NFL Week 12 Predictions

SUNDAY (EARLY GAMES)

FALCONS 31, vikes 17

I’m sorry Purple Faithful, but this game looks hopeless. Atlanta’s awesome aerial attack versus a weak Minnesota secondary combined with Adrian Peterson’s absence spells doom for the Vikings today. Falcons QB Matt Ryan tops 300 yards as his team cruises to its seventh win of the season.

BENGALS 17, browns 10

It will be a battle of field position today at Cincinnati’s Paul Brown Stadium. Bengals QB Andy Dalton will miss his stellar rookie connection with A.J. Green, but RB Cedric Benson plows his way past the Browns in pacing the home team to victory.

bucs 24, TITANS 20

At 5-5, Tennessee desperately needs a win to keep its playoff hopes alive. Tampa Bay has underwhelmed this year and has lost its last four games. Today, however, the Buccaneers harness their talent and earn a road upset over the Titans.

panthers 23, COLTS 17

Oh how the Colts continue to miss Peyton Manning. Could Indianapolis go from perennial playoff contenders to joining the 2008 Lions as the only teams in NFL history to go 0-16? At this point, the answer is “yes.” After a deflating loss in Detroit last week, Cam Newton gears up for a paltry Colts pass defense as the Panthers surpass its win total from last season.

RAMS 20, cards 17 (in OT)

Two very mediocre teams meet in St. Louis today as the Rams host the Cardinals. Okay, maybe mediocre is too nice. In a game of little relevance, Steven Jackson gives those diehard Rams faithful who attend the game at the Edward Jones Dome something to cheer about. St. Louis tops Arizona as the teams even their records at 3-7.

JETS 17, bills 13

Rex Ryan may have a big mouth, but its Mark Sanchez who may be the scapegoat for the Jets falling well short of reaching its third consecutive conference title game this season. New York’s playoff hopes are in jeopardy, but the team’s sixth-ranked defense tames slumping Buffalo as the Jets squeak by the Bills today.

texans 17, JAGS 10

The 7-3 Texans look to put a huge stake toward its first division championship today in Jacksonville. The Jaguars (3-7) have struggled, but its defense poses a daunting task. Moreover, Houston starting QB Matt Schaub was put on season-ending IR after suffering a torn ligament against Tampa Bay two weeks ago. Back-up Matt Leinhart has yet to throw a pass this season, but he does have the NFL’s top defense, the AFC’s top running game and the return of star WR Andre Johnson on his side. Leinhart manages the game clock, limits his mistakes and hands off to Arian Foster as the Texans pick up the win.

SUNDAY (LATE GAMES)

RAIDERS 24, bears 17

Chicago picked up a big win last week against the Chargers. But the team also lost its quarterback. With Jay Cutler gone for the season and no prominent back-up plan, the Bears struggle in Oakland today. Unlikely heroes Carson Palmer and Michael Bush continue leading the Raiders toward the playoffs. Oakland beats the Bears.

HAWKS 23, skins 17

This game almost has the allure of today’s Rams-Cardinals game. The Seahawks scrape by the Skins on a ho-hum day in Seattle.

pats 27, EAGLES 17

Vince Young impressed in New York last week against the Giants. Not so much today. Building off its Monday Night blowout of the Chiefs, Tom Brady and his arsenal of passing weapons lead the Patriots past the Eagles in Philadelphia this afternoon.

CHARGERS 27, broncos 20

Denver’s defense has been very strong in recent weeks and Tim Tebow simply continues to win games. San Diego has underachieved and finds itself in the midst of a miserable five week losing streak. It’s hard to pick against the fortuitous Tebow, but Philip Rivers is due for a breakout game. The Chargers win at home.

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

steel 23, CHIEFS 16

Pittsburgh is definitely the better team in the Sunday Night matchup this week. But the Chiefs can be very tough to beat at home. In a closely fought battle, Pittsburgh pulls away at the end and improves to 8-3.

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

SAINTS 34, giants 20

The Saints return from its bye week revived and ready to make a serious playoff run. Drew Brees rifles through the Giants secondary in leading New Orleans to a comfortable win at home in the Superdome tomorrow night.

Week 12 Pigskin Predictions

Due to some time and travel constraints, my Week 12 Pigskin Predictions will be an abbreviated version ...

Week 12 Pigskin Predictions

Thanksgiving Day Games
pats 27, LIONS 24
Detroit fights hard for its home fans, but Tom Brady and his troops are too good to top. Brady passes the Patriots by the traditional Turkey Day Lions by a field goal.

RESULT: pats 45, LIONS 24
This game was shaping up to be closely lined up with my prediction as the third quarter ended in a 24-24 tie. However, Brady and his receiving corps took control in the fourth as New England cruised on to a three-touchdown defeat.

saints 31, BOYS 27
Dallas tries to win its third straight game and fourth consecutive on Thanksgiving. However, the Saints roll in as a hot team too, and they're primed to show the national stage that they're contenders to repeat as Super Bowls this winter. I'm seeing Brees easily eclipsing the 300-yard mark and the Saints eking out a four-point win.

RESULT: saints 30, BOYS 27
A game that had a blowout feeling early on (when the Saints jumped out to an early 17-0 lead) became very interesting toward the end of the third quarter. After a fumbled punt return by the Saints’ Reggie Bush, Dallas RB Marion Barber plowed through traffic for a 1-yard TD to get Dallas within three (23-20). The Cowboys then took their first lead when Tashard Choice burst over the pie-line 10 minutes into the fourth. But Brees fought back and hit Lance Moore more a 12-yard scoring strike to regain New Orleans’ lead. Dallas QB Jon Kitna gave the home crowd some late-game hope when he found Roy Williams for a 47-yard completion, however the Saints CB Malcom Jenkins ripped the ball away at the Dallas 11-yard mark to seal his team’s fourth straight win. The 30-27 New Orleans win was only one point off my prediction.

Thursday Night Game
JETS 24, bengals 10
Shonn Greene has the breakout game he's been searching for as the Jets trounce the Bengals by 14.

RESULT: JETS 26, bengals 10
My prediction was very close for this one too. Well, score-wise anyhow. New York cruised by Cincy 26-20 but it was Brad Smith -- not Greene -- who led his team to victory. The Jets’ multi-positioned specialist made, perhaps, the game’s two biggest plays -- a 53-yard TD run and an 89-yard kickoff return TD.

Sunday Noon Games
vikes 21, SKINS 13
Brett Favre shakes off the cobwebs of a dismal performance against his former team last week to rebound with a pleasant performance today. Favre connects with WR Sidney Rice for 5-6 receptions and Rice’s first TD of 2010 as the Purple defeat the Redskins in D.C.

pack 31, FALCONS 27
Green Bay repeats its passing success from last week to post 31 points against Atlanta. Although, unlike last week, the Packers’ opponents fire back with a fair share of points as well. The Falcons are always fierce at home, but Pack QB Aaron Rodgers finds his top target (WR Greg Jennings) several times as Green Bay wins by four.

steel 23, BILLS 13
After an 36-26 home loss to Jacksonville dropped Buffalo to 0-5, the Bills were looked upon as the NFL’s laughingstock. Then, suddenly, a three-pronged Bills attack (QB Ryan Fitzgerald, WR Steven Jackson and RB Fred Jackson) emerged as Buffalo fought hard for three straight 3-point losses. From there, the Bills fought through the heartbreaking frustration and won two straight. That said, Pittsburgh’s steely D halts the Bills resurgence with a 10-point road win.

BROWNS 24, panthers 10
QB Brian St. Pierre leads the 1-9 Panthers into ... ‘Nuff said. Cleveland clobbers Carolina.

GIANTS 20, jags 17
The loss of two key receivers (Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith) hurt Eli Manning and the Giants’ passing attack. However, New York’s RB tandem of Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs successfully rush the G-Men to a narrow win over the Jaguars.

TEXANS 27, titans 20
Matt Shaub and Andre Johnson revive the Texans’ aerial attack as Houston tips the Titans and put an end to its four-game losing streak.

Sunday Late Games
RAIDERS 16, fins 13
Sebastian Janikowski kicks a key 54-yard field goal to give Oakland its sixth win of the season.

chiefs 24, HAWKS 19
Seattle misses its top wideout (Mike Williams) this week as the Seahawks’ lose by five. Conversely, Kansas City improves to 7-4 and maintains its AFC West lead.

eagles 24, BEARS 17
Ooh ... The Michael Vick show hits the Windy City. Chicago have won three straight as the its defense has been very staunch of late. However, the Bears can’t quite stymie Vick enough to earn a W this week.

rams 23, BRONCOS 17
Upset Special: Rookie QB Chad Bradford leads the Rams to an impressive road win to push St. Louis’ record to 5-6 and keep its playoff hopes alive. Yes, it is possible that a losing team wins the NFL’s most decrepit division -- otherwise known as the NFC West.

RAVENS 34, bucs 13
Tampa Bay (7-3) takes to the road today for a big opportunity to show they are a real playoff contender. The outcome? The Buccaneers fail miserably as Baltimore bludgeons them early and cruise on to a 21-point win.

SNF
chargers 27, COLTS 24
Game of the Week: San Diego continues its mid-season run to upend the host Colts for an exciting 3-point W.

MNF
niners 21, CARDS 17
In one of the worst Monday Night match-ups of recent memory, the 3-7 San 49ers eke by the 3-7 Cardinals in Arizona.