Boy was Week 12 crazy
Last week we saw the Rams and Cardinals struggle and give Seattle the division back, the Broncos play with a WR as a QB, the Chiefs take down the Bucs in Tampa, the Vikings survived Carolina, the Packers dominated the Bears on Sunday night, the Bills knocked off the struggling Chargers, the Dolphins defeated the hapless Jets, Atlanta crushed the Raiders at home, the Giants and Washington picked up big wins, the Steelers stayed perfect against the COVID riddled Ravens, and the playoff picture is starting to take form
This week there was no Thursday night action but that doesn’t mean there’s no good action this week. The Falcons and Saints meet again in Atlanta, the Colts look to bounce back in Houston, the Raiders look to do the same in the Meadowlands, the Browns and Titans meet in Nashville with huge playoff implications, the Dolphins get Tua back against the Bengals, the Rams and Cardinals meet in Arizona looking to rebound, the Chargers welcome the Patriots, the Eagles meet the Packers at Lambeau looking to stay alive in the divisional race, the Chiefs meet the Broncos on Sunday night, the Steelers put their unbeaten streak on the line against Washington, the Bills and 49ers meet in Arizona, and the Cowboys take on the Ravens on Tuesday night
Last week’s record: 12-4. Pretty good for a full slate of NFL action last week. One change with the logos is the Falcons are wearing their throwback unis this week so they’re back in their throwback graphic for this week.
NO Saints (9-2) 
ATL Falcons (4-7)
Atlanta, Georgia
1pm on FOX
LINE: (NO -3)
I know the Saints played a WR as a quarterback last week in Denver, but the Saints defense was outstanding. They shut down the run game quickly and forced everything to go through the quarterback’s hands. I’m still not sure if the Saints are the best NFC team right now because of how Seattle and Green Bay have played recently, but I really think that the Saints defense has evolved since losing two in a row to start the season. The Saints visit the Falcons in Atlanta and if you thought the Saints win against Denver was impressive, Atlanta’s win over Las Vegas was better. The Falcons got back to running the football and forced five turnovers on defense, one of which was returned for a touchdown. If the Falcons defense can play like they did last week against Las Vegas, they can give the Saints a game in Atlanta. But how they gameplan on offense will be tricky. They’re gonna have to throw the ball around to win.
Prediction: I’m not sure how Taysom Hill will perform, but the Saints defense will be too much for the Falcons to overcome so I’m taking the Saints to win a close game in Atlanta
DET Lions (4-7) 
CHI Bears (5-6)
Chicago, Illinois
1pm on FOX
LINE: (CHI -3.5)
Both of these teams are god awful. The Lions were dominated by the Texans on Thanksgiving, resulting in Matt Patricia’s firing along with the Lions GM. Detroit is still too young and still too banged up on offense. RB Deandre Swift and WR Kenny Golladay are out with injuries and the defense is too young on the defensive side of the ball. In Chicago, the Bears looked pretty bad on offense throughout the night in Lambeau against the Packers. But in the 4th Quarter Mitch Trubuisky played okay by throwing for two touchdowns against the Packers defense. If there was any kind of spark from the Bears in last week’s loss, maybe that was it. The Bears cannot lose this game if they have any chance of catching Minnesota or Arizona or Tampa in the playoffs, so this game against a divisional opponent is a must win game
Prediction: Wow…. I think if the Bears offense can play anywhere close to that 4th quarter against the Packers they can win this game. Trubuisky plays well and wins the game
IND Colts (7-4) 
HOU Texans (4-7)
Houston, Texas
1pm on CBS
LINE: (IND -3)
That was a stinger of a loss for Indianapolis. The Colts were embarrassed at home against a Titans team they beat two weeks before. The Colts couldn’t stop Derrick Henry or AJ Brown on defense and couldn’t run the ball at all on offense. The good news is, the Colts get DeForest Buckner back on defense after testing positive for COVID-19 last week. Indy heads to Houston where the Texans are catching some fire. Houston has won two straight and three of its last four because of Deshaun Watson’s play. Watson has gone back to his old roots of making plays with his feet and getting the ball to his playmakers like Brandin Cooks and Duke Johnson. However, the Texans will be missing some offensive starters because of an injury to Kenny Stills and a suspension to Will Fuller (PEDs). That could be a problem for the Texans offense against a Colts team in a sour mood and getting their best pass rusher back. The Colts are looking to make a run in the playoffs, but a loss in Houston would be a damaging blow.
Prediction: I was leaning heavily on the Texans heading into this game but with DeForest Buckner being back off the COVID list, I think the Colts bounce back on defense and shut down Deshaun Watson and win a close, low scoring game in Houston
LV Raiders (6-5) 
NY Jets (Winless)
East Rutherford, New Jersey
1pm on CBS
LINE: (LV -7.5)
I’m not even gonna preview this game. All I can say is, the Raiders better get their act together after being embarrassed by the Falcons on the road in Atlanta last week. They need to get back to running the football and play better defense, especially on the defensive line. What better way to bounce back than to beat a winless football team.
Prediction: It’s kinda funny that every team that loses a bad game plays the Jets the next weekend. Raiders win big in East Rutherford because of last week and last year when they lost in New Jersey to the Jets.
CLE Browns (8-3) 
TEN Titans (8-3)
Nissan Stadium
Nashville, Tennessee
1pm on CBS
LINE: (TEN -5.5)
Prediction: I think this is the best game of the week. Both teams can run the ball so this game is gonna come down to pass rush and turnovers. I gotta be honest, I have gone back and forth in this game all week. I am gonna go with the team with the best player on the field which is Derrick Henry and the Titans getting the W.
CIN Bengals (2-8-1) 
MIA Dolphins (7-4)
Miami Gardens, Florida
1pm on CBS
LINE: (MIA -11)
Prediction: Too much defense for Miami and the Bengals offensive line is atrocious. Dolphins win big at home and set up a very intriguing matchup with Kansas City next week in South Florida
JAX Jaguars (1-10) 
MIN Vikings (5-6)
Minneapolis, Minnesota
1pm on CBS
LINE: (MIN -9)
Prediction: I think we’re gonna see Justin Jefferson have a big game for the Vikings. He’ll have over 100 yards and two scores and the Vikings get a big W at home against the Jaguars
LA Rams (7-4) 
AZ Cardinals (6-5)
Glendale, Arizona
4:05pm on FOX
LINE: (LAR -3)
Prediction: Another tough call. I am gonna take the Rams because of the inconsistency on the Arizona offense. They haven’t thrown the ball effectively in their last couple games and Aaron Donald can wreck the game. Rams bounce back
NY Giants (4-7) 
SEA Seahawks (8-3)
Seattle, Washington
4:05pm on FOX
LINE: (SEA -10)
Prediction: I do think that the Giants defense will keep this close for at least a half before the Hawks turn on the jets. Russell Wilson will have a big game and the Seattle defense will stuff the Giants offense and win the game
NE Patriots (5-6) 
LA Chargers (3-8)
Inglewood, California
4:25pm on CBS
LINE: (LAC -1)
Prediction: I think this has upset potential because of the Patriots being one-dimensional on offense, but I don’t think the Chargers offensive line can protect Justin Herbert against that Patriots pass rush so I’m gonna take the Pats but this will be a close game
PHI Eagles (3-7-1) 
GB Packers (8-3)
Green Bay, Wisconsin
4:25pm on CBS
LINE: (GB -8)
Prediction: This won’t even be close. The Green Bay defense will crush the Philadelphia offensive line and Aaron Jones will have a big day on the ground for the Packers and they win big to continue the Eagles miserable season.
DEN Broncos (4-7) 
KC Chiefs (10-1)
Kansas City, Missouri
8:20pm on NBC
LINE: (KC -14)
Prediction: I can’t believe this is still a primetime game. Denver’s offense can’t move the ball no matter who’s at quarterback and Patrick Mahomes will expose this Broncos defense. Chiefs win by 30+ points
WSH Football Team (4-7) 
PIT Steelers
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
1pm on CBS
LINE: ()
Prediction: Washington’s defense will keep this game close, but I don’t have a lot of confidence in their offense against the Pittsburgh defense. Steelers win a close one at home
BUF Bills (8-3) 
SF 49ers (5-6)
Glendale, Arizona
8:15pm on ESPN
LINE: (BUF -2.5)
Prediction: Buffalo’s defense is healthy and they got back to running the football to win last week. This is going to be very low scoring, but I think the Bills go into Arizona (again) and take down the 49ers
DAL Cowboys (3-8) 
BAL Ravens
Baltimore, Maryland
5pm (TUE) on FOX/NFLN
LINE: ()
Prediction: Ravens get their backfield back and get the win. I don’t trust that Cowboys defense at all
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