2016 NFL Week 12 Predictions, Picks and Preview

Maybe, it’s really a good idea to pit the Cleveland Browns against ‘Bama. The Browns have been an embarrassment for everything they represent but the NFL season won’t be stopping to pay their respects for the already dead Cleveland season. It will continue to Week 12, which begins with a trio of Thanksgiving Day games. Let’s head to the picks, shall we?

NFL News and Previews

2016 NFL Week 12 Complete Picks

Thursday, November 24

Minnesota Vikings (+3) at Detroit Lions (-3) – 12:30 PM ET

Thanksgiving Day football begins with a huge and crucial showdown between the Viking and the Lions, who are both tied atop the NFC North standings. Minnesota snapped a four-game skid on Sunday with a 30-24 home win over Arizona. The Vikes were propelled by the strong play of their special teams and defense as they came up with two interceptions and a return touchdown. Having returned to winning ways after a long while, the Vikings will look to go back to back when they travel to Detroit to face the hot Lions, who have won five of their last six contests, which includes a 26-19 victory over Jacksonville on Sunday.

Writer’s Prediction: Minnesota wins, 19-17.

Washington Redskins (TBA) at Dallas Cowboys (TBA) – 4:30 PM ET

Ole Miss sure misses having Dak Prescott in as the Rebels lost to Vanderbilt on Saturday. Compounding the Bulldogs’ longing for Prescott was Sunday’s play of the now Cowboys’ quarterback, when the NFL rookie produced MVP numbers of 301 passing yards and three touchdowns on 27 of 36 completions. Prescott and the Cowboys next faces Washington, eyeing to extend their win streak to 10 games, one that started when Dallas beat the Redskins back in Week 2, 27-23. Aside from Prescott, the Redskins is preparing for Dallas’ running game that rushed for 102 yards and three TDs against them in the previous meeting. The Cowboys have the second best rushing attack in the league with 156.7 rushing yards per game. Washington, meanwhile, allows 115.2 yards on the ground per contest.

Writer’s Prediction: Dallas wins, 27-24.

Pittsburgh Steelers (-2.5) at Indianapolis Colts (+2.5) – 8:30 PM ET

The Steelers avoided reaching the nadir of life when they edged out the Browns on Sunday, 24-9. It was the first win in five games of Pittsburgh, who travels next to Lucas Oil Stadium to battle the resurgent Colts, who have won their last two games. The Colts beat Green Bay in Week 9 before a bye then proceeded to take down Tennessee in Week 11, 24-17. Le’Veon Bell ate up all carries for the Steelers against the Browns, rushing for 146 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries. He could be in line for another big night against the Colts, who entered Week 11 22^nd against the run.

Writer’s Prediction: Pittsburgh wins, 31-28.

Sunday, November 27

Tennessee Titans (-1.5) at Chicago Bears (+1.5) – 1:00 PM ET

The Titans lost to Indianapolis 24-17 on Sunday but if there’s one positive takeaway for them, it’s that Tennessee still looked dangerous in the red zone, where Marcus Mariota has passed for 31 touchdowns without an interception in 23 career starts. Mariota passed for 290 yards and two touchdowns on 25 of 38 passes against the Colts without an interception. Murray was slowed down, though, with just 70 yards on 21 carries.

The Bears possess a solid defense that ranks 11^th in total yards allowed per game and 12^th both against the pass and run so Tennessee will need some diversity in trying to break past Chicago’s stop unit. Chicago, however, is coming off a 22-16 loss to the Giants in a game where the Bears were mutilated on the grounds by New York, which had 102 rushing yards and a touchdown. Jay Cutler had 252 passing yards and a touchdown to go with an interception. Cutler was also sacked four times, which could be a big tell of how he’ll get massacred next week by Tennessee’s pass rush that is among the elite this season.

Writer’s Prediction: Tennessee wins, 23-21.

Jacksonville Jaguars (+7) at Buffalo Bills (_-7) – 1:00 PM ET

The free falling Jaguars did more free falling on Sunday, when they widened their wounds even more with a 26-19 road loss to Detroit—their fifth-straight loss. Blake Bortles’ bad outweighed his good, as he passed for 202 yards on 22 of 35 completions with two touchdowns and two interceptions versus the Lions. He wasn’t sacked, but he could reintroduce himself to the turf next week against the Bills tremendous pass rush that is tied for first in the NFL with 31 sacks. Buffalo fended off the Bengals in Week 11 with a 16-11 road victory. The Bills, however, fear that they will not have the services of their top two offensive weapons in Robert Woods and LeSean McCoy, who hurt their knee and thumbs, respectively, in the Cincinnati game.

Writer’s Prediction: Buffalo wins, 21-17.

Cincinnati Bengals (+3.5) at Baltimore Ravens (-3.5) – 1:00 PM ET

It wasn’t just A.J. Green’s hamstring that was torn on Sunday, but also the Bengals’ playoff hopes as losing their best player and the game against Baltimore meant a narrower road to the postseason for Cincy. The Bengals, which lost to Buffalo, 16-12, now takes on division leader Baltimore. The Ravens could have a solo lead atop the AFC North right now if it weren’t for a 27-17 loss to the streaking Cowboys on Sunday. Without Green for Cincy, the Ravens’ defense will have an easier time containing the Bengals’ attack. Baltimore is fifth in the league in scoring defense and has the ability to take away both opposing run and pass games.

Writer’s Prediction: Baltimore wins, 24-21.

Arizona Cardinals (+4) at Atlanta Falcons (-4) – 1:00 PM ET

It’s the best passing offense versus the one of the best passing defense this coming Sunday, Arizona pays the Falcons a visit. Cards, who took a 30-24 loss at the hands of Minnesota in Week 11, are tops in the league against the pass with 190.2 passing yards allowed per game. On the other hand, the Falcons are No. 2 in passing attack with 309.0 passing yards per contest. Atlanta is coming off a bye week and is itching to get a win after losing to Philly in Week 10, 24-15.

Writer’s Prediction: Arizona wins, 28-21.

New York Giants (_7) at Cleveland Browns (+7) – 1:00 PM ET

It’s another Browns game so get ready for some eyesore football. But seriously, the Browns are a dumpster on fire for 10 straight weeks now. They’re 0-10 this season after losing to Pittsburgh on Sunday, 24-9, and they’ve covered the spread just twice during that stretch. The Giants, meanwhile, are on a roll, having pocketed their fifth straight win in a 22-16 victory against Chicago in Week 11. What awaits the Giants in Cleveland is the Browns’ punching bag defense that allows 29.5 PPG and 409.5 total yards per outing.

Writer’s Prediction: New York wins, 31-21.

Los Angeles Rams (+7) at New Orleans Saints (-7) – 1:00 PM ET

Now that Jared Goff has made his debut, the Rams are hoping for better things to come from their offense that averages a league-worst 14.9 PPG. It’d take more than Goff shedding off the jitters for LA’s offense take full flight. That could happen, however, against New Orleans’ stop unit that is 30^th in scoring defense and 27^th in total defense. New Orleans was victimized by Carolina last Thursday, taking a 23-20 loss at the hands of Cam Newton and the Panthers.

Writer’s Prediction: New Orleans wins, 23-20.

San Francisco 49ers (+7.5) at Miami Dolphins (-7.5) – 1:00 PM ET

Well, at least the 49ers didn’t lose by 50 on Sunday against the visiting New England team, as the Niners absorbed a 30-17 loss to the Pats, which was also San Francisco’s ninth-straight loss. On the bright side, the 49ers’ run game produced 122 rushing yards and could be bound for better outing in South Beach this Sunday against Miami’s faulty defense that is 30th against the run. One problem, however, for San Francisco is that its run defense isn’t something to marvel at either, as the 49ers are the WORST in stopping the run with 179.5 rushing yards allowed per game. Carlos Hyde and Jay Ajayi could be in for a high-yardage duel in Miami. The Dolphins are 5-0 in their last five games, including the 14-10 win over LA on Sunday.

Writer’s Prediction: Miami wins, 25-23.

Seattle Seahawks (-5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+5) – 4:05 PM ET

Seattle’s defense said hello to Carson Wentz and the Eagles on Sunday, as the Seahawks picked off the No. 1 overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft twice and limited the Eagles to only 308 total yards in a 26-15 win. The Seahawks takes on another No. 1 pick next week in the form of Tampa Bay QB Jameis Winston, who went for 331 passing yards and a touchdown with no interceptions in a 19-17 win over the Chiefs. Winston and Evans are going to be a handful for Seattle, but the Seahawks should still feel confident, considering they are tied for first in sacks and ninth in interceptions.

Writer’s Prediction: Seattle wins, 27-19.

New England Patriots (-9) at New York Jets (+9) – 4:25 PM ET

It wasn’t the kind of massacre some expected but still, the Patriots managed to look superior in a 30-17 beatdown of San Francisco in Sunday. Tom Brady threw for 280 yards (24 for 40) and a pair of touchdowns without getting picked off. The backfield had 171 rushing yards. The Patriots will move from one patsy to another as they take on the Jets, who are still mulling which quarterback between Bryce Petty and Ryan Fitzpatrick will get to start. In any case, the Jets must have a sound plan in order to break through the Pats’ defense that allows just 18.0 PPG.

Writer’s Prediction: New England wins, 28-17.

Kansas City Chiefs (+3.5) at Denver Broncos (-3.5) – 8:30 PM ET

Kansas City’s five-game win streak came to a screeching halt on Sunday as they got ambushed by Tampa Bay, 19-17. Cornerback Marcus Peters was unavailable in that game with a hip injury, largely explaining why the Bucs’ Mike Evans got 105 receiving yards on 13 targets. Denver, however, has a so-so passing offense that should be manageable for the Chiefs even if they continue to miss the services of Peters. Denver was last seen on the field taking a 25-23 win over New Orleans in Week 10 before heading into a bye. Denver is 3-1 SU in its last 10 home games against the Chiefs.

Writer’s Prediction: Denver wins, 21-19.

Monday, November 28

Green Bay Packers (TBA) at Philadelphia Eagles (TBA) – 9:30 PM ET

The year 2016 will be remembered as one in which the Green Bay sucked with an all-time great Aaron Rodgers under center. The Packers are on a four-game losing skid, a stretch that featured an ugly defense that allowed 38.25 points per game. The Eagles though are hoping that Green Bay doesn’t diagnose what’s wrong on its defense as they host the Packers next Monday.

The Eagles got beat by Seattle in Week 11, 26-15, with Carson Wentz throwing two picks. Philly’s run game is worth watching against the fast-deteriorating Green Bay defense. The Eagles are seventh in the league 118 rushing yards per game.

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