NFL Week 12 Picks: Predicting Outcome to Marquee Matchups

As we progress deeper into the NFL season, the games on the schedule are either really big or really insignificant. Most teams aren't mathematically eliminated from the postseason picture, but the line between contenders and pretenders has been clearly drawn.

The Week 12 schedule has a group of games featuring teams from both sides of that line, but there is a smaller subgroup of games that will pit two contending teams against each other. 

These are the marquee matchups this week, and here's a breakdown of those games. Following that analysis is a prediction table for the entire week in the NFL. Here's a hint: The run games will dictate success in the week's biggest games.

Carolina Panthers at Miami Dolphins

Even though the Dolphins have been incredibly inconsistent this season, they pose a real threat to the streaking Carolina Panthers. Cam Newton and Co. are coming off two huge wins over elite teams (San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots), and it wouldn't be unprecedented to see the Panthers take their foot off the gas in this one.

The big question here is will the Panthers be up for this game the same way they were for their last two? I think they will. Head coach Ron Rivera has done an excellent job motivating this team, and Newton's swagger has been infectious.

The Panthers' running game and rushing defense should provide the advantage the team needs to move to 8-3. Led by stellar play from the front seven, the Panthers have the top-ranked defense in the NFL. They allow just 84.5 yards per game on the ground, which is third in the league.

Miami is ranked just 24th in the league in rushing. The Dolphins should have issues penetrating the defensive line that includes Greg Hardy and impressive rookie Star Lotulelei. Expect the Panthers to turn the Dolphins into a one-dimensional team by the third quarter.

Once Hardy is allowed pin his ears back and rush the passer, the Fins' quarterback, Ryan Tannehill, will be under duress in the second half. Three-and-outs and turnovers are the most likely result from that type of pressure.

Carolina will keep rolling with a 20-10 win.

Indianapolis Colts at Arizona Cardinals

The Colts seem prone to inexplicably bad performances against teams they should beat. Though Indy is on the road, most would expect a win over the Arizona Cardinals, but not so fast.

Arizona has absolutely stuffed the run this season. It is ranked second in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game. With the Colts' Trent Richardson already struggling mightily to give the team production out of the backfield, this is shaping up to be a tough one for the Colts.

In Week 10, the Colts were bombed 38-8 by the St. Louis Rams. They did rebound with a close 30-27 win over the Tennessee Titans, but Tennessee's run defense isn't as good as Arizona's.

Donald Brown was able to run for 80 yards on just 14 carries against the Titans. Look for Arizona to limit Indy's ability to run the ball and force Andrew Luck into turnovers.

Against the Rams, Luck threw three picks primarily because St. Louis held the Colts to just 18 yards on the ground. Without having to commit additional players to stop the run, the Rams were able to drop back into zone and feast on Luck's attempts.

The Cardinals defense will facilitate a similar result in this one. Arizona will move to 7-4 with a 27-14 win.

Denver Broncos at New England Patriots

Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning never gets old. Their next matchup is a pivotal one in the standings. A win would bring the Patriots within a game of the Broncos in the chase for home-field advantage in the playoffs.

The team is coming off a controversial defeat to the Panthers in Week 11. Had defensive holding been called on the last play of the game, a New England win over Denver would mean even more. 

In Week 11, the Broncos captured the biggest win of the season by handing the Kansas City Chiefs their first loss of the season. Though the Chiefs were unblemished before the battle, knocking off the Pats in Foxboro is the Broncos' toughest task this season.

New England is 5-0 at home this year, and Manning's teams are 2-10 in New England in his career (regular season and playoffs combined). Manning and Brady will be factors of course, but this game will be won on the defensive side of the ball. The team that limits the opposing run game will win.

Denver's run defense is ranked fourth in the NFL, but the Pats have proven they can establish a run game against a top-notch front seven.  Against a tough Panthers run defense, Stevan Ridley and LeGarrette Blount combined for 97 yards on the ground in Week 11.

New England became just the third team to eclipse 100 yards rushing against Carolina this season. 

Look for the Patriots defense to have more success stopping the run and for Brady to execute better than his rival down the stretch. That has been a common theme in the two legends' head-to-head matchups in New England.

Things are about to get tighter atop the AFC standings after the Patriots defeat the Broncos 26-19.

Here are predictions for the rest of Week 12 in the NFL.

Sunday, NOV. 24	Predictions
Pittsburgh at Cleveland	Pittsburgh
Tampa Bay at Detroit	Detroit
Minnesota at Green Bay	Minnesota
San Diego at Kansas City	Kansas City
Chicago at St. Louis	Chicago
Carolina at Miami	Carolina
NY Jets at Baltimore	New York
Jacksonville at Houston	Houston
Tennessee at Oakland	Oakland
Indianapolis at Arizona	Arizona
Dallas at NY Giants	Dallas
Denver at New England	New England
Monday, Nov. 25
San Francisco at Washington	San Francisco