NFL Week 12: Trends which will decide each game

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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – NOVEMBER 22: Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints carries the ball in for a touchdown as Deion Jones #45 of the Atlanta Falcons fails to make the tackle in the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 22, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

New Orleans Saints (8-2) at Denver Broncos (4-6), 4:05 pm

Saints: Sean Payton’s club heads to the Mile High City for the first time since 2012. The Saints’ defense has played better as of late as the secondary struggled early in the season. The team has allowed one TD pass in its last three games. New Orleans’ defenders allowed two-plus touchdown passes in each of their first seven outings.

Broncos: After a slow start last week, quarterback Drew Lock was solid in the win over Miami. More impressive was the 1-2 punch of running backs Phillip Lindsay and Melvin Gordon as Denver rolled up 189 yards on the ground vs. the Dolphins’ defense. Vic Fangio’s club takes on the league’s second-ranked run defense in the visiting Saints.

San Francisco 49ers (4-6) at Los Angeles Rams (7-3), 4:05 pm

49ers: Kyle Shanahan’s well-rested club looks to sweep their division rival from Los Angeles for the second straight year. But the reigning NFC champions are currently riding a three-game losing streak and have allowed a combined 98 points in those setbacks. In the team’s six losses this season, the 49ers have allowed 31.7 points per contest.

Rams: The club’s fearsome-at-times defense was on full display on Monday night as the team won at Tampa Bay. But Sean McVay’s club remains inconsistent and some of it has to do with the team’s penchant for mistakes. It’s worth noting that in 26 games dating back to 2019, the club has an equal amount of takeaways and turnovers (39).

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