NFL Picks, Week 12

Looking at the NFL standings is just weird right now.  So many teams we're used to seeing in playoff position are currently on the outside looking in, while teams like the Bears, Jaguars and Panthers would be in if the postseason started today.  Of course, there's still six weeks left and a lot can happen in that time.  But still, it's a bit jarring.

Thursday Night: Buffalo (Loss)

Steelers (6-4) at Bears (7-3): Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh's once comfortable lead in the AFC North is all but gone.  The Steelers have just a one-game lead on the Ravens, who play the Jets this week.  So, this is a big one for them against the first-place Bears.  Has Chicago had some luck and taken advantage of its schedule this season?  Absolutely!  But, in the last two weeks especially, they've shown that there definitely is something there.  I just have a feeling Pittsburgh will win, though.

Patriots (9-2) at Bengals (3-7): New England-As crazy as it sounds, having the late bye has actually been working out for New England.  The Patriots are rolling and can just keep that momentum going week after week.  They've won eight in a row and there's no reason to think it won't get to 10 before they finally get a week off.  And, with the way the Bills don't seem to have any interest in winning the division, they may have the AFC East essentially wrapped up by that point.

Giants (2-9) at Lions (6-4): Detroit-Prediction: the Giants will take a double-digit lead and blow it.  That seems to be their M.O. in road games.  Anyway, Detroit is in the busy part of their schedule with three games in 11 days.  Fortunately, this is also the start of a three-game homestand, so at least they don't have to go anywhere.  And, considering the opponents they have coming up, this is also essentially a must-win.

Vikings (4-6) at Packers (6-3-1): Green Bay-Last season, everything went Minnesota's way and the Vikings ended up 14-3.  This season has been the exact opposite.  They find different ways to lose every week, and it has them sitting in last place.  Then there's the Packers, who are second place because of their perplexing losses.  They can't afford another one with the gauntlet they'll run starting on Thanksgiving in Detroit.

Seahawks (7-3) at Titans (1-9): Seattle-The NFC West has been a dogfight all season and will continue to be over the final six weeks.  With that in mind, the Seahawks have to take advantage of the fact that they're playing the Titans this week.  Especially since the Rams and 49ers are playing much tougher opponents in primetime games.

Colts (8-2) at Chiefs (5-5): Kansas City-Normally at this point in the season, the Chiefs are starting to get ready for the playoffs.  This season, it'll be a battle just to get in.  It won't exactly be easy, either.  Take this week's opponent for example--the first-place Colts.  Indianapolis has been such a pleasant surprise this season and can really make a point if they go into Kansas City and win.  But, as we've already seen earlier this year, the Chiefs usually play their best football when their backs are against the wall.

Jets (2-8) at Ravens (5-5): Baltimore-It sounded crazy when the Ravens were 1-5 that people weren't counting them out.  But maybe they knew something!  Because, suddenly, Baltimore has won four straight and is staring at getting over .500 for the first time this season.  Incredibly, they could even be tied for first place if they win and the Steelers lose, which is a real possibility.

Browns (2-8) at Raiders (2-8): Las Vegas-Shadeur Sanders will make his first career start for the Browns.  Should they win, his jersey retirement ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday.  You've gotta give the Browns credit for creating a talking point about this otherwise meaningless matchup between two bad teams.  The Raiders are slightly less bad and playing at home, so they get the nod over Shadeur & Co.

Jaguars (6-4) at Cardinals (3-7): Jacksonville-This one could've been expected to be another meaningless game between also-rans, but it most definitely isn't.  The Jaguars are currently holding down a wild card spot and have tiebreakers over both the Chiefs and Chargers.  So, they're in OK shape even if they lose to the Cardinals.  They're thinking AFC South, though, and to win the division, they can't afford any loss.

Eagles (8-2) at Cowboys (4-5-1): Philadelphia-Dallas is one of the most confusing teams in the NFL.  There are weeks where they look like they've never played football before.  Then there are games like Monday night when they totally dominated the Raiders (sidebar: why are they giving the Lions a Sunday night game and the Cowboys a Monday night game the week before Thanksgiving?).  Anyway, we'll really find out about them this week, as they welcome both of last season's Super Bowl teams to Jerry World in a five-day span.

Falcons (3-7) at Saints (2-8): Atlanta-They didn't make Eagles-Cowboys a full national game in the 4:25 window, so some poor football fans in the South will be subjected to this one instead.  The NFC South actually doesn't play in the 1:00 window at all (the Bucs and Panthers both have primetime games).  Although, for both the Falcons and Saints, this is a rare opportunity to pick up a win.  And, who knows, if they get the win here, maybe this will get Atlanta going on a run.  Which we all know the Falcons are capable of doing.

Buccaneers (6-4) at Rams (8-2): Rams-Two division winners from last season enter their Sunday night showdown both in first place again.  The Rams are actually the No. 1 seed in the NFC right now (and I think they might be the best team in the NFC).  They both need the win, too.  The Rams aren't just trying to hold off the Eagles.  They have Seattle and San Francisco to worry about.  Tampa Bay, meanwhile, has Carolina breathing down its neck.  Speaking of the Panthers, that's who the Rams will play next week...while sporting a 9-2 record.

Panthers (6-5) at 49ers (7-4): San Francisco-When they scheduled this one for Monday night in Week 12, I bet they weren't counting on there being playoff implications for both teams.  We'll know the degree of those playoff implications after the Sunday night game, but, at the very least, this will shift the wild card standings.  Either they'll have the same record with Carolina holding the tiebreaker or San Francisco will have a two-game edge and the head-to-head victory (so, essentially a three-game lead).  So, yeah, huge for both teams.

This Week: 0-1
Last Week: 12-3
Overall: 105-59-1