Betting
11/21/24
9 min read
2024 NFL Week 12: Expert Picks, Predictions For Every Game
NFL Week 12 is a lighter slate of games with six teams on bye. However, there are some excellent primetime matchups with the Ravens and Chargers ending the week.
Which teams will continue their winning streaks? And who might be on upset alert? Here are all of our picks and predictions for Week 12 of the 2024 NFL season.
NFL Week 12 Expert Picks
Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2) vs. Cleveland Browns (2-8)
Spread: Steelers -3.5
Total: 36.5
The Pittsburgh Steelers got a massive win against Baltimore in Week 11 and opened up their lead in the AFC North. They’ll have another divisional game here in Week 12, but the Cleveland Browns are the walking wounded entering this matchup.
They couldn’t be more banged up going into this game, and it’s hard to envision Cleveland scoring more than 13 points against one of the league’s top defenses. Take the Steelers to get an easy win on Thursday night and improve to 9-2 on the season.
Score Prediction: Steelers 26, Browns 13
Minnesota Vikings (8-2) vs. Chicago Bears (4-6)
Spread: Vikings -3.5
Total: 39.5
The Chicago Bears have been in a major slump during the last few games, but their defense has done an excellent job of keeping them in these contests.
Still, this will be a tough challenge for Chicago on both ends, and Caleb Williams is about to see the most blitzes of his career. Expect the Bears to connect on a few big plays, but for the Minnesota Vikings to win the turnover battle and notch another NFC North win on Sunday.
Score Prediction: Vikings 24, Bears 17
Tennessee Titans (2-8) vs. Houston Texans (7-4)
Spread: Texans -8
Total: 42
The Houston Texans finally bounced back and got a much-needed win against the Cowboys on Monday Night Football. But if you watched that game, you know it was much closer than the final score. Houston’s defense did a great job of creating takeaways, but it did allow Cooper Rush to throw for more than 350 yards.
The offense still doesn’t look quite right, and the protection is an issue, so it’s hard to trust the Texans to cover in a divisional game like this. However, they are the far more talented team entering this Week 12 contest, and the Tennessee Titans can only muster up so much on offense.
Take the Texans to win, but the Titans to cover on Sunday afternoon.
Score Prediction: Texans 23, Titans 17
New England Patriots (3-7) vs. Miami Dolphins (4-6)
Spread: Dolphins -7
Total: 46
Believe it or not, the Miami Dolphins are still in the mix for a wild-card spot in the AFC. They have been significantly better on offense since Tua Tagovailoa returned to the field, and they’ve won two straight to improve to 4-6.
Miami’s schedule is not that difficult, but this is a game it'll have to avoid dropping to have a chance in the AFC. That won’t be easy with Drake Maye getting better each week, but the New England Patriots defense can be exposed through the air. Expect this to be a close contest in Miami, but for the Dolphins to win and inch closer to .500 on the season.
Score Prediction: Dolphins 24, Patriots 21
Detroit Lions (9-1) vs. Indianapolis Colts (5-6)
Spread: Lions -7.5
Total: 50.5
The Detroit Lions have been on a roll lately, and their offense has been nearly unstoppable. Surely, there will be a week where they slip up, right? Probably, but don’t expect that to be this week, as the Indianapolis Colts can be exposed through the air due to all of the injuries in the secondary.
The more interesting storyline is how Anthony Richardson will play in his second start after returning to the lineup. Detroit’s defense has been outstanding,g and the safety combo of Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph has been incredible. Look for the Colts to struggle to throw the ball through the air and for the Lions to get another win on Sunday.
Score Prediction: Lions 31, Colts 23
Dallas Cowboys (3-7) vs. Washington Commanders (7-4)
Spread: Commanders -10
Total: 45.5
It’s rare to see spreads this big in divisional games, but this isn’t just any old divisional game. This is Dan Quinn’s first game facing his former employer, and the Washington Commanders are coming off 10 days of rest.
The Dallas Cowboys, meanwhile, are coming off an embarrassing loss on Monday night and could be without both starting offensive guards. It’s tough to imagine Dallas staying competitive in this game, but stranger things have happened. Take the Commanders to win and cover on Sunday afternoon in Washington.
Score Prediction: Commanders 31, Dallas 13
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6) vs. New York Giants (2-8)
Spread: Buccaneers -5
Total: 41.5
Tommy DeVito will get the start for the New York Giants at quarterback after Daniel Jones was benched on Monday. Can DeVito spark any offense for the Giants? Probably not, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers don't have the most threatening defense.
However, it’s hard to imagine that the Giants will be able to keep up with Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers, even if Mike Evans doesn’t play. Take Tampa Bay to win and cover on the road as they fight to stay alive in the NFC South race.
Score Prediction: Buccaneers 24, Giants 17
Kansas City Chiefs (9-1) vs. Carolina Panthers (3-7)
Spread: Chiefs -11.5
Total: 41.5
The Kansas City Chiefs finally lost in Week 11, and it was a long time coming. Their last loss was on Christmas Day, 2023, against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Chiefs had won every previous close game, and that finally flipped against Buffalo.
The Chiefs will be on the road again this week, taking on the Carolina Panthers, who are coming off a bye week. Kansas City should have no problem winning this game, but stay far away from the point spread as Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid have struggled as 7-point or more favorites in the last two seasons.
Score Prediction: Chiefs 26, Panthers 13
Denver Broncos (6-5) vs. Las Vegas Raiders (2-8)
Spread: Broncos -5.5
Total: 41.5
How about Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos? They are sitting pretty well in the AFC Wild Card race, and Nix has played outstandingly in the last month. However, if they want to stay ahead of the Colts, Dolphins, and Bengals in the AFC, they’ll need to find a way to win on the road against a team that has had their number this decade.
The Las Vegas Raiders don't have much firepower on offense, and their defense has really regressed this season. Expect this to be a close divisional game, but the Broncos will find a way to get the win on the road.
Score Prediction: Broncos 23, Raiders 17
San Francisco 49ers (5-5) vs. Green Bay Packers (7-3)
Spread: Packers -2.5
Total: 47.5
While this isn’t a must-win game for the San Francisco 49ers in Week 12, it sure feels like it after another blown fourth-quarter lead against the Seahawks. Sitting at 5-5, the 49ers are in last place in the NFC West and don’t have a tiebreaker against any of the other three teams.
They can’t afford to fall back to 5-6, but they find themselves in a good matchup this week against a team they’ve had a lot of success against. Can Jordan Love avoid the costly turnovers this week and out-score the 49ers? We’ll see, but we like the 49ers to pull off the upset on the road and get back over .500.
Score Prediction: 49ers 24, Packers 21
Arizona Cardinals (6-4) vs. Seattle Seahawks (5-5)
Spread: Seahawks -1
Total: 47.5
This is a massive game in the NFC West, with only one game separating the No. 1 and No. 4 teams in the division. The Arizona Cardinals lead the division and will be coming off a Week 11 bye, but this matchup favors the Seattle Seahawks.
Arizona doesn’t have the cornerbacks to match up with all of the weapons for the Seahawks, and this could be a shootout. Turnovers will be the deciding factor in this game, but we are going with the home team in what should be a fantastic divisional battle.
Score Prediction: Seahawks 23, Cardinals 20
Philadelphia Eagles (8-2) vs. Los Angeles Rams (5-5)
Spread: Eagles -2.5
Total: 50.5
This is a fantastic Sunday Night Football matchup featuring the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams jockeying for playoff position in the NFC. The Eagles have looked fantastic during the last two months and have a decent chance of earning the No. 1 seed, considering how difficult Detroit’s schedule is coming up.
However, this could be a tough matchup for the Eagles, with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua being healthy for the Rams. Look for the Eagles to stay committed to the run game, and win a close game in Los Angeles, and improve to 9-2.
Score Prediction: Eagles 28, Rams 24
Baltimore Ravens (7-4) vs. Los Angeles Chargers (7-3)
Spread: Ravens -3
Total: 51
This might be the best game of the weekend, and it happens on Monday Night Football with John and Jim Harbaugh facing each other once again.
Both teams are fighting for playoff seeding, and the Baltimore Ravens still have an outside chance of winning the division. Baltimore’s defense can be exposed through the air, and this sets up a big Justin Herbert performance. Take the Los Angeles Chargers not only to cover the three-point spread but also to win at home and continue to rack up the wins in the AFC.
Score Prediction: Chargers 28, Ravens 24
