Sanders's Week 12 NFL Predictions

Week 12 NFL Predictions

It’s Thanksgiving Weekend meaning we got early picks! I won’t say much for the intro this week as I want you all to be spending time with your families, playing backyard football and appreciating your time together.

I want you all to know, I AM THANKFUL FOR YOU, THE READERS! I write because I enjoy it and I’m glad you guys are willing to read for me every week.

Sanders went 10-4 last week bringing his total record to 96-63-2.

Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit’s Lions

The Vikings recovered last week by taking a win against the Arizona Cardinals but it wasn’t easy for them at all. Their opponent, the Lions, won’t be any easier and it will be on Turkey day AT Detroit. Unlucky timing for Minnesota. The Lions have a better functioning offense than the Cardinals do and Matt Stafford is the MVP of the Detroit Lions. Stafford can further prove himself by winning a big time game and putting the Lions in the lead of the NFC North. I don’t think the Vikings can just out will the Lions like they did the Cardinals.

Vikings 21  Lions 30

Washington Redskins vs Dallas Cowboys

The Redskins are a hot team in the last 8 weeks going 6-1-1 in that time period. Dallas, however, has won 9 in a row! This should be a great matchup and one that can potentially decide the division winner. However, until Dallas stops showing the resilience they have as a team, there are only 1 or 2 teams in the NFL who can beat Dallas and, as of right now, the Redskins aren’t one of them. Look for Elliot to have another huge day. In addition, I expect Cousins and Co. to have a huge day as well making this a close game. I’ll look to the most accurate kicker in the NFL, Dan Bailey, to seal the deal for Dallas.

Redskins 27  Cowboys 30

Pittsburgh Steelers vs Indianapolis Colts

Overall, this looks like a matchup of mediocrity vs mediocrity but this is a tale of two teams going in two different directions. The Steelers appear to be on a downward trend while the Colts seem to be in an upward trend. They are both 5-5 but the Colts have seemingly worked harder for that 5-5 record and have showed more teeth doing it. That being said, the Steelers will always have a potent offense that can go off and the Colts have a defense that has been allowing too many points all year. To make matters worse for the Colts, Andrew Luck will be out with a concussion. Without Luck, this Colts team will show it’s true colors of just how much it needs Luck to carry games. The Steelers should be able to take advantage of a weaker opponent.

Steelers 24 Colts 13

Arizona Cardinals vs Atlanta Falcons

Conventional wisdom says the Falcons should win. But the Falcons are playing against a Cardinals team full of veterans that are in must-win games now. While the Cardinals probably won’t win every game, this game is the perfect matchup for them. The Falcons have lost every game when Matt Ryan is shut down. Look towards the Eagles game for evidence where Wentz only threw for 99 yards and 2 TDs but somehow still one with that. The Cardinals can win by shutting down the Falcons defense and the Cardinals Defense has been playing well all season.

Cardinals 16  Falcons 13

Cincinnatti Bengals vs Baltimore Ravens

This should be an easy game for Baltimore. While there is drama surrounding the fact the Bengals have beaten the Ravens 5 straight times now, this isn’t the same Bengals team we have seen the last 3 years. Not to mention AJ Green and Giovani Bernard won’t be on the field. Unfortunate for the Bengals, but they just don’t have the roster to keep up with any teams right now, including Baltimore who will be playing at home.

Bengals 14  Ravens 22

Jacksonville Jaguars vs Buffalo Bills

Rex Ryan is taking caution with this game. He said the Jaguars are the “best 2-8 team” he has ever seen. Well Ryan, you might not be wrong but it’s still a 2-8 team. The Bills will be fighting for their playoffs lives. If they can’t beat Jacksonville here, they don’t deserve to be in the playoffs. Plain and simple as that.

Jaguars 17  Bills 27

Tennessee Titans vs Chicago Bears

It’s interesting to think of whether Cutler will be back with the Bears next year. But for now, this is a time for Matt Barkley to audition to the NFL as he gets the start at QB for the Bears. However, Barkley has not done anything special yet in the little action we have seen so I don’t expect much as he is a relatively unknown character. As for the Titans, we know what kind of team they are. They are a hot and cold team. When they are hot, they are unstoppable but when they get cold, they look very bad. Against the Bears, they should be a hot team. The Titans seem to have the ability to beat teams worse than them but not better than them.

Titans 28  Bears 17

New York Giants vs Cleveland Browns

It’s hard to put analysis on game with the Browns. They don’t even have a fun offense to watch anymore and look better when McCown is playing than when Kessler is playing. Super sad. Giants will win this game just because they are better. That puts the Giants at 8-3 yet nobody is covering them and how good they playing. Weird for a NYC team.

Giants 24  Browns 13

San Diego Chargers vs Houston Texans

I still maintain that the Texans are the worst winning team in the NFL. They are just very boring and their offense is probably one of the worst to watch. How they win games, I’m not sure but this seems like the type of game they could lose against the Chargers. This is also the type of step up game the Chargers would have showing that Philip Rivers should be in the playoffs but his team always holds him back. Rivers should show off his talents and ability even more in this game. The better quarterback wins.

Chargers 27  Texans 16

San Francisco 49ers vs Miami Dolphins

The 49ers are like the Browns. You just can’t imagine them beating any of the teams they face. This includes the Dolphins who are currently a hot team on a 5-win steak. I expect that the Dolphins can take advantage of a weaker team and continue their win streak to 6. Adam Gase is doing well in South Beach and sipping a beer with his toes in the sand.

49ers 17  Dolphins 27

Los Angeles Rams vs New Orleans Saints

Goff had a very uneven first start but he should get better as time goes on. That’s at least the theory. However, looking at now, I don’t think Goff is good enough to out shoot and beat Drew Brees. The Saints should pick up another win to fight for the division title.

Rams 17  Saints 34

Seattle Seahawks vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

So the Bucs pulled off an upset against the Chiefs. Good for them. They don’t do it again against Seattle barring a massive end of season surge by the Bucs. So far, I think Seattle is the best team in the NFC and not Dallas mainly because I think Seattle is the only team who can beat the Cowboys right now. But that’s another story for another day. Seattle defense hasn’t been amazing but it has been clutch when it needs to be while the Seattle offense has the ability to score a lot of points when asked too. This team is built to handle multiple situations and should be able to handle anything the Bucs throw at them.

Seahawks 24  Buccaneers 20

New England Patriots vs New York Jets

The Jets season is over and they know it so they’ve been messing with their QB situation a lot. New England however, is trying to compete for a No.1 seed in the AFC and a win here would go a long way as it’s both a divison and conference game. I think it’s easy to say that the Patriots are the better team and while they Jets can give them all they got, Brady and Co. should come out victorious.

Patriots 28  Jets 21

UPSET OF THE WEEK!!!!

Carolina Panthers vs Oakland Raiders

This game should be better than most people are thinking. The Raiders are 8-2 and the Panthers are 4-6. But the Panthers have been playing really tough as of late and will probably give the Raiders all they can handle. In fact, it’s possible that the Panthers can steal this one away from the Raiders and that is why I am taking this one as an upset pick. The Panthers will lock down on defense, and Cam Newton will have one of his MVP like games to upset the Raiders.

Panthers 28  Raiders 24

Kansas City Chiefs vs Denver Broncos

This should be exciting. The Chiefs and Broncos are both in contention for the division and this could be a decider. While the Chiefs have the same record as Denver, the big problem is that the Alex Smith has not been playing well lately. Neither has Siemian but Denver has more offensive playmakers. This looks to be a defensive game and whoever wins the turnover battle, should win this game.

Chiefs 16  Broncos 17

Green Bay Packers vs Philadelphia Eagles

It’s really sad. I am picking the Eagles to win because they are at home and the Eagles defense always steps up when they play at home. So far, the Packers offense has looked average but you can’t win games with an average offense when your defense is allowing the offense to score so many points. If the Packers have any hope of winning, they have to be able to stop a Wentz-Sproles led offensive attack. Who knows if they can do it though.

Packers 20  Eagles 31