The 2011 NFL season is going to be the center of attention this week as families and friends get together over Thanksgiving. While Turkey day looks to have a decent slate of games, there are some key matches that will be taking place on the weekend.
Below are my predictions for Week 12 of the 2011 NFL season. I shall give thanks this week after I saw my record bounce back to a more respectable 8-4. I was able to gain a little ground back but still remain in the middle of the back for the NFL Pick’em contest.
Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions
This is going to be one of the most entertaining games of the weekend. We are going to see two quarterbacks, Aaron Rodgers and Matt Stafford who like to throw the ball. The front four of the Lions defense is going to get after Rodgers but he will make the right adjustments to keep the Packers in the lead. The game will be close but the Packers will come away with a hard fought road win and remain undefeated.
Packers 31 Lions 28
Miami Dolphins vs. Dallas Cowboys
While Tim Tebow gets all of the credit, the Dolphins Matt Moore has done a better job at the quarterback spot. They will be taking on a Cowboys team that came away with an overtime win over the Washington Redskins. The Cowboys will be on the ball this week and use their running game powered by DeMarco Murray to end the Dolphins surprise winning streak. Wonder if we will have a Leon Lett sighting?
Cowboys 27 Dolphins 21
San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens
The last game for Thanksgiving may feature a potential Super Bowl matchup when the 40ers travels out east to take on the Ravens. The story in this game will not be the Harbaugh brothers but the defensive units of both teams. You can expect a hard fought game that will be won in the trenches and the team’s ability to run the ball. In the end, the Ravens will remind us why they are one of the top teams in the AFC.
Ravens 17 49ers 14
Minnesota Vikings vs. Atlanta Falcons
The Vikings suffered a close loss last week to the Raiders even though they lost their star running back in the first half. They will be taking on the Falcons who are still trying to make a run at the NFL playoffs. The Falcons will have home field advantage and would be wise to take advantage of the crowd noise against a rookie quarterback. The game will be close but the Falcons will earn another win.
Falcons 27 Vikings 21
Carolina Panthers vs. Indianapolis Colts
The Panthers offense put up some high points last week against a decent Detroit Lions defense. Now they will have the chance against a Colts team that has been unable to win a game all season. Panthers’ quarterback Cam Newton should have some time in the backfield to throw and will be able to add to his case for offensive rookie of the year.
Panthers 28 Colts 17
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Tennessee Titans
Last week, both the Buccaneers and the Titans lost key games if they wanted to have a chance to advance past the regular season. If the Titans want to win, then big money running back Chris Johnson needs to step up and outperform the Bucs’ backfield. The game will be a tight race, but Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman will lead his team to a win.
Buccaneers 21 Titans 17
Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Texans are fresh off their bye week and will be eager to see how their offense performs with their backup quarterback, Matt Leinart, at the helm. They will be heading to Jacksonville to take on a Jaguars team that is still struggling to get by this season with their own rookie quarterback. The Jaguars defense will keep the Texans in check for most of the game, but their offense does not have enough firepower to win it.
Texans 24 Jaguars 10
Arizona Cardinals vs. St. Louis Rams
The Cardinals lost a not so close one to the San Francisco 49ers last week and will be eager to rebound against the Rams, whose defense has shown an inability to stop the opposition. The Cardinals will try to exploit their Rams’ defense and use their opportunistic defense to put some points up on the board. While this game will be a snoozer for the casual NFL fan, the Cardinal faithful will be happy with the results.
Cardinals 24 Rams 10
Buffalo Bills vs. New York Jets
By the time this game is done and in the books, one of these AFC East teams is going to have their NFL playoff hopes crushed. The Jets’ defense blew one call and cost them the game. They will change that this week when they take on the lackluster Bills who could not stop the Miami Dolphins. The Jet defense will make sure they step up this week an ensure they give their home crowd something to cheer about.
Jets 24 Bills 17
Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The Browns earned a hard fought win last week and will now be rewarded by playing one of the more underrated teams in the NFL. The Bengals want to stop the losing streak at two and try to remain in the hunt for the NFL playoffs. The Bengals will use their running game to give rookie quarterback Andy Dalton some time to throw. Expect an easy game for the Bengals as they keep pace in the AFC North.
Bengals 28 Browns 7
Washington Redskins vs. Seattle Seahawks
The Redskins lost a heartbreaker to the Dallas Cowboys last week and will be eager to forget the outcome as they travel out West to take on the upset minded Seahawks. The Seahawks will utilize their only offensive weapon, their running game, to keep the Redskins off the field and to eat up the clock. Redskins’ quarterback Rex Grossman showed some positive signs last week and will be eager to rebuild on that as they earn a close win.
Redskins 17 Seahawks 10
Chicago Bears vs. Oakland Raiders
The Bears have been a team on fire in recent weeks, though they suffered a major blow with the injury to quarterback Jay Cutler. With Cutler out an extended period of time, they will need to rely on running back Matt Forte to shoulder more of the load. The Raiders showed some promising signs in their win last week and will be able to put up enough of an offense to help them earn a win.
Raiders 17 Bears 10
New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The Patriots, who are fresh off their Monday night battle with the Kansas City Chiefs, will be heading to take on the Eagles. With the chances increasing for Michael Vick to return to the field in Week 12, the Patriots will need to have their defense in check to contain him. This game features two of the top coaches in the game and is going to provide some quality football on both sides of the ball.
Patriots 24 Eagles 17
Denver Broncos vs. San Diego Chargers
The Broncos and Tim Tebow mania are going to continue to ride the winning streak as they take on division rival, the Chargers. If there is a defense out their capable of stopping him, it is the Chargers’ unit who has the right personal to do so. The big question is can the Chargers not shoot themselves in the foot enough and help them maintain a chance at winning the AFC West.
Chargers 27 Broncos 17
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The Steelers will be rest from their bye week when they take on the Chiefs. Their defense is going to have a field day with the makeshift unit the Chiefs will be rolling out. The Steelers’ offense should have plenty of time to develop their plays and ensure their running game is able to push the front seven of the Chiefs around. A win here and they will still remain at the top spot in the AFC East.
Steelers 31 Chiefs 17
New York Giants vs. New Orleans Saints
The Giants are eager to forget their loss last week and head down to New Orleans so they can face the Saints on their home turf. While the Giants tend to do well in these games, this is going to be the one where the Giants do not capitalize on a chance to increase the distance in the NFC East. Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees will have his way with the Giants secondary and help them earn their fifth win at home.
Saints 27 Giants 21
2011 NFL Season Record 102-55