NFL Picks Week 12: Predictions for Every Game

Late November is where NFL teams begin to make their case for a postseason run.

With December coming on fast, teams such as Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers are in a fight for a January bye week. Well winning now only takes the pressure off for next month, because other NFC foes such as the Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers also remain atop the league.

This week the Packers travel to Eli Manning and the struggling New York Giants who haven't won in almost a month. A rematch of two meetings between these franchises from 2011, the winner enhances the shot for that coveted playoff bye.

Elsewhere fans are provided with plenty of exciting matchups in Week 12. So, let's check out some winners as we near the final month of the 2012 regular season.

Houston Texans at Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions not only allow 4.3 yards per carry, but the Houston Texans are a run-oriented offense with Arian Foster in the backfield.

Houston ranks No. 8 in the ground game, and its defense is even better.

Allowing only a 54.2 completion percentage to opposing quarterbacks, Matthew Stafford has been a bit interception-prone this season. As a result, Houston's defense gets quarterback pressure, forces turnovers and its offense controls the tempo.

Texans 27, Lions 13

Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys

This will be one interesting matchup, because the Dallas Cowboys continue to have pass protection issues and are underachieving defensively.

As for the Washington Redskins, Robert Griffin III is carrying his team and sports a 67.1 completion percentage. Additionally, RG3 has 12 touchdown passes to only three interceptions, whereas Dallas has recorded just four picks all year.

Factor in the Cowboys remaining inconsistent in their running game, and Washington's rather opportunistic pass defense will create turnovers.

Redskins 24, Cowboys 20

New England Patriots at New York Jets

Per usual, Tom Brady will be the difference for the New England Patriots.

Defensively, the New York Jets are better against the pass but are extremely suspect in the trenches. Lacking a pass rush and run defense, New England's balance will control the game from kickoff.

New York's offense must find a way to remain explosive. Mark Sanchez has proven to play well against the Patriots in the past and especially with their weak pass defense. Even though the Pats are without Rob Gronkowski, per Tom Curran of CSN New England:

"

Surgery on Rob Gronkowski's broken left forearm was performed Monday morning and the tight end is expected to need four to eight weeks to recover. 

"

It doesn't matter who lines up out wide for Brady, because he dishes the rock around and reads pre-snap too well for New York to keep up.

Patriots 28, Jets 23

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns

The Pittsburgh Steelers enter Week 12 even more banged up at quarterback.

According to ESPN.com:

"

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin confirmed Tuesday that Byron Leftwich is out Sunday and that Charlie Batch will start against the Cleveland Browns.

"Byron Leftwich is out with a rib fracture that he sustained late in the football game," Tomlin said.

"

That said, Pittsburgh's pass protection has been better than given credit this season. Also, for as dominant as the Browns defense can be at times, Cleveland still gives up a 62.6 completion percentage and 374 total yards per game.

Not to mention the Steelers defense will halt Cleveland's offense for most of the day.

Steelers 13, Browns 6

Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs' only chance here is to run the football...a lot.

Fortunately for the Denver Broncos, Von Miller and Co. only allow 3.5 yards per rush and 93.8 rushing yards per game. Even if K.C. refuses to abandon the run, though, play-action will see a dominant pass rush and coverage downfield.

Defensively for the Chiefs, they may be top 10 against the pass; however, they have only 17 sacks and six interceptions on the season. Although, Denver may have to be one-dimensional because according to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports:

"

Broncos are putting Willis McGahee on IR, ending his season. Tough, tough blow

— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) November 21, 2012"

That said, the Broncos defense will step up and not break, resulting in K.C. being held to a minimum.

Broncos 31, Chiefs 14

Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears

Until we see more from the Chicago Bears' passing game, don't anticipate much.

On the year the Bears' pass protection has give up 34 sacks and Jay Cutler only holds a 59.2 completion percentage. The running game gets 4.2 yards per carry, but the defense is beginning to gradually bend without a reliable offense.

Thus far, Chicago's defense gives up 4.2 yards per rush and that can allow the Minnesota Vikings to set up play-action. With Adrian Peterson in the backfield, the Bears must put more in the box.

In short, expect a low-scoring matchup as each defense can apply quarterback pressure. The difference is the better rushing attack.

Vikings 17, Bears 14 (OT)

Oakland Raiders at Cincinnati Bengals

Unless the Oakland Raiders keeps the Cincinnati Bengals offense off the field, this game will be quite high-scoring.

Each rank inside the top 10 for passing offense and the quarterbacks have held turnovers in check. One major difference, though, is receiver A.J. Green. He's better than any receiver for Oakland and the Raiders allow a 66.8 completion percentage to opposing quarterbacks.

And don't anticipate the Raiders offense controlling the tempo on the ground, because according to Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Gate:

"

Safety Tyvon Branch is at practice but McFadden, Goodson and Seymour still out

— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) November 21, 2012"

As a result, Cincy's solid pass rush becomes a stronger factor and its offense takes flight to push the pace.

Bengals 30, Raiders 21

Buffalo Bills at Indianapolis Colts

The question here: Can the Indianapolis Colts stop the run?

Well, "no," to this point in the 2012 season. Indy allows an average of 4.7 yards per carry and nearly 120 rushing yards per game. On the contrary, the Buffalo Bills offense slams for just over 140 yards per game on the ground and logs 5.2 per carry.

This obviously allows Buffalo to set up play-action and remain balanced. Now the question becomes: Can the Bills defense stop Andrew Luck?

Buffalo has recorded only eight picks this season and the Colts present solid balance. Unfortunately for Indy, the Bills are too explosive to keep pace with.

Bills 26, Colts 23

Seattle Seahawks at Miami Dolphins

As the season has progressed, the Miami Dolphins have declined in run defense.

That gradual slope could not have come at a worse time, because Miami hosts Marshawn Lynch and the Seattle Seahawks. Lynch averages 4.7 per carry and Seattle averages 142 on the ground per week.

That sets up Russell Wilson, who rarely makes mistakes, for play-action, and takes pressure off the defense, which is the Seahawks' strength. Considering that the Dolphins had trouble moving the ball against Buffalo, Seattle is a different monster with a pass rush and lockdown coverage.

Seahawks 28, Dolphins 10

Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers is arguably the game of the week.

Matt Ryan and the Atlanta passing game is full of talent and explosiveness and capable of running up the score. Tampa Bay may rank dead last in pass defense, although the Bucs also create turnovers better than given credit for.

So, this game will be a pull and tug between each offense. The Bucs present a stellar ground game in Doug Martin who averages 5.1 yards per rush. The Falcons allow 5 yards per carry, and it's why the Saints upset Atlanta and the Cardinals nearly performed the encore.

Therefore, unless the Dirty Birds stop the run, Tampa keeps its win streak rolling.

Buccaneers 33, Falcons 31

Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars

Before we get all hyped about the Tennessee Titans being a lock win against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Chad Henne is capable of thwarting early and often.

According to Mark Long of the Associated Press:

"

Mularkey says if Henne plays well over final 6 games, he will be starter going into next season. #Jaguars

— Mark Long (@APMarkLong) November 21, 2012"

Tennessee ranks No. 26 against the pass and Henne diced up the Texans in Week 11. In turn, the Jags defense will need to stack the box against Chris Johnson and try to push the pace offensively.

The Titans will be able to keep up, though, because the Jags are suspect against the pass (rank No. 28 in pass defense) and have no pass rush. It'll be higher scoring than expected and another close loss for Jacksonville.

Titans 38, Jaguars 30

Baltimore Ravens at San Diego Chargers

The Baltimore Ravens defense has been slightly improving throughout 2012 in slowing opponents down.

This week, Baltimore welcomes the San Diego Chargers who continue to regress offensively. Philip Rivers has been sacked 26 times, thrown 14 picks and the ground game averages just 3.8 per carry.

Defensively, the Bolts are decent against the run but vulnerable to the pass. Baltimore's offensive strength is giving Joe Flacco the green light to set up the run, so the Ravens' balance will be in control throughout.

Ravens 20, Chargers 7

St. Louis Rams at Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals don't stand a chance without pass protection. Ironically rushing the passer happens to be a forte of the St. Louis Rams.

St. Louis has collected 29 sacks thus far, nine of which came against the Cardinals in Week 5.

Offensively, the Rams possess decent balance and Arizona is weaker versus the run. Provided St. Louis keeps balance this contest will slowly pull away from the Cardinals in the second half.

Rams 16, Cardinals 9

San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints

The matchup that will ultimately determine this game is not Drew Brees against the San Francisco 49ers defense.

It will be the 49ers offense against the New Orleans Saints defense. And this is solely because San Francisco moving on the ground will keep Brees off the field. The Saints are suspect in virtually every defensive aspect, whereas San Francisco presents more explosion in the passing game as well.

Also, according to Jim Trotter of Sports Illustrated:

"

BREAKING: Jim Harbaugh has informed Alex Smith that Colin Kaepernick will start Sunday, per source. Said decision not based on health.

— Jim Trotter (@SI_JimTrotter) November 22, 2012"

To that end, the 'Niners are capable of matching Brees' pace. As a result, the better defense comes out on top.

49ers 27, Saints 23

Green Bay Packers at New York Giants

Currently, the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants feel to be headed in opposing directions.

Big Blue is on a two-game losing streak and the Packers have reeled off five straight victories. New York's pass rush has not been as consistently dominant as year's past and Green Bay's defense continues to improve upon 2011's dismal performance.

Eli Manning is in a slump and Aaron Rodgers has been on fire, which will be the difference here. Neither defense is extensively well-versed against the pass, but Green Bay is more opportunistic in coverage.

In other words, the Packers can apply just as much pressure and force more turnovers.

Packers 30, Giants 23

Carolina Panthers at Philadelphia Eagles

One thing of note about the Carolina Panthers is six of their eight losses have been by a six points or less.

Despite Cam Newton remaining in a funk, the Cats offense holds some balance in averaging 334 total yards per contest. The Philadelphia Eagles, on the flip side, turn the ball over about a thousand times each game and are significantly underachieving on defense.

Newton still possesses the arm strength to launch downfield, so stretching Philly out will set up the run. As for the Eagles, let's just hope they reduce turnovers and the offensive line somehow manages to occasionally block.

Panthers 21, Eagles 14

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