NFL Week 12 Preview and Picks: Do the Colts Keep Rolling?

Every new week is the most important week so far and that holds true for Week 12. Plenty of divisional games that could be used in tiebreakers and plenty of football for American Thanksgiving. After a series of strong picks in last week’s article, I’m hoping to carry the momentum just like I think the Colts do.

Teams on bye: Arizona Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs

Record entering this week: 104-60-1

Thanksgiving Thursday

Chicago Bears (4-6) at Detroit Lions (0-9-1)

The Bears are better than the Lions, even if Andy Dalton is lined up under center. Low scoring affair that sees the Bears win.

Pick: Chicago Bears

Las Vegas Raiders (5-5) at Dallas Cowboys (7-4)

I want to pick the Raiders in an upset given the reports surrounding the Dallas wide receivers, but I’m still going to take the ‘Boys. They’ve got two explosive runners who can shoulder the load if needed.

Pick: Dallas Cowboys

Buffalo Bills (6-4) at New Orleans Saints (5-5)

The Bills got bullied by the Colts a week ago, no way around that. This week, I think they could be the bully. New Orleans is struggling to put together wins with Trevor Siemian starting so Buffalo bounces back.

Pick: Buffalo Bills

1 PM Eastern Time Slot

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-3) at Indianapolis Colts (6-5)

There are a handful of difficult games to pick this week with this one being right near the top of that list. I’m opting for the Colts who take the momentum of Jonathan Taylor, Carson Wentz, and their entire defense all the way to another victory.

Pick: Indianapolis Colts

New York Jets (2-8) at Houston Texans (2-8)

Another one of the difficult games to pick, but for the opposite reason as above. These two teams have both struggled to put together strong outings at most points this year and don’t have real identities. I’m picking Houston, but wouldn’t flinch if you took the Jets.

Pick: Houston Texans

Philadelphia Eagles (5-6) at New York Giants (3-7)

If Philly wins this one, which I think they do, and get back to .500 they’ll be in a legitimately threatening position to take over the NFC East lead. Fans of Big Blue only have a few more weeks to endure before they can start making the necessary changes to revamp this organization.

Pick: Philadelphia Eagles

Carolina Panthers (5-6) at Miami Dolphins (4-7)

The Panthers are currently only favoured by about a point, but I think they put together a strong win against Miami. Miami’s 4-7 record is a little deceiving considering who their wins have come against and I don’t think they do enough to beat Carolina.

Pick: Carolina Panthers

Tennessee Titans (8-3) at New England Patriots (7-4)

I thought this would be a tough one at first, but the Titans are too banged up on offense for me to have confidence in picking them. As a result, I’m taking New England has put together several strong outings.

Pick: New England Patriots

Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4-1) at Cincinnati Bengals (6-4)

I’m going to take the home team here. Cincy getting to 7-4 would put them in a very powerful position once again. Pittsburgh is just too inconsistent for me to have conviction for them.

Pick: Cincinnati Bengals

Atlanta Falcons (4-6) at Jacksonville Jaguars (2-8)

The Falcons could have Cordarrelle Patterson back this week, but I’m not sure that it matters. The Jaguars feel like they have more to fight for, despite their records right now, and I think they win this one.

Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars

4:05 PM Eastern Time Slot

Los Angeles Chargers (6-4) at Denver Broncos (5-5)

Denver could make this one tough, but give me LA by an inch. The Chargers may have to turn to the ground game more than their used to in this one to get the rest of their offense humming.

Pick: Los Angeles Chargers

4:25 PM Eastern Time Slot

Los Angeles Rams (7-3) at Green Bay Packers (8-3)

Probably the toughest game to predict this week is happening in Green Bay. This could be an NFC Championship preview and it’s one I’m excited to watch. I’m taking the Rams thanks to their bye week that I think they used to get right, but Green Bay could be looking to redeem last week’s loss and come out strong.

Pick: Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings (5-5) at San Francisco 49ers (5-5)

A sneakily difficult to pick, and potentially quite important, game down in Santa Clara this weekend. Minnesota gets the nod from me, but not by much.

Pick: Minnesota Vikings

Sunday Night Football

Cleveland Browns (6-5) at Baltimore Ravens (7-3)

The first of two matchups between the Browns and Ravens this year comes at a time where divisional games feel super significant in looking ahead to tiebreakers and playoff seeding. Both teams have shown they’re able to adapt to injuries and other circumstances to win tough games, but Baltimore feels slightly more complete as a team.

Pick: John Harbaugh

Monday Night Football

Seattle Seahawks (3-7) at Washington Football Team (4-6)

Two teams that had much higher hopes for their seasons entering the year face off in a Monday Night battle that likely means nothing for playoffs, but plenty for the draft. I’m going to opt for primetime Russell Wilson and the Seahawks who I think air it out early and often.

Pick: Seattle Seahawks

Let me hear your Week 12 picks on Twitter. I’ll be keeping track of my picks on the season in each of my Weekly Previews, here on firedupnetwork.ca.