NFL Predictions Week 12: Bold Predictions for All of Sunday's Games

Though NFL fans are treated to three intriguing games on Thanksgiving, Sunday has a handful of interesting games to end the holiday weekend.  

Will the Patriots handle their business against a talented but underachieving Eagles team? 

How will the Texans and Bears fare without their starting quarterbacks?

Can Tim Tebow lead the Broncos to another win against a divisional opponent when Denver travels to take on the Chargers?

This season has unpredictable as any we've experienced in recent memory, so why not give some bold predictions? 

Houston at Jacksonville: The Texans Will Win by Only a Touchdown

With Andre Johnson returning and the Jaguars 31st ranked scoring offense facing the league's best defense, this is definitely the definition of a bold prediction. 

I don't expect Blaine Gabbert to have a breakout game, but he can lean on Maurice Jones-Drew in this game at home. 

We saw the Jaguars play up to competition when they upended the Ravens earlier in the season and the Texans only won by 10 in the first meeting between these two clubs. 

I have faith in Houston's zone blocking running scheme, but Jacksonville does have a respectable run defense themselves, and they'll force Matt Leinart to beat them. 

In what will have all the makings of a disaster in Leinart's first start, the Texans simply have too much talent on the offense and they hold the Jaguars on their final drive to tie the game.

I never said it was going to be easy, Texans' fans. 

Cleveland at Cincinnati: Colt McCoy Will Outplay Andy Dalton

The Bengals have lost their last two games, but they played both the Steelers and Ravens close. 

If anything, they showed they can stick with two of the best teams in the AFC. 

Andy Dalton threw for 373 yards against Baltimore, a career high and he's exceeded expectations this season. 

However, the Browns boast one of, if not the best, secondary Dalton has faced this year. 

They're allowing a ridiculous 166.5 passing yards a game and Joe Haden is emerging as one of the young shutdown corners in the league. 

Colt McCoy won't light up the stat book against Cincinnati, but they have certainly been more susceptible to the pass than the run.

Cleveland's second year quarterback is an adequate game manager and he'll make the safe throws throughout. 

The Bengals should win this low scoring game, but Dalton will struggle.  

Minnesota at Atlanta: Harry Douglas Will Lead the Falcons in Receiving Yards

Man, does Matt Ryan have talent around him or what? 

Roddy White, Julio Jones, Tony Gonzalez, Michael Turner and don't forget Harry Douglas. 

The Vikings have the 28th ranked pass defense and they'll focus most of their attention on White and Gonzalez over the middle. Jones isn't expected to play.

That will leave Douglas, who's received 18 targets over the past two weeks, in the slot against a weak cover man. 

Ryan will likely be forced to throw with Turner being limited against Minnesota's solid run defense, so Douglas should see a lot of targets, especially underneath. 

Arizona at St. Louis: Larry Fitzgerald Will Score 2 Touchdowns

Not ridiculously bold. 

But, with John Skelton or Richard Bartel throwing him passes, it's not exactly a given. 

Somehow Fitzgerald has managed to catch four touchdowns in the last three games with these guys behind center. 

The Rams have the worst run defense in the league, but when the Cardinals get in the red zone they'll be tossing that jump ball to Fitz'. 

Why wouldn't they?

Carolina at Indianapolis: Cam Newton Won't Throw an Interception and Will Win

I almost picked the Colts to win this matchup. 

It was tempting. 

I just couldn't bring myself to it. 

Indianapolis' secondary has been shredded by nearly every quarterback they've faced this season and they're allowing a whopping 30 points a game. 

Newton has three games without an interception this season; against the Jaguars, Redskins and Vikings. 

See the similarities between those teams and the Colts? 

Yeah, they're all pretty bad. 

The Panthers don't exactly have a stout defense either, but does Indianapolis have the offensive capabilities to stick with Carolina? 

No way. 

Tampa Bay at Tennessee: Chris Johnson Will Outgain LeGarrette Blount

After last week's performances from these two—NO WAY this happens.

I see your reasoning. 

Hear me out though. 

No team has allowed more rushing yards than the Buccaneers over the past four weeks.

They're surrendering an embarrassing 162 yards a game and opposing running backs have scored eight touchdowns.

The Titans don't have the greatest run defense either, but 4.2 yards per carry isn't terrible.

We saw all saw Blount's insanely punishing 54-yard TD scamper against the Packers last week, but he only totaled 53 yards on his 17 other carries.

Now, I never said Johnson was going to eclipse the 100-yard mark or look like the 2009 version of himself.

56 yards to 55 yards counts. 

Chicago at Oakland: Caleb Hanie and Carson Palmer Will Both Throw 2 TDs

The Bears game plan: Matt Forte, Matt Forte and a dump-down to Matt Forte. 

Joking. 

Kind of. 

The Bears have more faith in Caleb Hanie than that, but not much. 

Oakland allows 5.2 yards per carry, so after Chicago establishes the run, Hanie will have more open throwing lanes on play-action. 

Don't be surprised if both of his TD passes are to Forte on screen plays. 

As for Carson Palmer, him throwing two touchdowns isn't much of a stretch. The Bears turn the ball over, but their secondary allows 271 passing yards a game and the Raiders have a great deal of speed on the outside. 

Washington at Seattle: Marshawn Lynch Will Have over 140 Yards from Scrimmage

So, I'm going with the last few games from Lynch to make this prediction. 

I'll admit it. 

The Redskins are allowing only 4.1 yards per rush this season, but Lynch has been the Seahawks workhorse over the course of the last month and that trend with continue on Sunday. 

He somehow only went for 88 yards on the Rams' worst run defense last week, but I expect him to rebound home against a reeling Redskins team. 

I'm expecting to have a game like he had against the Ravens. 

Who outside of the Seattle and Washington D.C. markets is watching this game anyway?

Denver at San Diego: Tim Tebow Will Complete at Least 50% of His Passes

I can't even begin to tell you how odd it felt typing that headline as a bold prediction for a starting NFL quarterback. 

Tim Tebow = unconventional, so why shouldn't my prediction be? 

He was close to a 50 percent completion rate against the Dolphins (48.5) and got oh so close against the Jets last week when he went 9 of 20.

You CAN do it, Tim.

The Broncos will institute their JV offense and, once again it'll be ugly but successful enough to keep Denver in the game.

So that makes this prediction rather easy to be correct.

I'll take 4/8 or 6/12, stat lines that Tebow, who's making his sixth start, should have no problem achieving.

I know the NFL's a different game, but am I the only one that remembers him being far more accurate in college? 

I honestly believe it's nerves. 

New England at Philadelphia: Vince Young Will Throw More TD's Than Tom Brady

There's a chance Young won't play this weekend, but I have a hunch that with all the money invested in Vick and his injury past, the Eagles will hold him out at least another week. 

VY was shaky in the first half against the Giants, but true to form, he settled down as the game progressed and led a fantastic game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter. 

Throw out the game against the Chiefs, the Patriots secondary is not good. Period. 

Philadelphia has their fair share of weapons on the outside and LeSean McCoy is a terror in the screen game.

Brady won't have a terrible game, but he'll be shaken by the Eagles' improving pass rush that has registered 29 sacks this season. 

Two touchdown tosses for Brady, three for Young—one might be a shovel pass to McCoy from inside the 10.

I typed that with the utmost confidence, I swear. 

Buffalo at New York Jets: Kamar Aiken or Derek Hagen Will Lead Bills in Receving

This game was tough to think of a bold prediction. 

Why? 

Because, it's pretty predictable already. 

The Jets will impose their will against an injury-ravished and down-trodden Bills team and win big. 

So, I made a big reach. 

Actually, not really. 

None of Buffalo's top three receivers practiced on Wednesday and although Stevie Johnson, David Nelson and Naaman Roosevelt will all play, Aiken and Hagen will see time within Chan Gailey's spread system. 

Johnson held his own against Darrelle Revis in Orchard Park, catching three passes for 81 yards, but I don't expect that to happen again. 

Against the Jets nickel and dime corners, either Aiken or Hagen will have the best afternoon in the Bills' receiving contingent. 

Pittsburgh at Kanas City: Rashard Mendenhall Will Run for More 100 Yards

Doesn't seem very bold, does it? 

Actually it is. 

Mendenhall hasn't rushed for more than 70 yards since a 146-yard explosion against the Jaguars on Oct. 16. 

Pittsburgh should be able to get out to a big lead and Mendenhall will play a major role, running against the 28th run defense in football. 

If he's a few yards short, expect him to pick some garbage time yardage on Sunday night.