Week 12 preview
Bucs at Lions
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Records: Tampa Bay (2-8, 0-4 away), Detroit (6-4, 3-1 home)
Line: DET by 8 1/2; O/U: 48 1/2
Synopsis: Suddenly Resurgent Tampa won its last two games, both at home, but now goes on the road, where it’s 0-4. Detroit tries to bounce back from losing at Pittsburgh. Bucs RB Bobby Rainey has shined recently, but faces the No. 5 run defense here.
Pick: Lions 33-20
Jaguars at Texans
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Records: Jacksonville (1-9, 1-4 away), Houston (2-8, 1-4 home)
Line: HOU by 10; O/U: 43 1/2
Synopsis: Jacksonville has won just once all year and Houston has lost eight in a row and couldn’t even win last week at home vs. Oakland, which started an undrafted rookie quarterback.
Pick: Texans 26-13
Vikings at Packers
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Records: Minnesota (2-8, 0-5 away), Green Bay (5-5, 3-2 home)
Line: GB by 4 1/2; O/U: 44 1/2
Synopsis: Scott Tolzien gets his second NFL start facing the Vikings’ No. 29 pass defense as GB tries to end a three-game slide. Vikes’ QB situation also a mess as Christian Ponder starts despite being yanked last week following three turnovers.
Pick: Packers 23-17
Chargers at Chiefs
Kickoff: 10 a.m. (CBS)
Records: San Diego (4-6, 2-4 away), Kansas City (9-1, 5-0 home)
Line: KC by 4; O/U: 42 1/2
Synopsis: KC tries to bounce back from its first loss, in Denver, and gets a foe that has lost three in a row whileallowing 26 points per outing and for the season gives up 5.0 yards per rush on the road, a bad sign vs. KC’s Jamaal Charles. KC’s defense is tough vs. the pass, which SD likes to do.
Pick: Chiefs 23-20
Panthers at Dolphins
Kickoff: 10 a.m. (Fox 28)
Records: Carolina (7-3, 3-2 away), Miami (5-5, 3-2 home)
Line: CAR by 4 1/2; O/U: 40 1/2
Synopsis: CAR is rolling (six wins in row, defense rising) but is in prime letdown spot after big Monday night win over NE. Miami has regrouped after locker-room turmoil and has given up just 58 points in its last three. Plus Panthers will be minus key DE Charles Johnson (knee).
Pick: Dolphins 20-17
Steelers at Browns
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Records: Pittsburgh (4-6, 1-4 away), Cleveland (4-6, 3-2 home)
Line: Browns by 2; O/U: 40 1/2
Synopsis: PIT has won four of its last six and QB Ben Roethlisberger is clicking, but faces the NFL’s No. 4 pass defense. Browns QB Jason Campbell gets his fourth consecutive start and works vs. the No. 8 pass defense.
Pick: Browns 20-16
Bears at Rams
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Records: Chicago (6-4, 2-2 away), St. Louis (4-6, 2-3 home)
Line: STL by 1; O/U: 45 1/2
Synopsis: Battle of backup QBs. Chicago’s Josh McCown is 2-0 filling in for Jay Cutler, but faces a STL defense that’s on the rise. Meanwhile, Rams QB Kellen Clemens is 1-2 filling in for Sam Bradford. STL comes off bye, and before that a 38-8 shocker win at Indy.
Pick: Rams 24-23
Jets at Ravens
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Records: New York (5-5, 1-4 away), Baltimore (4-6, 3-1 home)
Line: BAL by 3 1/2; O/U: 38 1/2
Synopsis: NY sticks with rookie QB Geno Smith (one TD pass, eight interceptions in his last five games) to face a good Baltimore pass defense. The Ravens have lost four of five and QB Joe Flacco has been disappointing; BALT 30th in offense.
Pick: Ravens 20-16
Titans at Raiders
Kickoff: 1:05 p.m.
Records: Tennessee (4-6, 2-2 away), Oakland (4-6, 3-2 home)
Line: TEN by 1; O/U: 41 1/2
Synopsis: Undrafted OAK rookie QB Matt McGloin is back for his second NFL start after his three-TD, no-interception debut last week in a surprising win at HOU to face the No. 7 pass defense. TEN QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has thrown for 486 yards, three TDs in his last two.
Pick: Raiders 26-20
Colts at Cardinals
Kickoff: 1:05 p.m.
Records: Indianapolis (7-3, 4-1 away), Arizona (6-4, 4-1 home)
Line: ARI by 2; O/U: 45
Synopsis: AZ’s Bruce Arians knows Indy well, as he won the NFL coach of the year award last season for his work filling in while ailing Chuck Pagano missed most of the season. He has Cards in playoff contention and QB Carson Palmer is clicking.
Pick: Cards 24-20
Cowboys at Giants
Kickoff: 1:25 p.m. (Fox 28)
Records: Dallas (5-5, 1-4 away), New York (4-6, 3-2 home)
Line: NYG by 2 1/2; O/U: 44 1/2
Synopsis: NY has won four in a row and faces the NFL’s worst defense, which allows 456.7 yards per game and struggling Giants QB Eli Manning will try to take advantage. Dallas does get back WR Miles Austin from an hamstring injury.
Pick: Giants 30-24
Broncos at Patriots
Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. (NBC)
Records: Denver (9-1, 3-1 away), New England (7-3, 5-0 home)
Line: DEN by 2 1/2; O/U: 54 1/2
Synopsis: DEN goes for its fourth win in a row and is to have key WR Wes Welker in the lineup to face his former team despite suffering a concussion last week. This is a marquee matchup and quite simply, New England needs this one more than Denver.
Pick: Patriots 30-27
49ers at Redskins
Monday: 5:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Records: San Francisco (6-4, 3-2 away), Washington (3-7, 2-2 home)
Line: SF by 5; O/U: 47 1/2
Synopsis: The Redskins unleash NFL’s top ground attack (155.2 yards a game) on the No. 12 run defense. SF loves to keep it on the ground, too (No. 5), and WASH is 18th vs. the run. But Washington can pass, too (the NFL’s No. 11 aerial attack); SF can’t (it ranks last).
Pick: Redskins 23-20