Predicting Every NFL Week 12 Game With Score Projections
Grant White
Host · Writer
The NFL Trade Deadline is behind us, and we are heading into Week 12. The playoff races only intensify from here as we head into the stretch drive of the season.
Check out our weekly predictions for every Week 12 NFL contest!
Buffalo Bills vs Houston Texans
- Stadium: NRG Stadium
- Location: Houston, TX
- Time: Thursday 8:15 p.m. ET
- Spread: BUF -6 | Total: 43.5
- Moneyline: BUF -280 | HOU +230
Through four weeks, the Bills looked unbeatable. The AFC East contenders were trampling their opponents while operating efficiently on both sides of the ball. However, the past six weeks have revealed a different side to Buffalo. The Bills are 3-3, and they have looked more beatable on defense and sometimes lost on offense. No one thought that Davis Mills would be an improvement under center. Yet here the Texans are with 52 points on 727 yards over the last couple of games. The Texans’ defense can hang with the best, and this one will be much closer than the betting line implies.
Predicted Outcome: Texans 23 – Bills 21
Minnesota Vikings vs Green Bay Packers
- Stadium: Lambeau Field
- Location: Green Bay, WI
- Time: Sunday 1:00 p.m. ET
- Spread: GB -6 | Total: 41.5
- Moneyline: GB -280 | MIN +230
Defense will reign supreme in this NFC North matchup. The Vikings have turned a corner with their latest efforts, albeit without translating to more wins. Over the last three weeks, they’ve held the Bears, Ravens, and Lions to a combined 946 yards and 70 points. That should continue against a Packers squad that has lost its rhythm on offense. Still, Green Bay’s defense is one of the best in the league and is more than capable of coralling Minnesota’s offense. The Packers win, but fail to cover the spread.
Predicted Outcome: Packers 21 – Vikings 17
Indianapolis Colts vs Kansas City Chiefs
- Stadium: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
- Location: Kansas City, MO
- Time: Sunday 1:00 p.m. ET
- Spread: KC -3.5 | Total: 49.5
- Moneyline: KC -195 | IND +165
This will be the Chiefs’ season’s inflection point. Sitting at 5-5 and on the verge of falling out of the playoff race, Kansas City desperately needs to mount an attack to stay relevant. They get that chance against one of the top teams in the conference, the Indianapolis Colts. The AFC South leaders have been the most pleasant surprise this season, getting off to an 8-2 start and in the running for top spot in the conference. There is some apprehension surrounding the Chiefs, but with the sixth-ranked offense and defense, more wins are on the horizon.
Predicted Outcome: Chiefs 24 – Colts 20
New England Patriots vs Cincinnati Bengals
- Stadium: Paycor Stadium
- Location: Cincinnati, OH
- Time: Sunday 1:00 p.m. ET
- Spread: NE -7 | Total: 49.5
- Moneyline: NE -380 | CIN +290
The Bengals’ season has come to an end before it even got started. Joe Flacco has done his part to keep the Bengals relevant, but their last-ranked total defense continues to let them down. That will be their undoing in Week 12, as they invite a feisty Pats’ offense to town. Winners of eight in a row, New England’s young nucleus has come together. They have one of the best passing offenses in the NFL, which will be an issue for a Cincinnati side that gives up 257.3 passing yards per game. The Patriots start to run away early, and there’s nothing the Bengals can do to keep pace.
Predicted Outcome: Patriots 35 – Bengals 20
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Chicago Bears
- Stadium: Soldier Field
- Location: Chicago, IL
- Time: Sunday 1:00 p.m. ET
- Spread: CHI -2.5 | Total: 45.5
- Moneyline: CHI -140 | PIT +120
It’s time to see what the Steelers are made of. An injury to Aaron Rodgers will affect their ability to compete, and it remains to be seen whether Mason Rudolph can serve as a stopgap until Rodgers’s return. Rudolph has fared reasonably well when called upon, but he’s failed to deliver meaningful performances as a full-time starter. Those concerns are exacerbated against a Chicago team that has won seven of its last eight. Defense isn’t the Bears’ forte, so if Rudolph makes his reps count, the Steelers could pull off a much-needed upset at Soldier Field.
Predicted Outcome: Steelers 20 – Bears 17
New York Jets vs Baltimore Ravens
- Stadium: M&T Bank Stadium
- Location: Baltimore, MD
- Time: Sunday 1:00 p.m. ET
- Spread: BAL -13.5 | Total: 44.5
- Moneyline: BAL -1400 | NYJ +750
The Ravens have banded together to mount a late-season charge up the standings. While there is still work to be done, Baltimore has won four in a row to move within striking distance in the AFC North. Thankfully, that ascent will continue against the New York Jets. After consecutive wins, the AFC East basement dwellers came back down to earth with their most recent performance. The Jets’ offense has been lifeless, and we’re not forecasting improvement against a Ravens defense that’s improved. Lamar Jackson will have the Ravens moving, but this spread and total are right on the money.
Predicted Outcome: Ravens 28 – Jets 15
New York Giants vs Detroit Lions
- Stadium: Ford Field
- Location: Detroit, MI
- Time: Sunday 1:00 p.m. ET
- Spread: DET -10 | Total: 50.5
- Moneyline: DET -650 | NYG +425
The Lions are in a precarious position. With three losses over its past five games, Detroit has fallen outside of the NFC playoff picture. More concerningly, they need to make up ground against some of the top Super Bowl contenders, and they only have six weeks left in the season after this. Dan Campbell understands the urgency of his situation and will have the Lions firing on all cylinders against the Giants. Jaxson Dart is poised to return in Week 12, but the Giants would do well to keep him benched for at least one more week. The Lions are hungry, and they should feast on Sunday.
Predicted Outcome: Lions 42 – Giants 14
Seattle Seahawks vs Tennessee Titans
- Stadium: Nissan Stadium
- Location: Nashville, TN
- Time: Sunday 1:00 p.m. ET
- Spread: SEA -13.5 | Total: 40.5
- Moneyline: SEA -1200 | TEN +700
We kept waiting for the Seahawks’ other shoe to fall, but it never did. Surely, this wasn’t a team that was capable of making a playoff run. Instead, Seattle is off to a 7-3 start and is in the running for an NFC West title. Still, we have reservations about their ability to compete against the Titans. This will be the Seahawks’ third road game in four weeks, including their second trip to the East Coast. An early start puts them at a deficit against a Titans team that is in the middle of a four-game home stand. Tennessee pulls off an unexpected upset, earning its second win of the season.
Predicted Outcome: Titans 21 – Seahawks 20
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Arizona Cardinals
- Stadium: State Farm Stadium
- Location: Glendale, AZ
- Time: Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET
- Spread: JAX -3 | Total: 47.5
- Moneyline: JAX -170| ARI +145
You never know what to expect with the Jaguars. At times, they look like a legitimate playoff threat, only to fall flat when you least expect it. Thankfully, the Jags should fall into the former category against the Cardinals. Arizona’s defense has imploded in recent weeks. They have given up a combined 85 points over their past couple of outings, getting trounced by divisional opponents. Moreover, the Cards have given up 27 or more in four of their last five, setting the Jaguars up for another resounding offensive performance. That should be more than enough to cash as road chalk and send this one over the total.
Predicted Outcome: Jaguars 31 – Cardinals 20
Cleveland Browns vs Las Vegas Raiders
- Stadium: Allegiant Stadium
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Time: Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET
- Spread: LV -4 | Total: 36.5
- Moneyline: LV -200 | CLE +170
If the NFL decided to name its weekly matchups, the Week 12 clash between the Raiders and Browns would forever be known as the “No One Cares Bowl." Two of the worst teams in the NFL battle it out in a contest that has more of an impact on draft positioning than anything else. Shedeur Sanders will be eaten alive by the Raiders’ defensive front, but Geno Smith won’t complete a pass longer than six yards. There are no winners in this one.
Predicted Outcome: Raiders 13 – Browns 13
Philadelphia Eagles vs Dallas Cowboys
- Stadium: AT&T Stadium
- Location: Arlington, TX
- Time: Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET
- Spread: PHI -3.5 | Total: 47.5
- Moneyline: PHI -175 | DAL +150
The Cowboys are getting way too much respect in this intra-divisional clash versus the defending Super Bowl Champions. As we’ve seen in each of the past two weeks, opposing offenses have had no luck moving the ball against the Eagles’ defense. There’s nothing the Cowboys will do to remedy that situation. Further, the Eagles’ offense is due for a breakout performance, which will undoubtedly come against the Cowboys’ lackluster unit. Eagles fly high in this one.
Predicted Outcome: Eagles 23 – Cowboys 16
Atlanta Falcons vs New Orleans Saints
- Stadium: Caesars Superdome
- Location: New Orleans, NO
- Time: Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET
- Spread: NO -1.5 | Total: 39.5
- Moneyline: NO -130 | ATL +110
As expected, the Falcons came crashing back down to earth in Week 11. An injury to Michael Penix wasn’t expected, but Atlanta’s inevitable downfall continues. Thankfully, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon. Kirk Cousins is one of the more capable backups in the NFL, and this is a Saints side that is mostly undeserving of the two wins it already has. New Orleans ranks 27th in total and 30th in scoring offense, generating just 311.9 yards per game. It’s not captured in the betting odds, but this is the Falcons’ game to lose.
Predicted Outcome: Falcons 17 – Saints 14
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Los Angeles Rams
- Stadium: SoFi Stadium
- Location: Inglewood, CA
- Time: Sunday 8:20 p.m. ET
- Spread: LAR -7 | Total: 49.5
- Moneyline: LAR -320 | TB +260
The NFC West is one of the league’s wildest divisions. Three contenders are battling it out for top spot, and potentially a first-round bye in the playoffs. At this point, it’s the Rams’ division to lose. Los Angeles has looked superb on both sides of the football, as evidenced by their sixth-ranked scoring offense and second-ranked scoring defense. Unfortunately, the Buccaneers don’t boast the same advantages. Tampa Bay has one of the worst defenses in the league, which has been the reason for its 1-3 record since Week 7. The gap between these teams is greater than the betting line implies. Rams romp the Bucs.
Predicted Outcome: Rams 30 – Buccaneers 20
Carolina Panthers vs San Francisco 49ers
- Stadium: Levi’s Stadium
- Location: Santa Clara, CA
- Time: Monday 8:15 p.m. ET
- Spread: SF -7 | Total: 48.5
- Moneyline: SF -360 | CAR +280
Once a year, we have to tolerate the Panthers on primetime. Monday Night Football in Week 12 is that occasion. Granted, Carolina is within striking distance of the Buccaneers in the NFC South. Still, they will have to wait at least one more week before they potentially unseat the division leaders. San Francisco came back to life in Brock Purdy’s return last week, putting up 41 points, albeit on just 281 yards of total offense. The Niners lean into their defense at home, which is enough to win but not cover.
Predicted Outcome: 49ers 22 – Panthers 18
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