NFL Week 12 Picks: Road Warriors That Will Slaughter the Competition

If you want to be a playoff team in the NFL, you have to be able to win on the road. That sounds easy and simple in theory, but in practice it is extremely difficult. The best teams in the league have figured this out, but others are still trying to figure things out. 

The good news is that there are some teams taking their talents on the road that will have great opportunities to shine because they are playing well and/or have a favorable matchup that will allow them to shine. 

On the road is where upsets usually occur, but this week there will be visiting teams that dominate weaker competition in their own building. That is adding insult to injury, and it will be fun for us to watch but not so much for those teams to endure. 

Houston Texans (-7) at Jacksonville Jaguars

What does it say about the state of the Jaguars that Matt Leinart can be the opposing team’s starting quarterback and they are still a touchdown underdog?

But as high as that spread seems, it isn’t nearly enough. The Texans don’t live by their quarterback, so there will not be a significant drop off from Matt Schaub to Leinart.

Last time I checked, the Texans still have Arian Foster and Ben Tate in the backfield, an attacking defense that makes life miserable on opposing quarterbacks, and, just to give Leinart a little benefit of the doubt, Andre Johnson is returning.

They won’t all be like this for Leinart, but this is going to be a confidence booster.

Texans 28, Jaguars 10

Carolina Panthers (-4) at Indianapolis Colts

I want to meet the people that are betting on the Colts. Seriously, at this point in time, with 10 games under their belt, they have shown nothing to indicate that they should be anything less than a touchdown underdog.

This matchup against the Panthers, who have not exactly been lighting the world on fire with a 2-8 record, is going to prove just how terrible the Colts are right now.

The Panthers boast the best rookie quarterback that many of us have seen, and the Colts boast one of the worst defenses in the league.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Cam Newton, DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart combine for over 250 yards rushing. At least the citizens of Indianapolis can look forward to the Super Bowl in February, though they could be drowning their sorrows after an 0-16 season.

Panthers 34, Colts 14

Pittsburgh Steelers (-11) at Kansas City Chiefs

Whenever Tyler Palko is the starting quarterback for a team, you always take the points. The Steelers have had some battles in the last three weeks against New England, Baltimore and Cincinnati, so they deserve this de facto bye week.

I can easily envision a scenario in which things get so out of hand for the Chiefs that they put recently acquired Kyle Orton in just to give him some snaps and try to build his confidence down the stretch.

There really is no point in dwelling on this game too much because it will be over before it even begins. The Steelers are getting hot and that is bad news for the rest of the NFL.

Steelers 41, Chiefs 13