NFL Week 12 Picks: Looking at Heavy Favorites That Will Stomp Opposition

While every week in the NFL features marquee matchups between two well-matched teams, there are also the weekly mismatches, contests so lopsided that an upset victory by the underdog isn't even part of the discussion.

There are three such contests on the schedule for Week 12; here, I examine these games and just why the favored team is going to roll to a decisive victory.

Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars

Even without starting quarterback Matt Schaub, who was placed on injured reserve this week with a foot injury, the Houston Texans shouldn't have much trouble thoroughly dispatching the 3-7 Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday.

The Texans have one of the most consistently productive running games in the league, and there's little chance they will abandon the run now that it's Matt Leinart under center as quarterback. Instead, they're more likely to run the ball with backs Arian Foster and Ben Tate, and they'll continue to be involved in the short passing game.

While Jacksonville fields a strong defense, so do the Texans. The Jaguars are already the lowest-scoring offense in the league, and up against a Houston team fresh off of the bye, they don't have a chance to pull out the upset win this week

Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns

Another poor offense is matched up against a strong defense this week as the Cleveland Browns host the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals are still very much in the playoff hunt, and another divisional win would only serve to help that cause.

That win shouldn't come with much difficulty for Cincinnati this week. Though the Browns have one of the best passing defenses in the NFL this season, that's come as a result of the team as of yet not playing very many pass-heavy offenses.

Against the Bengals, who boast one of the most surprisingly effective quarterbacks in rookie Andy Dalton, the Browns won't have much success stopping the passing game. At the same time, the Browns have the 25th-ranked offense through 11 weeks, while the Bengals have one of the NFL's best defenses.

The Browns are no strangers to being blown out this season, and yet another big loss is in the works when Cincinnati comes to town on Sunday.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas City Chiefs

In what may be the mismatch of the week, the Kansas City Chiefs host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night. The game will mark Chiefs quarterback Tyler Palko's second (and probably last) start for his team, but the inexperienced quarterback will first have to face the considerable pressure of the bruising Steelers defense before he can return to his rightful home on the bench. 

Though the Palko-led Chiefs were able to rack up yards against the struggling New England Patriots defense last week, it still only led to three points. This week, yards won't come as easily and the points should be similarly as low.

On offense, the Steelers are extremely effective. They've fallen into having an Al Davis-style vertical passing offense almost on accident; their cadre of young, fast receivers have allowed quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to stretch the field vertically, with their ability to gain separation and their reliable hands transforming Pittsburgh into a pass-focused offensive team.

The Chiefs will be lucky to earn more than three or six points on Sunday night, while the Steelers should have no problem scoring at will. The Chiefs will be thoroughly decimated on the national stage for the second week in a row.