NFL Picks Week 12: Upset Watch for the Week Ahead

Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos defeated a bitter New York Jets team. The Washington Redskins took the Dallas Cowboys to the brink in overtime. The freaking Philadelphia Eagles scored a huge win (with Mr. Vick out of the lineup) by playing great defense (who knew?) against an NFC heavyweight in the New York Giants.  
 
Week 11 of the NFL season was hectic to say the least. 
 
With the playoffs right around the corner, teams are preparing for the home-stretch run, where divisional matchups will now become the norm.

It's an exciting time to be an NFL fan, as several divisions are as wide open as they were at the start of the season.  
 
Week 11 has some intriguing matchups, including the Thanksgiving feast that features several of the top teams in both conferences. 
 
The game that should excite fans the most is the divisional matchup between the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers. 
 
Two explosive offenses will test their mettle against two below-average defenses. Will Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions put the perfect season talk to sleep against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers? It's a matchup fans are dying to see.  
 
Besides a possible Lions upset, a few other matchups could result in head-turners.

Here are my upset picks of the week. 

Miami Dolphins vs. Dallas Cowboys

Matt Moore? Is this the same quarterback that fooled Carolina Panthers fans into thinking he was a franchise quarterback? 
 
Regardless, Matt More has played well during the Miami Dolphins' three-game winning streak.

In each of his last three games, Moore has finished with a completion percentage over 69 percent.

He has thrown for six touchdowns and only one interception in that same span.  
 
The Dolphins defense, which was their strength heading into the season, has played at a high level in the last three games. They have not allowed more than 10 points in their three-game winning streak.  

Miami Dolphins win 20-17

Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers

The Kevin Smith story was a phenomenal tale of perseverance and courage.

How can you not root for the former third-round pick?

Kevin Smith dominated the porous run defense of the Carolina Panthers in a game that turned out to be a barn-burner.

Matthew Stafford threw for more than 300 yards and five touchdowns, but the added element of the run game (thanks to Kevin Smith), brought balance to a Detroit Lions offense that has looked anything but. 

If Kevin Smith can continue his solid play, the Green Bay Packers could be in trouble.

The game will be played at Ford Field, and home-field advantage could give the Detroit Lions the edge in this tense divisional matchup. 

Detroit Lions win 27-20

Chicago Bears vs. Oakland Raiders

The Chicago Bears will likely be without quarterback Jay Cutler for the foreseeable future.

His presence will be sorely missed on a Bears team that has found its stride the last few weeks. 

Caleb Hanie will start in place for Jay Cutler, but the Bears' identity lies in Matt Forte and their defense.

Matt Forte should have a big game against a very suspect Raiders run defense. The Raiders are ranked 25th against the run. 

Without Jay Cutler, this is not a Super Bowl-contending team, but Caleb Hanie and Matt Forte will be more than enough against a penalty-stricken Raiders team.

Look for the Bears to pull out a statement win against the Raiders this week. 

Chicago Bears win 27-14 

Denver Broncos vs. San Diego Chargers

Tim Tebow is likely the most controversial figure in sports today.

Tebow's play at quarterback leaves a lot to be desired, but no one can doubt his passion and will to win.

The rest of the Broncos are fueling off his energy, and it has shown in their resurgence up the rankings within the AFC West.  
 
The Broncos are considered the underdogs against the San Diego Chargers in this divisional matchup, but that should not be the case.

The Chargers are a mess right now, and the arrow doesn't seem to be trending up. Philip Rivers is in a nasty slump that only seems to get worse as the season progresses.  
 
The Chargers defense continues to under-perform despite talent at key positions.

I expect the Broncos to run the ball against an average Chargers run defense. Look for the Tim Tebow and the Broncos to win an ugly game in San Diego.  

Denver Broncos win 13-10