NFL Week 12 Picks: Predicting Teams Sure to Be on Losing End of Blowouts

Week 12 of the 2011 NFL season has several games on the schedule that shouldn't even be close. Despite the rash of upsets and crazy outcomes we've seen so far this year, I'm fairly confident that at least three teams will be on the losing end of blowouts. 

While nothing is certain, I just have no confidence that the following three squads can really put things together and compete with their Week 12 opponents.

Here are the teams that won't belong on the same field as their adversaries this week.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs suffered a huge blow when quarterback Matt Cassel was lost for the year with a hand injury. While they picked up Kyle Orton today, expecting him to step in and play right away would be foolish, which means Tyler Palko is likely to be the team's Week 12 starter against the 7-3 Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Palko was awful during Kansas City's 34-3 loss to the New England Patriots on Monday night, throwing three interceptions without leading a touchdown drive. Against a much tougher Pittsburgh defense, don't expect him to fare any better and the results could be even more disastrous.

If Palko can't sustain drives the 4-6 Chiefs won't be able to control the clock and the Steelers will walk all over them. That's exactly what I expect to happen.

Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers' offense will roll the Chiefs on Sunday and I expect it to be an ugly one.

Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings are trying to ease rookie quarterback Christian Ponder into a starting role and one of the ways to do that is by relying on a strong running game. Normally that would work, but that may not be possible on Sunday as stud running back Adrian Peterson has a Grade 1 high ankle sprain and is likely to miss the team's game against the Atlanta Falcons.

The Falcons have been playing very well of late, winning four of their last five games. Without Peterson to help control the clock and keep the ball away from Matt Ryan, Michael Turner and the rest of Atlanta's playmakers, it should be a long day for Ponder and the Vikings.

I just don't have confidence Ponder can get the job done against an improving team like the Falcons. Expect the Vikings defense to wear down in the second half and let this one get out of control.

Philadelphia Eagles

I have no idea how the 4-6 Philadelphia Eagles beat the New York Giants on Sunday night with Vince Young at quarterback, but don't expect a similar result when they face the 7-3 New England Patriots on Sunday.

New England is fresh off a 34-3 thrashing of the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night and it is clear the team is playing much better in all facets of the game. The Patriots are rolling on offense and slowly but surely the team's defense is coming around. 

While it is not certain Young will start against New England, Michael Vick is still recovering from two fractured ribs and hasn't thrown much in practice this week. I personally don't think the Patriots could possibly lose to a team with Young starting at quarterback. 

That said, if Vick plays he won't be at 100 percent and will be coming off two bad losses to the Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals (before missing Sunday's game against the Giants). The Eagles just aren't playing very well right now while the Patriots seem to be revving their engines into high gear.

Expect New England to land a blowout win on Sunday.