NFL Picks Week 12: Road Teams That Will Prevail

There aren't many road teams seemingly set up for success in Week 12 of the NFL season. At best, many of the games are pick-ems that bettors would be wise to stay away from. 

There are only three games that stick out as spots where the visitors should almost certainly come out on top. Let's start with the most obvious. 

The New Orleans Saints Will Pile on the Atlanta Falcons' Miserable Season

No one thought the Falcons would fall this far off the 13-3 pace the team set in 2012. Coming into the Week 12 battle with their division rivals, the Falcons are 2-8 and losers of four in a row. Meanwhile, the Saints have won two in a row, including a big 23-20 win at home against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 11.

These two teams are obviously headed in opposite directions.

What is the cause of the Falcons' struggles? Defense, but more specifically, run defense. Atlanta has allowed the third-most rushing yards per game this season. The pass defense hasn't been much better. Through the air, teams are prospering against the Falcons as well. 

Atlanta is ranked just 22nd in the league in passing yards allowed per game.

Drew Brees and the Saints are on a roll. After nipping the stingy Niners, the Falcons defense will look like an SEC team on Thursday night. New Orleans will win easily in Atlanta.

A Quarterback Controversy is Brewing in Chicago

It may not be fair to Jay Cutler, but the more the Chicago Bears continue to win without him, the more fans and media will clamor for Josh McCown to remain the quarterback—even after Cutler is healthy. 

McCown has won both games he's started this season, and he played well in relief of Cutler in the games the latter was injured. Per Larry Mayer of ChicagoBears.com, McCown will start against the St. Louis Rams on Sunday in St. Louis. 

As has been the case every time he's taken the field this season, McCown will give the Bears a great chance to win. So far this season, he has completed 60.4 percent of his passes. He's thrown five touchdown passes and hasn't been picked off once in 101 attempts. As good as McCown has been, the biggest reason the Bears have won his two starts is the improved play of the defense—namely the defensive line.

Nine of the Bears' 17 sacks this season came in McCown's two starts. Had the defense played this way with Cutler under center, there may not even be a whimper about letting McCown remain the starter.

St. Louis is coming off a bye in Week 11 after ambushing the Indianapolis Colts 38-8 in Week 10. Tavon Austin ran roughshod over the Colts' secondary and special teams for a total of 310 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns.

The Rams aren't likely to have that type of luck against a Bears defense that is built to limit big plays. Look for Chicago to bring Austin and the Rams down to Earth.

Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers Will Continue Their Roll

Along with the Seattle Seahawks, the Panthers are one of the two hottest teams in the NFL. Winners of six in a row, Cam Newton and Co. look like Super Bowl contenders.

It is hard to know what to make of the Miami Dolphins.

This is perhaps the most inconsistent team in the NFL. To begin the season, Miami won three in a row. It followed that up with a four-game losing streak. The team has alternated wins over the last three weeks. The law of trends—if that even exists—says the Fins lose this week.

Even more convincing is the Dolphins' inability to establish or stop a rushing attack. Both issues are bad news heading into a matchup with the Panthers. Miami is ranked 25th in the NFL against the run and have the 24th-best running game in the league.

The Panthers, on the other hand, excel in all things related to running the ball. Carolina has the 10th-best rushing attack, and they are third best against the run. Overall, Carolina's defense is tops in the NFL.

Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins will have a tough time getting anything going against this team on offense. On the other side of the ball, Carolina's run game will take the Fins' crowd out of it early. Chalk up a seventh straight win for the Panthers.