NFL Week 12 Predictions: Projecting the Week's Top Defenses

For a team struggling on offense, having a strong defense can make the difference between a win and a loss. Similarly, for teams with a productive offense, having a bruising defense can make the difference between a regular season win and one in the playoffs.

Here are four teams that will be showcasing their defense's talents in their respective Week 12 contests.

San Francisco 49ers (at Baltimore Ravens)

Thursday night, two of the NFL's best teams—and best defenses—meet in one of Week 12's best games.

Sure, it has the compelling storyline of two head coaches who are brothers and facing each other on a traditionally family-focused American holiday, but for football fans the best thing about this game will be seeing those league-leading defenses make the opposing offense truly fight for every yard.

The San Francisco 49ers have some of the most impressive defensive statistics in recent memory, allowing an average of 14.5 points and 74 rushing yards per game.

They haven't allowed either a rushing touchdown or a 100-yard rushing performance all season long and have the most takeaways in the league at 17.

Baltimore's 20th-ranked offense, which struggles even when faced with less intimidating defenses, will have quite a hard time getting anything going in the air or on the ground on Thursday.

Baltimore Ravens (vs. San Francisco 49ers)

The San Francisco 49ers offense is going to have a difficult time of their own on Thursday when they face the Baltimore Ravens defense, easily the most challenging defense they've seen all year.

The Ravens are clearly stronger against the pass than they are the run, which may play right into the Niners' hands. But it's also dangerous for San Francisco quarterback Alex Smith.

Baltimore has sacked quarterbacks 29 times and intercepted 11 passes this year on their way to allowing just seven passing touchdowns so far this season.

For fans of defensive football, this Thursday night's Ravens-Niners contest might just be your game of the year.

New York Jets (vs. Buffalo Bills)

Despite being embarrassed last week at the hands (well, feet) of quarterback Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos, the New York Jets still boast a top-three defense.

This Sunday they will face the Buffalo Bills, a once-mighty offense earlier in the season that has most recently fallen flat, hamstrung by injuries and inaccurate play by quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick isn't likely to improve his recent performances this Sunday as the Jets defense has allowed an average of just 200 passing yards per game and eight total passing touchdowns on the year.

While the Jets defense is vulnerable against the run, the Bills' leading rusher Fred Jackson has been extremely limited this week and may not even play, suffering from a severe calf bruise. If he's out then New York's defense is going to have an even better outing.

Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Kansas City Chiefs)

Though the Pittsburgh Steelers consistently field one of the NFL's strongest defenses, this year they've become more adept at stopping the pass.

Allowing only 183.2 pass yards per game, on average (just 280.1 total yards per game) and just five yards per completed pass, it's no wonder the Steelers have held opponents to an average of 17.9 points per game.

Against the run, the Steelers defense is also strong, allowing an average of 96.9 yards on the ground per game. None of this bodes well for the Kansas City Chiefs, especially now that quarterback Tyler Palko is starting for the injured Matt Cassel.

The 30th-ranked Chiefs offense was already in serious trouble heading into Week 12, and they're certainly not going to do much to improve their position when they face Pittsburgh on Sunday night.