Week 12 of the NFL season has a full slate of games, including a pair Thanksgiving games in the books. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs head to Tampa Bay, Florida to square off against Tom Brady and the Bucs. The New Orleans Saints seek their ninth win of the season and second victory since Taysom Hill replaced a banged-up Drew Brees at quarterback.
The Tennessee Titans and the Indianapolis Colts meet for the second time in three weeks due to a NFL scheduling quirk in Week 12. The Colts won their first meeting of the season, and this rematch has AFC South divisional implications.
Five other 7-3 teams are in action as the divide between the NFL’s elite teams and the have-nots continues to widen. The Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, LA Rams, Green Bay Packers, and Seattle Seahawks are all in position to win their eighth game of the season and improve to 8-3.
A quartet of 6-4 teams – Miami Dolphins, Las Vegas Raiders, Baltimore Ravens, and Arizona Cardinals – are in a precarious situation. A victory in Week 12, would put them all in a better position to secure a spot in the NFL playoffs with a 7-4 record. A loss for those teams would set them back to 6-5.
The Pittsburgh Steelers were supposed to host the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night Football as part of a Thanksgiving tripleheader, but the NFL postponed the nightcap when multiple members of the Ravens tested positive for COVID-19. That game got pushed back to early Sunday, but it could be in jeopardy. And now Lamar Jackson, the reigning MVP, is the latest member of the Ravens to catch coronavirus.
The Suits Super Bowl Pick: KC vs TB
Kansas City Chiefs (9-1) at Tampa Bay Bucs (7-4)… Ask any television executive who they’d like to see in Super Bowl 55 and they’d say Patrick Mahomes vs. Tom Brady. This is the closest thing the suits will get for their dream Super Bowl matchup. The Bucs lost two out of their last three games, including a 27-24 loss to the LA Rams on Monday Night Football. Mahomes leads the highest-scoring offense in the NFL. Kansas City averages 32.1 ppg, but they’ll face a tough Tampa Bay defense that are still ranked #2 in DVOA. LINE: KC -3.5
NFL Game of the Week 12: Titans/Colts
Tennessee Titans (7-3) at Indianapolis Colts (7-3)… In their first meeting on Thursday Night Football in Week 9, the Titans blew a 17-13 lead at halftime. The Colts and their feisty defense pitched a shutout in the second half and outscored the Titans 21-0 to win 34-17. The Titans (3-1 in away games) hit the road and face the Colts on their own turf. The Titans are only 4-6 ATS this season, but fresh off an inspiring overtime win against the Baltimore Ravens. Derrick Henry scored a walk-off touchdown in OT to secure the victory. Henry set an NFL record with his second overtime touchdown this season. LINE: Tennessee +4
Could This Get Cancelled?
Baltimore Ravens (6-4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-0)… The Steelers are pissed about losing their bye week earlier in season, and now they’re losing their mini-bye week after getting bumped on Turkey Day. These AFC North smashmouth battles are always fierce street brawls. Expect the Steelers to be extra mean and surly when these two teams finally meet… if they meet. On Turkey Day, Baltimore revealed that QB Lamar Jackson tested positive for COVID-19. UPDATE: This game now moved to Tuesday! LINE: Pittsburgh -5
7-Win Teams: Bills, Browns, Rams
Los Angeles Chargers (3-7) at Buffalo Bills (7-3)… The Chargers blew a huge lead against the LOL Jets last week and let Gang Green slip in the backdoor. The Bills are fresh off a bye week. After winning a 44-34 shootout against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 9, the Bills lost a 32-30 close one against the Cardinals in Arizona. Bills Mafia have an easy schedule for the rest of the season (aside from Week 14 at Pittsburgh), but they can’t sleep walk against Justin Herbert, who is the new favorite to win Rookie of the Year. LINE: Buffalo -5.5
Cleveland Browns (7-3) at Jacksonville Jaguars (1-9)… The one-win Jags will start Mike Glennon. The Browns are 7-2 in their last nine games and won two in a row against inferior teams. Baker Mayfield faces a terrible Jags defense that allows 29.8 ppg, or the third-most points in the league. LINE: Cleveland -6.5
San Francisco 49ers (4-6) at LA Rams (7-3)… The LA Rams are on an uptick after they won back-to-back games against playoff-caliber teams (Seattle 23-16 and Tampa 27-24). The Niners won their first meeting 24-16 in Week 6. But now they have to head to SoCal to play the rematch. The Rams are undefeated (4-0) at their new home field at SoFi Stadium. WR Cooper Kupp, 145 yards last week, has been crushing it. LINE: LA Rams -7
Real or Fugazi? Fins, Raiders, Ravens
Miami Dolphins (6-4) at New York Jets (0-10)… After an ugly game, Brian Flores benched rookie Tua Tagovailoa in favor of Ryan Fitzpatrick. Alas, FitzMagic could not pull off the comeback win against Denver. The Jets seek their first win of the season. The Dolphins shut them out 24-0 in an embarrassing performance from the LOL Jets. Despite the Jets covering their last few games, we’re still fading the Jets (3-7 ATS) this week. LNE: Miami -7
Las Vegas Raiders (6-4) at Atlanta Falcons (3-7)… The Raiders lost a close one to the Kansas City Chiefs 35-31 on Sunday Night Football. The Falcons had a two-game winning streak snapped by the New Orleans Saints. The Falcons will probably jump out to an early lead, only to blow it in the second half. LINE: Las Vegas -3
No QBs, No Problem!
New Orleans Saints (8-2) at Denver Broncos (4-6)… Taysom Hill got his first NFL start last week in a 24-9 victory over Atlanta. Now, the Saints head to the Mile High City to battle the QB-less Denver Broncos. The Saints head into Week 12 with a seven-game winning streak, or second best in the NFL (aside from 10-0 Pittsburgh). Toss out the first three games of the season, and the Broncos are 4-3 in their last seven games. But none of that matters because the Broncos sent all 4 QBs (even the practice squad dude) on the Reserve/COVID list. Yikes! The line jumped 7 points on the news of the potential outbreak. The total plummeted to 36.5 o/u. LINE: New Orleans -13.5
4-Win Home Teams: Vikes, Pats
Carolina Panthers (4-7) at Minnesota Vikings (4-6)… Christian McCafferty saw limited practice time this week. CMAC but did not make the flight to Minneapolis. With a bye week next week, why rush CAMC back? Mike Davis has done a fantastic job as his backup. The Vikes are only 1-4 in Minnesota this year. They had a three-game winning streak snapped when the Dallas Cowboys upset them last week. LINE: Minny -3.5
Arizona Cardinals (6-4) at New England Patriots (4-6)… One week after the Hail Murray victory over the Buffalo Bills, the Arizona Cardinals lost a tough one against the Seattle Seahawks 28-21. The New England Patriots lost another game they should’ve won (Houston prevailed 27-20). If anyone can figure out how to stop Kyler Murray, it’s Bill Belichick. Murray has a sore shoulder, but he expects to play. LINE: Arizona -1.5
Poo Emoji Game of the Week
New York Giants (3-7) at Cincinnati Bengals (2-7-1)… With Joe Burrow dunzo for the season, Brandon Allen will start at QB for the Cincy Bengals. Even though the Giants are 3-7, they still have a legit shot at winning the crappy NFC East after back-to-back divisional wins. After an 0-5 start, the Giants went 3-2. The G-Men smell blood in the water. LINE: NYG -6
Prime Time Games: Da Bears/Packers and Bird Bowl
SNF: Chicago Bears (5-5) at Green Bay Packers (7-3)… After a 5-1 start, Da Bears hit the skids. They’re in the middle of a four-game losing streak with a trip to Lambeau Field on the deck for Week 12. Mitch Trubisky is expected to start. The Packers lost a tough one 34-31 in overtime against the Indy Colts last week. Aaron Rodgers leads the third-highest scoring offense (30.8 ppg) against a tough Bears defense (ranked #6 in fewest points allowed at 20.9 ppg). LINE: GB -7.5
MNF: Seattle Seahawks (7-3) at Philadelphia Eagles (3-6-1)… Two bird teams in the NFC square off with both teams ensconced in a divisional fight. The Eagles lost two in a row and find themselves in another NFC East four-team race. Russell Wilson takes the second-highest scoring team (31.8 ppg) on the road, where the Seahawks are 2-3. LINE: Seattle -5