Predictions for All 15 Week 12 NFL Games
By Adam Hughes
Andy Dalton and the Cincinnati Bengals will have their hands full with J.J. Watt on Sunday. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports
As Week 12 continues, each NFL team has six or less games remaining on their regular-season schedule, which means that every contest takes on added meaning. For the Cincinnati Bengals and every other team with playoff hopes, any outcome could turn into one that determines their post-season fate. From now until the end of the season, we’ll take quick, bit-sized shots at predicting the full slate of games each week, just to whet your appetite for the battles ahead.
Here, then, are the picks for Week 12.
Kansas City Chiefs @ Oakland Raiders: This one’s already in the books, and the Raiders notched their first win of the season. Wow!
Cleveland Browns @ Atlanta Falcons:
The Browns are dangerous, but the Falcons are fighting for their playoff lives. It’ll be close.
Prediction: Browns, 23-20
New York Jets @ Buffalo Bills:
This game has been moved to Monday night, and to Detroit, because of the Biblical snowfall in Buffalo. The Jets are terrible, and the Bills are sentimental favorites, but this will be a strange game for both teams.
Prediction: Bills, 14-7
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Chicago Bears:
The Bears have been mostly down this year, but better showings recently still have them with playoff hopes. The Bucs are just bad.
Prediction: Bears, 24-7
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Indianapolis Colts:
This game is a clear mismatch in Indy’s favor, and it’s at Lucas Oil Stadium to boot.
Prediction: Colts, 33-7
Cincinnati Bengals @ Houston Texans:
A young and improving Texans team will be tough to beat at home, and the up-and-down Bengals won’t get it done.
Prediction: Texans, 20-10
Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings:
This one has blowout potential, and Aaron Rodgers will go in for the the kill.
Prediction: Packers, 55-10
Detroit Lions @ New England Patriots:
The Pats have emerged as the AFC’s best team, and the Lions are better than most thought they could be. Still, it’s Foxborough in late November, so …
Prediction: Patriots, 31-17
Tennessee Titans @ Philadelphia Eagles:
Mark Sanchez? Yeah, it seem that he has re-emerged as something better than he was with the Jets.
Prediction: Eagles, 21-10
St. Louis Rams @ San Diego Chargers:
The Rams are coming off an upset of the Broncos, and the Chargers have sputtered of late. Even so, the Chargers should take this one.
Prediction: Charger, 32-21
Arizona Cardinals @ Seattle Seahawks:
The Battle Royale that no one expected when the season started. The Seahawks are a mess in the follow-up to their Super Bowl win, and Cards are a machine.
Prediction: Cardinals, 21-14
Miami Dolphins @ Denver Broncos:
Miami is a good, rising team, and Peyton Manning is starting to look human, but Number 18 won’t lose at home in November with the playoff race tightening up.
Prediction: Broncos, 42-25
Washington Redskins @ San Francisco 49ers:
RGIII is on the verge of losing his job, and the Niners will be happy to help usher him out the door.
Prediction: 49ers, 24-13
Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants:
The Giants have played teams fairly tough during their losing streak, but they just don’t measure up to the Cowboys.
Prediction: Cowboys, 31-17
Baltimore Ravens @ New Orleans Saints:
The Saints ain’t THE SAINTS in 2014, and the Ravens are hardening for their playoff push.
Prediction: Ravens, 21-12.