight Buffalo losses could swing momentum in the AFC East and reopen the door for the Patriots. Even if it slightly dents their strength of victory, it’s worth it. | CBS
Sunday Night Football — 8:20 p.m. ET
Denver Broncos (9–2) at Washington Commanders (3–8): Root for Commanders!
New England currently holds the AFC’s No. 1 seed, but a Denver win threatens to change that. The solution? Channel your inner Washington fan, at least for one night. | NBC
Thursday Games — Already in the Books
1 p.m. ET: Green Bay Packers (7–3–1) at Detroit Lions (7–4): Root for a good game!
No playoff impact here — just enjoy the classic Thanksgiving matchup with good food and good vibes. | GB 31, DET 24
4:30 p.m. ET: Kansas City Chiefs (6–5) at Dallas Cowboys (5–5–1): Root for Cowboys!
A Chiefs loss could devalue their playoff shot — and that’s great news for New England, which holds mid-round draft picks connected to Kansas City through trades. | KC 28, DAL 31
8:20 p.m. ET: Cincinnati Bengals (3–8) at Baltimore Ravens (6–5): Root for Bengals!
Every Patriots fan should quietly thank Cincinnati for this one. A Bengals win boosts New England’s strength of victory ahead of their own key Week 16 matchup against Baltimore. | CIN 32, BLT 14
This guide doubles as an open thread for the weekend. Jump down to the comment section to share your thoughts as the games unfold. Which rooting call surprised you most? And do you think these tiebreaker strategies actually matter in December — or is it all just number-crunching fun? Drop your takes below and let the debate begin.
