NFL Week 12 Preview

Carolina Panthers @ NY Jets
Spread: Jets, -3
o/u: 41.5
The Jets are 1-6 in their last seven, and yet the oddsmakers still make them the favorite. In that same 7-game stretch, the Panthers have beaten the Cardinals and Falcons, but lost to the Dolphins and Bills. Really this game will come down to the QBs. Both have had their problems this year, and both will need to step it up to win this game. Both teams can rush for all the yards they want, but if Sanchez or Delhomme throws a pick after gaining 20 yards on the ground, it won't really matter. What will matter is the fact that the Jet's secondary hasn't been getting pick in the first place.
Pick: Panthers 20 - Jets 17

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Atlanta Falcons
Spread: Falcons, -12
o/u: 46
The Falcons may or may not have Michael Turner back this week. He has been practicing, but has been limited, and is so far listed as questionable. Whether or not he plays probably won't make a difference on who wins, but by how much.
Pick: Falcons 31 - Buccaneers 21

Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills
Spread: Dolphins, -3.5
o/u: 40
In last weeks 24-17 win over Carolina, the Dolphins proved they can be a running powerhouse even without Ronnie Brown. Ricky Williams has definitely stepped up his game in Brown's absence, and I don't see him slowing down just because its cold in Buffalo. Terrell Owens also stepped up last week, with 197 yards and a TD against Jacksonville. The Bills still lost. They're going to lose again.
Pick: Dolphins 27 - Bills 10

Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals
Spread: Bengals, -15
o/u: 39
The problem with the Browns last week was the same as every week: bad coaching. Eric Mangini's timeout that let Matthew Stafford back in the game basically cost them the win. The Bengals are also coming off a bad loss, as a late fumble on a kickoff return let the Raiders score the winning field goal. If that doesn't give the Bengals enough to win this one, there's also this: if they win, they go 6-0 against their divsion for the first time ever. You better believe they'll be ready to play coem Sunday.
Pick: Bengals 35 - Browns 10

Seattle Seahawks @ St Louis Rams
Spread: Seahwaks, -4
o/u: 42.5
Not only are the Rams a bad team, they've been hit hard by injuries. Now their starting QB is out, and things are just getting worse. Seattle comes to town ready looking to end a two-game skid, and the Rams are the perfect team to do it. And since they only scored 9 points last week, look for the Seahawks to blow up in this one.
Pick: Seahawks 31 - Rams 6

Washington Redskins @ Philadelphia Eagles
Spread: Eagles, -9
o/u:40.5
After what the Redskins did to the Cowboys, and how badly the Eagles have played sometimes this season, nothing would surprise me in this game. Somehow, though, the Eagles always manage to get up against division opponents. With a 9-point spread, I have to think the Eagles will win, but Washington covers.
Pick: Eagles 20 - Redskins 13

Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans
Spread: Colts, -3.5
o/u: 47.5
Every year the experts say "The Texans are a good team, and they'll win the AFC South this year." Annd every year, they finish 8-8, and the Colts win the division. As of right now, the Texans are 5-5 and the Colts are undefeated. Both teams are playing very similar, though. Neither team has a running game, and both have had to rely heavily on 300 yard games from their QB. That being said, the Colts have found a way to win each week, and the Texans haven't. Turnovers will win the day, and Peyton Manning just doesn't make very many.
Pick: Colts 24 - Texans 20

Kansas City Chiefs @ San Diego Chargers
Spread: Chargers, -14
o/u: 45
The Chargers are finally hitting their mid-season stride after their usual slow start. Beating the Broncos last week put them in charge of their own destiny, and they'll need another win here to stay tied for first. The Chiefs have also showed some life during the season, beating Pittsburgh last week. The Chargers D has shown more life, though, and the Chiefs go down hard.
Pick: Chargers 38 - Chiefs 20

Jacksonville Jaguars @ San Francisco 49ers
Spread: 49ers, -3
o/u: 41.5
This game reminds me of the Jags-Jets game of a few weeks ago. The Jags come in having beaten the Chiefs the week before and the Jets had lost four-of-five, but were still favored. Now the Jags have won three straight and the '9ers are 1-5 in their last six, but favored to win. I'm not buying it. Maurice Jones-Drew is playing up to his abilities again, and the Jags offense is making the plays it needs to. The 49ers defense isn't. Since shutting out St Louis in Week 4, they've given up at least 18 points in every game except against the Bears. They've also given up at least 30 points three times, including Arizona's 45 the week after the shut-out. Jacksonville's win streak continues.
Pick: Jaguars 28 - 49ers 20

Arizona Cardinals @ Tennessee Titans
Spread: Titans, -3
o/u: 46
With the Vince Young Experiment still running al over defenses, the Cardinals will need all of their 8th ranked run defense to stop the option. And even if they think they've stopped it, Chris Johnson can break one for 20 yards at any time. Sprinkle in some play action, and add Kurt Warner's "concussion-like symptoms" from last week, and the Cardinals don't look like a 3-point underdog anymore.
Pick: Titans 31 - Cardinals 17

Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings
Spread: Viking, -11
o/u: 47
Bears fans are finally starting to realize Jay Cutler isn't the answer to their Super Bowl prayers. After a great start, he now leads the league in picks, and thats a big part of why they've dropped three straight. For the Vikings, Brett Favre has been a pleasant surprise, as they only have one loss, he's only thrown 3 picks, and is in the hunt for NFL MVP. This is the first time these teams have faced each other this season, and you can believe the Vikings D is salivating at the idea of going after Cutler's wayward passes.
Pick: Vikings 31 - Bears 14

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens
Spread: Ravens, -2
o/u: 42
Word is getting out that Ben Roethlisberger will not be playing this week. THat means Dennis Dixon will take over as starting QB. The Ravens may have struggled on D this year, but one thing they can do is get after an inexperienced QB. This injury couldn't come at a worse time for the Steelers, as they need to keep pace with the Bengals if they want to win the division. Though its the right move, sitting Big Ben against a division opponent will probably hurt them in the end.
Pick: Ravens 24 - Steelers 17