Cleveland defensive end Myles Garrett leads the NFL with 18 sacks. (AP Photo/Candice Ward)
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Separation week will continue Sunday.
Green Bay, Dallas and Cincinnati came up big on Thanksgiving in games that added more intrigue to the playoff races, inasmuch as Detroit, Kansas City and Baltimore looked much more vulnerable than they have even a year ago.
More drama is guaranteed this weekend, especially in Indianapolis, where the AFC South-leading Colts meet defending division champion Houston.
The 49ers can take a big step forward — or plunge into the NFC wild card pack — when they meet Cleveland by the lake.
Denver can assert its control over the AFC West and take an almost insurmountable lead over the defending division champion Chiefs when they meet Washington on Sunday night.
San Francisco 49er (8-4) at Cleveland Browns (3-8)
Sunday, CBS, 1 pm ET
Christian McCaffrey has reasserted himself as the best two-way running back in the league, and quarterback Brock Purdy’s return puts more pressure on the defense, even though Mac Jones did an admirable job filling in.
But San Francisco’s defense remains hobbled, and while Cleveland quarterback Shedeur Sanders has not had enough experience to handle the changing schemes the 49ers’ will present, he will not be asked to do too much.
The Browns will run the ball with Quinshon Judkins and turn sack machine Myles Garrett loose on Purdy. The 49ers’ path to the NFC playoffs got a little wider when the Detroit Lions lost at home to the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, but there is work to do.
The Browns are 4-0 against the number at home this season.
The spread: 49ers -4 1/2
The money line: 49ers -240, Browns +198
The total: 36 1/2 Browns
The play: Browns
Houston Texans (6-2) at Indianapolis Colts (8-3)
Sunday, CBS, 1 pm ET
The race for the AFC South title begins here today. This is the first of two meetings between the Texans and Colts season, and second-place Jacksonville (7-5) has two games remaining with the Colts after splitting with Houston in their two meetings.
Houston has won three in a row behind No. 2 quarterback Davis Mills, who guided the Texans to 26 fourth-quarter points in a wild 36-29 comeback win comeback against the Jaguars three weeks ago. Now C.J. Stroud returns.
The Texans win with defense — they are allowing 264.3 yards and 16.5 points per game, first and third in the league, respectively. The Colts benefitted from an easy early-season schedule and have the most difficult remaining schedule in the league.
Houston has won four of the last five in the series, including the last three at Indy.
The spread: Colts -3 1/2
The money line: Colts -176, Texans +150
The total: 44 1/2
The play: Texans
Denver Broncos (9-2) at Washington Commanders (3-8)
Sunday, 8:20 pm, NBC/Peacock
This looked like Sunday night special to circle when the NFL schedule came out, featuring two young quarterbacks who were growing into their second year in the league after successful rookie seasons.
Denver’s Bo Nix has stepped up. Washington’s Jayden Daniels has been hurt, and backup Marcus Mariota — also a multi-tasker — does not bring the same skill set as a passer or a runner.
The Broncos’ defense is a difference-maker. They lead the NFL with 49 sacks, and All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain is expected to return after missing four weeks with a pectoral injury.
The Commanders are 3-8 against the number, tied with New Orleans for worst team in the league.
The spread: Broncos -5 1/2
The money line: Broncos -260, Commanders +215
The total: 43 1/2
The play: Broncos
Last week: 1-2
Season: 17-21
Odds from FanDuel
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackmagruder/2025/11/28/nfl-picks-week-13-broncos-keep-rolling-texans-browns-live-dogs/
