NFL Week Twelve Predictions
Two weeks ago Bears quarterback Nick Foles suffered a hip injury and had to be carted off the field in the Bears’ loss to the Vikings on Monday Night Football. It has been reported that Foles is listed as doubtful for this Sunday’s game against the Packers, which means that Mitchell Trubisky will start on Sunday Night Football in Green Bay.
Article by Dave Nguyen, AKSM Sports
News and Notes
Ravens-Steelers Moved to Tuesday: Earlier this week there was a COVID-19 outbreak amongst players and staff with the Ravens that forced the game to be moved from its primetime slot on Thanksgiving Night to Sunday. Then the Ravens were told that quarterback Lamar Jackson was one of the latest to test positive, one of eight players to do so. The Ravens will start Robert Griffin III at quarterback, and will also be without JK Dobbins and Mark Ingram, two key players for the Ravens running attack. The game will be played on Tuesday night at 8pm ET, the third time in the Super Bowl Era that an NFL game will be played on a Tuesday. The Ravens scheduled game against the Cowboys was supposed to be played on Thursday Night of next week, but will now be moved to Monday December 7th at 5pm. As of Saturday, the Ravens now have 18 players test positive for COVID.
Mitch in for Foles and the Bears: Two weeks ago Bears quarterback Nick Foles suffered a hip injury and had to be carted off the field in the Bears’ loss to the Vikings on Monday Night Football. It has been reported that Foles is listed as doubtful for this Sunday’s game against the Packers, which means that Mitchell Trubisky will start on Sunday Night Football in Green Bay. This will be the first action Trubisky will see this season since he was pulled for Foles in Week 3 against the Falcons.
Thielen Out for Vikings Against Panthers: Vikings receiver Adam Thielen will not be able to play against the Panthers this Sunday, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Thielen was placed on the COVID 19/ reserve list earlier this week and will be missed for the Vikings. He currently leads the NFL with 11 touchdown receptions and a league best 10 touchdowns inside the 20 yard-line.
Glennon to Start for Jaguars on Sunday: The Jaguars will have their third quarterback this season start a game as journeyman quarterback Mike Glennon will make his 2020 debut against the Browns this Sunday. A former standout at NC State, Glennon will be making his first start since Week 4 in 2017.
Broncos Seeking Quarterback Help: Earlier on Saturday it was reported by ESPN that the Broncos would not have a quarterback in time for their game against the Saints. Starting quarterback Drew Locke tested positive for COVID on Thursday, and was in close contact with backup quarterback Blake Bortles and third string quarterback Brett Rypien did not wear masks and are deemed high risk close contacts, so all three quarterbacks were ruled out for Sunday. According to the Broncos, former Wake Forest quarterback and practice squad receiver Kendall Hinton will be at quarterback for Denver on Sunday.
Watson Goes Off Against Lions on Thanksgiving, Lions Fire HC and GM After: Another spectacular performance by DeShaun Watson gives the Texans their second straight victory and fourth on the season as they defeated the Detroit Lions 41-25 on Thanksgiving. Watson threw four touchdowns for 318 yards and completed 17 of his 25 passing’s attempts. This also marks back-to-back games where he threw for over 300 yards and at least two touchdowns. As a result of the loss, the Lions fired Head Coach Matt Patricia and General Manager Bob Quinn.
Gibson Propels Washington Win Over Cowboys: It was a Thanksgiving to remember for running back Antonio Gibson as the Washington Football team dismantled the Dallas Cowboys 41-16 on Thanksgiving night. The rookie from Memphis ran for 115 yards on 20 carries and scored three touchdowns in the victory. With that performance, Gibson becomes the first rookie since Randy Moss to score three touchdowns on Thanksgiving in 1998. With the win, the Washington Football team takes possession of first place in the NFC East before Sunday’s matchups.
Predictions
Sunday at 1 pm
Raiders (6-4) at Falcons (3-7): The Raiders are coming off a tough loss at home the Chiefs where Derek Carr went throw-for-throw with Patrick Mahomes and gave the Raiders the lead with less than two minutes left in the fourth quarter. The only problem was that the Raiders gave Mahomes enough time to score a game-winning touchdown with seconds to spare in the fourth quarter. The Raiders have one of the easiest schedules remaining in the league, with their only matchups with two teams (Colts and Dolphins) that have an above .500 record. The Falcons have weapons on offense with Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, and Matt Ryan ranked fourth in passing yards (2,978), but their defense is vulnerable allowing 406.6 yards per game this season. Prediction: Raiders 31-28.
Chargers (3-7) at Bills (7-3): The Chargers were able to earn a win for the first time since October 25th when they beat the Jets 34-28 last Sunday. Justin Herbert is currently 10th in passing yards this season with 2,699. He’s had five games this season with over 300 passing yards, accumulating into a solid rookie campaign. The Bills, on the other hand, are coming off a bye week and left their last game with a bad taste in their mouth as D’Andre Hopkins caught a Hail-Mary pass at the end of the fourth quarter to give the Bills a 32-30 loss. Josh Allen and company will be anxious to get back out on the field to try and win the AFC East for the first time since 1995. Prediction: Bills 30-23.
Giants (3-7) at Bengals (2-7-1): With Joe Burrow out for the season with an ACL injury, the Bengals offense will have a tough time against a Giants defense that has played pretty good this season. Cincinnati may have a tough time running the ball, as the Giants defense ranks sixth against the run, allowing just over 100 yards per game on the ground this season.The Bengals will start Brandon Allen off the practice squad against the Giants, who started three games last year for the Broncos. With two straight wins against Washington and the Eagles, Daniel Jones looks to lead the G-Men to a third straight win to contend for the NFC East. Prediction: Giants 24-20.
Titans (7-3) at Colts (7-3): A game that will put the winner in the driver’s seat to win the AFC South as the Colts and Titans match up again for the second time this season. The first time these two teams played, the Colts won thanks in large part to their defense shutting out the Titans in the second half and held their rushing attack to 137 yards. It was a breakout game for Colts rookie receiver Michael Pittman Jr where he had seven receptions for 101 yards. The Titans are coming off an impressive win on the road in Baltimore, defeating the Ravens in overtime and the Colts are also coming off an overtime win at home against the Packers. It’s hard to beat an opponent twice in a season, especially when the Titans are the fifth best rushing team in the league and Derrick Henry leads the league with 1,079 yards on the ground. The Titans are also solid on defense, as they are second in the NFL with 10 turnovers. The Colts may have the edge here: offensively they are first in yards per game (414.9) and second in passing (293.6) and defensively they are second in yards allowed (298.1), fourth in passing yards allowed (208.9), third in rushing yards allowed (89.2), fifth in points per game (20.8), and fourth in turnovers (6). Prediction: Colts 31-28.
Panthers (4-7) at Vikings (4-6): In his first career NFL start, former Temple quarterback and XFL standout PJ Walker earned his first win as an NFL quarterback in the Panthers shutout win against the Lions. Matt Rhule has a scrappy bunch that is buying into his system, and the Panthers are playing well despite Christian McCaffrey injured for most of the season. The Vikings are coming off a loss at home to the Cowboys, and will be without star receiver Adam Thielen. Look for Dalvin Cook to set the tone for the Vikings offense, as he is second in rushing with 1,069 yards on the ground. Prediction: Vikings: 28-24.
Cardinals (6-4) at Patriots (4-6): The Cardinals are coming off a tough road loss to the Seahawks after riding high from their last second , Hail-Mary win against the Bills, while the Patriots lost on the road to the Texans. The loss to the Texans has the Patriots playoff chances getting slimmer as the Bills and Dolphins are fighting for the division crown. Kyler Murray’s name has floated around the MVP conversation, accounting for 2,644 passing yards, 619 rushing yards (second on the team), and 29 total touchdowns. The Patriots have a solid defense and were able to neutralize Lamar Jackson two weeks ago, but Deshaun Watson torched them last week. Depending on how well the Patriots defense plays will help determine this game’s outcome. Prediction: Patriots 28-24.
Dolphins (6-4) at Jets (0-10): The Dolphins are coming off a tough loss in Denver that forced Head Coach Brian Flores to pull Tua Tagovioloa in the second half. The Jets are the worst team in the league and have many convinced they are tanking for Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Look for the Dolphins to bounce back in the win column and for Tua to have a solid performance. Additionally, the Dolphins defense has played solid all season, allowing only 20.2 points per game, which is fourth best in the league. Prediction: Dolphins 28-10.
Browns (7-3) at Jaguars (1-9): The Browns are coming off a win against the Eagles in an ugly rain storm, while the Jaguars are still winless since Week One. Mike Glennon is starting a game for the first time since 2017, so there’s a bit of mystery there. The Browns are poised to make the playoffs in a clogged AFC playoff race. The Browns ground attack appeared in full force with Nick Chubb back in the lineup and Kareem Hunt complimenting him, making them arguably the best 1-2 punch in the NFL. Prediction: Browns 28-14.
Sunday at 4:05 pm
Saints (8-2) at Broncos (4-6): Given the recent developments of the Broncos quarterback situation, the Saints have the upper hand as Taysom Hill scored two rushing touchdowns while throwing for 233 yards by completing 18 of 23 passes. The Broncos may be healthy on defense, but the Saints will eventually wear them down offensively. Trying to find a quarterback last minute for a game and expecting to be competitive, let alone win, is extremely difficult. Prediction: Saints 28-3.
49ers (4-6) at Rams (7-3): The 49ers are hobbling their way to finish the season, and it will help to get Raheem Mostert and Richard Sherman back on the field. The Rams bring a tough assignment for the 49ers, looking impressive in back-to-back wins against the Seahawks and the Buccaneers. While people know the Rams for Sean McVay’s offensive mind, their defense is arguably the best in the league. Aaron Donald, who has nine sacks this season, leads a defense that is first in yards allowed (291.9), second in passing yards (200.6), fifth in rushing yards (91.3), and second in points allowed (19.2). Expect a low scoring game with the Rams coming out on top. Prediction: Rams 28-17.
Sunday at 4:25 pm
Chiefs (9-1) at Buccaneers (7-4): A battle between two former MVP’s both in the regular season and in the Super Bowl as Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs travel to “Tompa-Bay” to take on the Buccaneers. Tampa has a solid defense as well, but Brady threw two interceptions in their Monday Night loss against the Rams. Patrick Mahomes is playing at an elite level, already throwing for over 3,000 yards this season and 27 touchdown passes. Brady is 45 yards shy of throwing for 3,000 yards this season and both quarterbacks are in the top five in passing yards and touchdown passes. The Buccaneers are too good to lose back-to-back games at home and a loss for the Buccaneers would hurt more than a loss for the Chiefs. It will be a great matchup between two future Hall of Fame Quarterbacks. Prediction: Buccaneers 34-31.
Sunday Night
Bears (5-5) at Packers (7-3): Mitchell Trubisky is back starting at quarterback for the Bears as they avoid losing their fifth straight game after starting the season 5-1. The Bears defense has carried the team on its shoulders, but lack of creativity and play calling has hindered the offense since losing on Monday Night Football to the Rams. The Packers are coming off a tough overtime loss at the Colts, where they saw a 14 point halftime lead disappear, and only scoring three points in the second half and overtime. With Aaron Rodgers trying to lead the Packers to the top seed in the NFC, it will be low scoring but expect the Packers to win at home. Prediction: Packers 24-14.
Monday Night
Seahawks (7-3) at Eagles (3-6-1): Russel Wilson continues to play great football and is still the frontrunner to win the MVP. While the Seahawks defense is not great, Wilson always finds a way to win as he led his team to a victory against the Cardinals at home last Thursday. The Eagles, particularly on offense, are a complete mess. There is speculation whether Carson Wentz should still be the starting quarterback or should Doug Pederson have Jalen Hurts start? While Pederson has said publicly that Wentz is still the starter, it’s been frustrating for Eagles fans to see their team perform poorly on offense. If there is any optimism, the Seahawks are at the bottom of the league in terms of pass defense, so look for Wentz to take his shots deep. At the end of the day, Russel Wilson, who has never lost to the Eagles, will get the job done in Philly on Monday Night. Prediction: Seahawks 28-21.
Tuesday Night
Ravens (6-4) at Steelers (10-0): With 18 players listed on the COVID list for the Ravens, including Lamar Jackson, JK Dobbins, and Mark Ingraham, it’s hard to see the Ravens winning this game. The Steelers will be without James Conner due to him testing positive, but most of the Steelers offense stays in tact. The matchup between these two teams are always close and never disappoints, as it will be interesting to see what Robert Griffin III can bring to the table on Tuesday night against a stellar Steelers defense. Prediction: Steelers 28-17.