This space was originally reserved to counter the cynics and naysayers who claimed that after the Monday night Rams-Chiefs unprecedented shootout, the video-game, scoreboard-short-circuiting era of the NFL was upon us, 54-51 games were about to become the norm, and defense would go the way of leather helmets.
Nonsense, the counter-argument was going to be, there aren't that many quarterbacks or offenses (or both) capable of piling up numbers like that. For goodness sake, Blake Bortles is facing Josh Allen this week, and one team is pondering a choice between Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jameis Winston.
Then came a better look at the Week 12 games.
There’s Tom Brady, and Ben Roethlisberger, and Philip Rivers, and Andrew Luck, and Aaron Rodgers, and Kirk Cousins, and Russell Wilson, and Cam Newton, and Deshaun Watson. That’s just Sunday and Monday — Drew Brees and Matt Ryan face each other Thanksgiving night. Wilson and Newton play each other this weekend, as do Rodgers and Cousins. And even though Allen was the butt of an above joke, he’s one of possibly five rookie first-round picks starting this week (if Sam Darnold is healthy).
So, the cynics and naysayers might have a point.
MORE NFL PREDICTIONS:
Week 12 NFL picks against the spread
Week 12 NFL picks, predictions
(All times ET)
New England Patriots (7-3) at New York Jets (3-7)
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
Both teams come off their bye … but the Patriots come back with Brady and Rob Gronkowski rested, while the Jets may or may not have Darnold back. This series gets way more feisty than one this lopsided should, so since both teams are headed in opposite directions, this will probably be uncomfortably close. In the Patriots’ favor (as if they need the motivation): The Chiefs took a step back toward them Monday, and the Patriots have the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Prediction: Patriots, 23-20
Seattle Seahawks (5-5) at Carolina Panthers (6-4)
Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox
This is about where the Seahawks were expected to be in their transition, but they wouldn’t even be here if Wilson were not playing the way he is. That was on display in a crucial NFC playoff-contender showdown with the Packers last week. The Panthers and Cam Newton should feel fine with going for the win last week in Detroit; they should feel less good about a defense that is extremely ordinary this season, particularly last week against a flailing Lions team.
Prediction: Seahawks, 30-26
New York Giants (3-7) at Philadelphia Eagles (4-6)
Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox
If the Giants are really back, this is how they can prove it, and against whom they can prove it. The Eagles are on the ropes and in position for a knockout punch. Whether the Giants and their suddenly awakened offense — they’re protecting Eli Manning way better now, finally — can do it is another story. Odd how the complaints about Odell Beckham being toxic and a distraction have dropped dramatically during their two-game win streak. The Eagles are capable of putting tremendous pressure on Manning and covering for their other defensive weaknesses. This is the week for them to realize it.
Prediction: Eagles, 28-20
Cleveland Browns (3-6-1) at Cincinnati Bengals (5-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
The Browns don’t hit the bye week on a high very often, and they have a window to harness that positive energy this week. Their AFC North, intra-state rival has now wasted a 4-1 start that had the Bengals looking back at the Steelers, and they just lost to a mobile rookie in his first NFL start. The Bengals’ beleaguered defense couldn’t handle Lamar Jackson, so it stands to reason that Baker Mayfield will give them fits. There are chances at wins down the stretch for the Browns, and this is their first.
Prediction: Browns, 27-22
San Francisco 49ers (2-8) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-8)
Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox
The Buccaneers’ games are starting to all look the same, no matter who’s at quarterback, so the reported switch back to Jameis Winston is likely irrelevant. The Bucs lead the NFL in interceptions by a wide margin (23, seven more than any other team). The 49ers are going through growing pains, but their two games before their bye gave them something on which to build. Kyle Shanahan vs. Dirk Koetter might be the mismatch that decides this more than any other.
Prediction: 49ers, 33-24
Jacksonville Jaguars (3-7) at Buffalo Bills (3-7)
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
The Bills get their franchise quarterback back in Josh Allen after four games out. He won’t get the break Matt Barkley had in their pre-bye game — instead of the Jets, he faces the Jaguars’ defense. The Jaguars’ offense still has to overcome its own quarterback, Blake Bortles, who was not trusted by his play-callers to hold a 16-0 lead on the Steelers. Both teams have forfeited the luxury of looking at the other as “beatable.”
Prediction: Jaguars, 20-10
Oakland Raiders (2-8) at Baltimore Ravens (5-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
The Ravens' defense is in position to douse the brief euphoria of last week’s success by the Raiders and Derek Carr against the Cardinals. Ironically, that defense got a boost from Lamar Jackson and the rest of the rushing game in their win over Cincinnati, and if the Raiders are no better at navigating what Jackson can do than the Bengals were, then the Raiders will be in big trouble. The Ravens have no more margin for error in the division and wild-card races.
Prediction: Ravens, 26-20
Arizona Cardinals (2-8) at Los Angeles Chargers (7-3)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m., Fox
Keenan Allen caught heat for not properly giving the Broncos credit for their win over the Chargers last week, yet he had a point: It was only the second time this season the Chargers lost in the turnover margin, and they dropped both games. Philip Rivers’ touchdown-to-interception ratio going into the game was 21:4, but he threw two last week. All of that to say that against the Cardinals, the Chargers should just be sure not to beat themselves.
Prediction: Chargers, 31-16
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2-1) at Denver Broncos (4-6)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., CBS
The Broncos’ win over the Chargers was their sixth game this season decided by four points or fewer, and they’re 3-3. For all their faults, they have a shot in close games, so things are pretty simple against the Steelers. Pittsburgh clearly needed a wake-up call, and the Jaguars provided it, yet the Steelers still survived it. They need to stay away this week, too.
Prediction: Steelers, 27-25
Miami Dolphins (5-5) at Indianapolis Colts (5-5)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., CBS
These don’t look like teams with identical records; the Colts have gotten their acts together in a hurry, on both sides of the ball, and the Dolphins’ 3-0 start has been proven to be a complete mirage. It still looks like Brock Osweiler at quarterback this week. The one comeback competing with Andrew Luck’s as the most impressive in the NFL is that of the Colts’ offensive line, which had been atrocious for years. None of that bodes well for the disappearing Dolphins.
Prediction: Colts, 34-16
Green Bay Packers (4-5-1) at Minnesota Vikings (5-4-1)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC
It's a rematch of the Week 2 tie that, for multiple reasons (awful kicking, the cheesy Clay Matthews roughing-the-passer flag), should not have been a tie. That game now serves as a reminder of how average and underwhelming both teams have been despite two of the higher-profile (and well-paid) quarterbacks in the league. The loser will start to lose sight of playoff contention entering December, so there’s plenty on the line.
Prediction: Packers, 24-22
Tennessee Titans (5-5) at Houston Texans (7-3)
Monday, 8:15 p.m., ESPN
It won’t be the anti-Rams-Chiefs game that many predicted, partly tongue-in-cheek. The Texans, on a seven-game winning streak, are capable of putting up numbers, even on a solid defense like that of Tennessee. DeAndre Hopkins should not be overlooked when All-Pro picks are made, and they’re going to get plenty out of Demaryiuis Thomas before season's end. Marcus Mariota's availability was still in question at midweek. If anything deflates the likelihood of a score-a-palooza, it’s that.
Prediction: Texans, 30-21
