Week 12 is almost here, and with the playoff picture starting to tighten, every matchup feels a little bigger. Here is a game by game look at this week’s action, complete with odds, storylines, and score predictions.
Bills (7-3) at Texans (5-5)
Thursday, Nov. 20 – 8:15 p.m. | Line: Bills -5.5
Josh Allen pulled Buffalo out of its funk with one of the most ridiculous stat lines you will ever see, accounting for six total touchdowns in a shootout win over Tampa Bay. It was sloppy early, but Allen settled in and reminded everyone why the Bills are never fully out of it.
Houston survived a gritty defensive battle with Tennessee, but the offense continues to struggle without a reliable run game. With C.J. Stroud still sidelined by a lingering concussion, Davis Mills gets the call again. Asking him to keep pace with Buffalo feels like a stretch.
Prediction: Bills 23, Texans 16
A tough defensive effort keeps it close, but Houston doesn’t have enough offense to keep up.
Colts (8-2) at Chiefs (5-5)
Sunday, Nov. 23 – 1 p.m. | Line: Chiefs -3.5
The Colts come out of their bye as one of the best stories in the league. No one expected this offense to become the most efficient and highest scoring unit in football, but here they are, and Shane Steichen deserves a ton of credit for the revival of Daniel Jones and the entire system.
Kansas City, on the other hand, is in completely unfamiliar territory. At 5-5, they are outside the playoff picture and three and a half games behind Denver in the AFC West. The offense looks stuck in mud, the red zone issues continue, and even Mahomes could not drag them past the Broncos last week. It is officially panic time.
Prediction: Colts 27, Chiefs 24
Indianapolis benefits from the bye and stays alive in the race for the top seed.
Seahawks (7-3) at Titans (1-9)
Sunday, Nov. 23 – 1 p.m. | Line: Seahawks -13.5
Sam Darnold’s four interceptions sunk Seattle against the Rams, but the Seahawks still had multiple chances to win. The defense kept them in it all day, and now they get a perfect get-right spot against a Titans team that simply cannot move the ball.
Tennessee’s offense went three-and-out five times last week and continues to put its defense in impossible situations. At some point you have to string together drives, and the Titans just cannot.
Prediction: Seahawks 37, Titans 9
Seattle resets, rebounds, and rolls.
Vikings (4-6) at Packers (6-3-1)
Sunday, Nov. 23 – 1 p.m. | Line: Packers -6.5
A brutal kickoff return cost Minnesota a much needed win over Chicago, and the JJ McCarthy concerns are getting louder. Two interceptions, multiple three and outs, and another inconsistent showing have Vikings fans wondering what the future really looks like.
Green Bay, meanwhile, stopped the bleeding with a key win over the Giants. The NFC North is a traffic jam, and four of the next five for the Packers are against division opponents. This stretch will define their season.
Prediction: Packers 24, Vikings 23
Another nail biter, but Green Bay holds serve at home.
Jets (2-8) at Ravens (5-5)
Sunday, Nov. 23 – 1 p.m. | Line: Ravens -13.5
The Justin Fields era in New York might officially be over. After another rough outing, Tyrod Taylor takes over and returns to the city where his career began. He will stabilize the passing game, but the offense loses Fields’ explosive running ability.
Baltimore got the win last week, but it was not pretty. Lamar Jackson is under constant duress, and the offensive line continues to be a major issue. The defense delivered a second half shutout, though, and that unit is the reason the Ravens are still in the thick of the AFC North race.
Prediction: Ravens 30, Jets 17
Baltimore leans on its rejuvenated defense and pushes the win streak to five.
Giants (2-9) at Lions (6-4)
Sunday, Nov. 23 – 1 p.m. | Line: Lions -10.5
The Giants fought hard against the Packers and continue to show flashes of what their future could look like. Rookie QB Jaxson Dart, along with currently injured Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo, give the next head coach a strong young core to work with, along with another high draft pick on the way.
Detroit played its style against Philly, but the ultra aggressive fourth down strategy finally bit them. They were 0-5 on fourth down and could not convert anything in the red zone. It dropped them to third in the division in a crowded NFC North.
Prediction: Giants 27, Lions 23
Jameis Winston shocks everyone and steals one on the road.
Steelers (6-4) at Bears (7-3)
Sunday, Nov. 23 – 1 p.m. | Line: Bears -2.5
Pittsburgh throttled Cincinnati with defense, scoring twice on that side of the ball. Aaron Rodgers’ injury complicates everything for this week, with Mason Rudolph possibly needing to fill in but the Steelers are still winning with their typical blueprint: opportunistic defense, timely plays, and Mike Tomlin magic.
Chicago once again found a way in a tight game, something that never happened under previous regimes. Ben Johnson has completely changed the tone of this franchise, and the Bears now sit alone atop the NFC North.
Prediction: Steelers 24, Bears 20
Pittsburgh grinds out another ugly road win.
Patriots (9-2) at Bengals (3-7)
Sunday, Nov. 23 – 1 p.m. | Line: Patriots -7
New England continues to roll. Drake Maye has grown into the offense, TreVeyon Henderson is emerging as a legit young weapon, and the defense remains elite against the run. The Patriots look like a complete team.
Cincinnati, on the other hand, is imploding. The offense cannot stop making backbreaking mistakes and Zac Taylor’s seat is heating up. A pick six swung the game last week, and this season is essentially lost.
Prediction: Patriots 37, Bengals 33
Even with Ja’Marr Chase out due to suspension, I still expect a shootout, but New England stays hot and leaves the Queen City with a win.
Browns (2-8) at Raiders (2-8)
Sunday, Nov. 23 – 4:05 p.m. | Line: Raiders -3.5
Myles Garrett continues his Defensive Player of the Year level dominance with another four sack performance, but Cleveland cannot score. Dillon Gabriel’s concussion brought Shedeur Sanders into the lineup, and the rookie looked completely unprepared. He gets another shot this week.
Las Vegas is a mess. The offense is stuck, Geno Smith is under constant pressure, and Ashton Jeanty cannot find running lanes behind this line.
Prediction: Browns 16, Raiders 13
Defense wins it for Cleveland in a grind fest.
Jaguars (6-4) at Cardinals (3-7)
Sunday, Nov. 23 – 4:05 p.m. | Line: Jaguars -2.5
Jacksonville dominated the Chargers and showed exactly what they look like when everything clicks. The run game worked, the defense swarmed, and the offense stayed in rhythm. They need more consistency, especially from QB Trevor Lawrence.
Arizona’s season has unraveled quickly. They have given up 40 plus in back to back weeks, and even Jacoby Brissett’s record 47 completions could not keep them competitive.
Prediction: Jaguars 31, Cardinals 23
Jacksonville strengthens its playoff positioning.
Eagles (8-2) at Cowboys (4-5-1)
Sunday, Nov. 23 – 4:25 p.m. | Line: Eagles -3.5
Philadelphia keeps winning, but the offense looks off. Jalen Hurts struggled again, and with the weapons they have, 135 passing yards is simply not good enough. The defense is carrying the load and cannot do it forever.
Dallas, meanwhile, saved its season with a big road win. The Pickens and Lamb “curfew benching” was a bizarre twist, but both returned and dominated. The defense also looked revitalized, especially with Quinnen Williams making an immediate impact.
Prediction: Cowboys 27, Eagles 24
Dallas pulls an upset by shutting down the run.
Falcons (3-7) at Saints (2-8)
Sunday, Nov. 23 – 4:25 p.m. | Line: Saints -1.5
Atlanta’s season keeps spiraling. Michael Penix Jr.’s knee injury derailed what was shaping up to be a strong offensive day, and the Falcons now shift into full spoiler mode with no first round pick and little left to play for.
New Orleans returns from the bye looking for continued growth from rookie QB Tyler Shough, who showed promise in his first career win. The rest of the season is essentially an audition for 2026.
Prediction: Saints 23, Falcons 21
A classic NFC South grinder goes New Orleans’ way.
Buccaneers (6-4) at Rams (8-2)
Sunday, Nov. 23 – 8:20 p.m. | Line: Rams -6.5
Tampa hung with the Bills for most of the night but could not get stops when it mattered. The run game was impressive, but the pass defense continues to get exposed.
The Rams delivered a statement performance against Seattle, forcing four turnovers and staying neck and neck with the Eagles for NFC supremacy. Matt Stafford is playing like the MVP, and this team has real Super Bowl juice.
Prediction: Rams 37, Buccaneers 28
Too much firepower for Tampa to handle.
Panthers (6-5) at 49ers (7-4)
Sunday, Nov. 23 – 8:15 p.m. | Line: 49ers -7
Bryce Young always seems to save his best for Atlanta, and he delivered again with a franchise record 448 yards. It was a good sign for the rebuild and a valuable confidence boost.
San Francisco got Brock Purdy back and immediately looked like themselves again. The passing game was sharp, and now the question becomes whether the defense can regain the nasty edge they have been missing.
Prediction: 49ers 27, Panthers 20
San Francisco locks in defensively and protects home field.
On Bye: Broncos, Chargers, Dolphins, Commanders
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