The Armchair Quarterback’s Guide To The NFL: Week 12

The Armchair Quarterback’s Week 12 Predictions

Well, after the worst week of the season in Week 10, the Armchair QB predictions were back to their winning ways in week 11, going 10-5. That brings the total season mark to 108-54. So the 2-1 ratio remains intact for another week. My goal for the season is 70%, so at 66.7% I still have a little work to do. Let’s get to it.

Saints at Falcons

Sorry Atlanta fans, I officially have no sympathy for your team after they refused to trade Tony Gonzalez (one of my all time favorite players) to a contender before this ship officially sunk (and I’d call losing to a 1-8 team 41-28 and dropping to 2-8 officially sinking). Meanwhile, the Saints narrowly avoided a home loss to the 49ers when the officials did what they do, and penalized the 49ers for not playing two hand touch with the QB. They are still on track for a first round bye, but have some tough games with the Seahawks and Panthers coming up. Obviously, they need to take care of business against a 2-8 team, and I think they will.

Saints 27
Falcons 20

Buccaneers at Lions

This is a must win game for the Lions. They appeared to have the division in hand when Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler both went down with injuries, but with Josh McCown playing well for the Bears and the Lions dropping their game last week to the Steelers, they really need to take care of business against the Bucs at home. The Bucs have won two in a row, but those were both at home. Now they must try to take their winning ways on the road. I think the key here is the Lions getting Reggie Bush enough touches to take some of the weight of the offense off of Matt Stafford and Calvin Johnson. The Bucs should keep this close, but I think the Lions will just have a little more fire power.

Buccaneers 24
Lions 27

Vikings at Packers

The Packers beat the Vikings 44-31 in Minnesota earlier this season, but that was before Aaron Rodgers went down. Now the Packers have lost three straight. They have been struggling to score the past couple of weeks, but they are at home this week and the Vikings don’t have the best defense in the world. However, the Vikings may be able to control the game with Adrian Peterson. Plus, even in their loss to the Seahawks last week they did a good job at containing their power run game. That will serve them well against Eddie Lacy this week. I’ll take the Vikings over the slumping Packers.

Vikings 23
Packers 17

Jaguars at Texans

Every week I pick the Texans to win because I think they have the better roster and every week they lose. So congrats Jags fans, you’ll probably win for sure because I’m picking the Texans to win AGAIN. Dear Gary Kubiak, please just leave Case Keenum in the game and utilize Andre Johnson and Ben Tate as much as possible. I bet you’ll be happy with the results.

Jaguars 16
Texans 23

Chargers at Chiefs

(Homer Alert) Well, I knew it would happen eventually. The Chiefs string of close wins finally was snapped. They hung around against Denver, but were never really a threat to get the win. The Chargers, on the other hand, looked like a playoff contender at 4-3, but have since dropped three straight. The Chargers would probably have preferred that the Chiefs had won, so that they might take them for granted, but fresh off a loss the Chiefs should be hungry to get back on the right track. Plus, the Chiefs have found ways to rattle Phillip Rivers at Arrowhead in the past. Shocking absolutely no one that has ever read my weekly predictions before, I’m taking the Chiefs.

Chargers 17
Chiefs 23

Panthers at Dolphins

If you read the opening take, you know I’m high on the Panthers. I’m not a huge fan of the Dolphins. I think it’s mainly Joe Philbin. I give him credit for pulling out a win last week despite all the distractions, but short of leading the Phins to the playoffs, I think he should keep his resume in order. Bottom line, I REALLY don’t like the Dolphins offensive line going up against the Panthers front seven. The Panthers will keep rolling.

Panthers 23
Dolphins 13

Steelers at Browns

If I asked you to name the defense allowing the lowest yards per play in the NFL, I’m guessing that the Browns wouldn’t have been your first guess. They are however, the correct answer. The Browns defense has been very good this season and I think Big Ben and company will find things a lot more difficult this week than they did last week against the Lions. If the Browns can simply not turn the ball over I think they should pull this one out at home.

Steelers 20
Browns 23

Bears at Rams

When we last saw the Rams they were blowing the doors off the Colts in Indianapolis. I think Jeff Fisher deserves a lot of credit for keeping the Rams believing after Sam Bradford went down. The Bears have been solid without Jay Cutler, but I think the Rams defense is on a mission. I think the Rams, at home, coming off their bye, will pull out a close one.

Bears 20
Rams 21

Jets at Ravens

Sometimes its best not to over think things. The Jets are 1-4 on the road and the Ravens are 3-1 at home. I’ll take those odds over the Jets flukey win every other game streak they have going. If Ray Rice officially snapped out of his funk last week, it could lead to the Ravens making a run. If I had to pick a team from the pack to win the final playoff spot in the AFC, I’d take the Ravens.

Jets 16
Ravens 20

Titans at Raiders

In a battle between Ryan Fitzpatrick and Matt McGloin it’s going to come down to who can run the ball better. Although Chris Johnson may be a much bigger name than Rashad Jennings, Jennings has been very good and has all by cemented himself as the feature back over former first round pick Darren McFadden. Plus, the Oakland run defense is better than the Titans’. Look for the Raiders to pull out a close game at home.

Titans 17
Raiders 20

Colts at Cardinals

How in the wide, wide, world of sports are you suppose to predict what the Colts will do each week when they have wins over the 49ers, Seahawks, and Broncos, but loses to the Dolphins, Chargers, and Rams? Then there’s the Cardinals, who may be the most under the radar team with a winning record in all the league. Do you realize they have the same record as the 49ers? I’m taking the Colts because my gut says they’re the better team and they’re 4-1 on the road this season, but I won’t be surprised at all if the Cardinals pull out another one.

Colts 27
Cardinals 23

Cowboys at Giants

Are the Giants really going to do this again? Don’t you feel like we’ve seen this show before? Counted out, left for dead, they get hot and squeak into the playoffs, and then go on to win it all. Surely that isn’t happening this year, right? I mean they haven’t exactly looked amazing in their four straight wins. So with Dallas coming to town, it’s probably the safe pick to take the Cowboys. I mean the Giants can’t possibly come back and win that division……or could they?

Cowboys 30
Giants 31

Broncos at Patriots

The Broncos beat up my beloved Chiefs on Sunday night and have bragging rights (and home field advantage) for the time being. The Broncos are in a brutal three game stretch, having to go on the road to New England between two games against the Chiefs. The bottom line in this game is that the Pats have just lost too much on defense to injuries to stop the high powered Denver offense. Plus, Peyton has so much more talent at WR than Brady it’s almost not fair. Look for Manning and company to keep rolling here and set up another huge game with KC next week.

Broncos 31
Patriots 24

49ers at Redskins

The 49ers may not look like the same team that made a Super Bowl run last season, but they’re still a better team than the Redskins. Both of these teams want to run the ball and will go out of their way to establish the run. The difference in these teams is that SF defends the pass MUCH better than the Skins do. Look for the 49ers defense to put some hits on RG3 and come away with a road win.

49ers 30
Redskins 20

Now let’s move on to the Armchair Quarterback odds and ends of the week…….