Sportsnaut
NFL Week 11 delivered some fantastic marquee matchups that lived up to the hype and had significant ramifications on the NFL playoff picture moving forward. While there weren’t many big surprises, this season has taught us that more are just around the corner.
Let’s dive into our NFL Week 12 Predictions, delivering game-by-game NFL picks for every game on the schedule this week.
Related: NFL Week 12 Power Rankings, Analysis of All 32 Teams after Week 11
C.J. Stroud is ‘uncertain’ to play on Thursday Night Football in Week 12, per Adam Schefter, putting a bit of a cloud over this matchup against the Buffalo Bills. What gives the Houston Texans a fighting chance in this game is a defense that has allowed just 161.9 passing yards per game (fewest in NFL), 5.2 yards per attempt (lowest in NFL) and a 62.1 QB rating (lowest in NFL) in its last 8 games. The problem for Houston is quarterback Davis Mills. Unless the Texans defense forces multiple Josh Allen turnovers in Bills territory, Buffalo should win this one.
With Aaron Rodgers (wrist) trending toward missing this Week 12 matchup, the path to victory becomes a lot easier for the Chicago Bears. While the Pittsburgh Steelers have fared better defensively in recent weeks (5.7 ypa, 70.6 QB rating and 60.2% completion rate allowed), their struggles prior to that (284.6 passing yards and 2.0 passing touchdowns per game allowed) feel more in line with this unit as a whole. Ben Johnson will find Caleb Williams opportunities for some big plays, dropping Pittsburgh to 6-5.
There could be a path to Joe Flacco keeping this a one-score game, as Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins can win their one-on-one matchups versus Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis (105.2 QB rating allowed in coverage). It also doesn’t help that defensive tackle Milton Williams is out for Week 12. However, Drake Maye and this New England Patriots offense should dice up a unit that has allowed 254.3 passing yards and 2.6 passing touchdowns per game with an 8.1 yards per attempt average since Week 3.
Regardless of Jaxson Dart’s status for Week 12, the Detroit Lions should blow the doors off the New York Giants. It’ll start with a commitment to the run against a defense that is allowing the third-most rushing yards per game (149.9) and the highest yards-per-carry average (5.5) in the NFL this season. Once New York falls behind, Dart or Jameis Winston will be in trouble against a defense that has allowed just 161.3 passing yards per game with a 57.6 percent completion rate and a 78.2 passer rating over the last four games.
Ordinarily, an NFC North duel between the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings would be must-see television. Not in Week 12 with...
