Thursday, November 26, 2015

2015 NFL Week 12 Preview


Philadelphia Eagles vs. Detroit Lions
Thursday November 26, 2015 12:30pm
FOX -- Joe Buck, Troy Aikman
Ford Field, Detroit, MI

The Lions are coming off consecutive wins after the bye week, so it appears they may have responded to the recent changes that have occurred in their organization. The wins over the Packers and Raiders haven't necessarily been overwhelming though, so they still seem to be a struggling football team who will not see this year's postseason. That will call into question whether Jim Caldwell should keep his job in the upcoming offseason. After the Eagles' overtime win against the Cowboys, the Eagles were provided with a golden opportunity to ride into this Thanksgiving game on a three game winning streak. Instead, they lost to the Dolphins and Buccaneers at home, and now they have given the Cowboys hope in passing them in the division standings fairly soon. So Chip Kelly's job will also be called into question soon.

Philadelphia Eagles 17 Detroit Lions 20

Cam Newton will be looking to celebrate touchdowns on Thanksgiving
Day.
Carolina Panthers vs. Dallas Cowboys
Thursday November 26, 2015 4:30pm
CBS -- Jim Nantz, Phil Simms
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX

This game now has the makings of a great football game with the return of Tony Romo. The Cowboys only sit two games back of the first place Giants in the division, so things aren't bleak for the Cowboys like analysts were making it seem during their losing streak. They're certainly talented enough to get a home win against the Panthers. The Panthers are a legit football team, and have honestly looked a little better than the defending champion Patriots in their 10-0 start. Their defense is playing great and Cam Newton is making sound decisions and accurate throws. Still, I think this is the game the Panthers get their first lost, and where the Cowboys make a statement to the Giants.

Carolina Panthers 23 Dallas Cowboys 24

Brett Favre will enjoy Thanksgiving Day in Lambeau Field by having
his number retired in a halftime ceremony.
Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers
Thursday November 26, 2015 8:30pm
NBC -- Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth
Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI

The Bears narrowly lost to the Broncos in their last game, and late game execution was spotty. I believe the Bears have virtually no shot at winning this game, especially since the Packers are retiring the number of Brett Favre on this holiday. It should be a great evening overall in Green Bay, and the Packers have appeared to bounce back from their midseason swoon. On a positive note for the Bears, they're not as bad as people might have thought they would be.

Chicago Bears 13 Green Bay Packers 30

New York Giants vs. Washington Redskins
Sunday November 29, 2015 1:00pm
FOX -- Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston
FedEx Field, Landover, MD

The Giants, along with the Saints, Steelers and Browns, were the last teams to get their bye week. The Giants came off a crushing loss to the defending champion Patriots in which their late game execution was once again questioned. The Giants cannot afford to suffer another lapse in late game execution. Out of their five losses this season, their Monday night blowout loss against the Eagles a month ago is the only game in which they didn't have a fourth quarter lead. The Giants have put themselves in position to win, yet have not seized the opportunity. There's only six games left for them now, and they have manageable games and victories ahead, despite the analysts believing they don't. The Giants should start by getting this victory here, and you can trust Eli Manning to do so against the Redskins.

New York Giants 30 Washington Redskins 20

Miami Dolphins vs. New York Jets
Sunday November 29, 2015 1:00pm
CBS -- Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

After seeing the Jets handle the Dolphins easily in London at the beginning of October, you would've thought the Jets were far superior to the Dolphins. The Dolphins are still 4-6, and have not really been able to beat good teams despite their coaching change after the first game against the Jets. The Jets should be desperate at this point, as they're not playing well and going into this game at 5-5 after getting off to a 4-1 start. The secondary for the Jets is pretty expensive, but have not necessarily been a lockdown unit. Muhammad Wilkerson is also seeking a long term deal. His effort must be consistent if he wants that. He certainly deserves it, but this stretch run will test the Jets will.

Miami Dolphins 16 New York Jets 20

Oakland Raiders vs. Tennessee Titans
Sunday November 29, 2015 1:00pm
CBS -- Greg Gumbel, Trent Green
LP Field, Nashville, TN

The Raiders are now in a slide, and this could be the low point if they lose to the Titans here. I think it's very possible, as Derek Carr is still a young quarterback. The Titans, though, aren't really good at home, having not registered a home win yet so far this season. Their two wins have come on the road, so there is a chance for the Raiders. Still, I think this is a big opportunity for the Titans to give their home fans a good win. I think Mariota will be able to pull it out.

Oakland Raiders 13 Tennessee Titans 16

Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday November 29, 2015 1:00pm
CBS -- Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO

The Bills are coming off a weird loss to the Patriots, but they've been playing decent football. The Chiefs have been rolling ever since they lost to the Vikings roughly a month ago. Looking ahead in their schedule, the Chiefs could really win the rest of their games. The hardest game they have on their schedule is this game. They have the Raiders twice and the Ravens on the road, but both teams aren't good this year. The Chiefs did have a brutal schedule in the beginning, playing the Broncos, Packers, Bengals and Vikings in their first six games. The Chiefs will keep things going and get a win here.

Buffalo Bills 20 Kansas City Chiefs 24

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Indianapolis Colts
Sunday November 29, 2015 1:00pm
FOX -- Dick Stockton, Matt Millen
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN

Both teams scored impressive road wins in their last game, but the Buccaneers were certainly the surprise of Week 11. They easily routed the Eagles, especially after the Eagles scored first. It appeared the Eagles' good start would build momentum for themselves throughout the rest of the game, but the Buccaneers just rolled from that point going forward. Rookie Jameis Winston had five touchdowns, and they really embarrassed the Eagles at the Linc. I believe the Buccaneers will play well again and come up with another road victory.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24 Indianapolis Colts 21

New Orleans Saints vs. Houston Texans
Sunday November 29, 2015 1:00pm
FOX -- Joe Davis, David Diehl
NRG Stadium, Houston, TX

The Texans are now looking to get on a roll after getting blown out by the Dolphins a month ago. They have won three in a row, and have all of a sudden vaulted into the thick of the AFC South division race, in addition to vying for a playoff spot. They play the Bills in Buffalo next week, so a win here would raise the stakes for that game. The Saints, on the other hand, are probably just hoping the firing of Rob Ryan can jumpstart their atrocious defense. The Saints really have to figure out their problems on defense as an organization. They fired Steve Spagnuolo back in 2012 after the Saints' defense was historically bad. Ryan was able to come in and do well, but now they're back to being historically bad.

New Orleans Saints 17 Houston Texans 30

Minnesota Vikings vs. Atlanta Falcons
Sunday November 29, 2015 1:00pm
FOX -- Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch
Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA

The Vikings are looking to get back to winning after disappointing at home in a big division game against the Packers. They had an opportunity to remain in first place and pull two games ahead, but the Packers got back to being the team they're expected to be at the right time. The Falcons have some bad losses after starting 5-0. They now appear to be falling out of it, and I think the Vikings will keep them in their misery.

Minnesota Vikings 24 Atlanta Falcons 17

St. Louis Rams vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday November 29, 2015 1:00pm
FOX -- Thom Brennaman, Charles Davis
Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, OH

It remains to be seen whether Case Keenum will play in this one after banging his head hard on the turf late in their loss to the Ravens. I don't think it really matters whether Keenum or Nick Foles play. The Bengals must be boiling hot after losing two straight. The Bengals will get back on track in this one, and the score will probably dictate how angry the Bengals are in their performance the past two games.

St. Louis Rams 10 Cincinnati Bengals 30

San Diego Chargers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Sunday November 29, 2015 1:00pm
CBS -- Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots
EverBank Field, Jacksonville, FL

I wouldn't have thought the Chargers would be this bad, but they are one of the worst teams in the league. Things started off fairly decent, getting off to a 2-2 start. They competed very well against the Packers a month ago, with Philip Rivers throwing for 500 yards in the narrow loss in Lambeau Field. More narrow losses followed, and it has been baffling to most NFL analysts and experts. A blowout loss at home to the Chiefs has cemented that changes will be needed for the Chargers to compete. The offseason saw Rivers and Eli Manning get lucrative deals. Manning was criticized a lot for his deal, but there wasn't much chatter about Rivers. Manning has outplayed Rivers this year, and the Chargers' defense hasn't gotten worse over the course of the season.

San Diego Chargers 13 Jacksonville Jaguars 20

Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers
Sunday November 29, 2015 4:05pm
FOX -- Chris Myers, Ronde Barber
Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, CA

There's so much drama coming from the 49ers, with a lot of analysts and experts predicting Colin Kaepernick will not be back with the 49ers next season. Blaine Gabbert is the quarterback for now, and that is enough for me to pick the Cardinals. The Cardinals are now distinguishing themselves as the second best team in the NFC behind the undefeated Panthers. The Cardinals' defense is getting the job done, and Carson Palmer has been a steadying force. This is also the site of Super Bowl 50, so the Cardinals may want to try and get familiar with the grass in this stadium.

Arizona Cardinals 41 San Francisco 49ers 14

The Steelers will need Ben Roethlisberger to be healthy in this one and
for the remainder of the season for the Steelers to make a playoffs run.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Seattle Seahawks
Sunday November 29, 2015 4:25pm
CBS -- Jim Nantz, Phil Simms
CenturyLink Field, Seattle, WA

This is the final game of the three game home stretch for the Seahawks, and they're looking to end it at 2-1. The Seahawks sit at 5-5, but the NFC has been weak this year, so they can certainly acquire a playoff spot even if they do not win the division. The Steelers are still looking to win the AFC North division as well, but they are two games behind the Bengals. They can acquire a Wild Card spot as well, but there's a good amount of competition for those two spots. The Chiefs are surging, and looking at their schedule, should certainly continue their surge. The Jets, Bills, Texans and Colts are still in it. The Texans or Colts will win the division, so there's three teams for the remaining Wild Card spot. The Steelers can do themselves a favor by winning here. I don't think they will.

Pittsburgh Steelers 20 Seattle Seahawks 23

Brock Osweiler will get his second straight start in the national spotlight
against Tom Brady and the undefeated Patriots.
New England Patriots vs. Denver Broncos
Sunday November 29, 2015 8:30pm
NBC -- Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth
Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, CO

Brock Osweiler will start for the second straight game, which means we won't get to see a Tom Brady-Peyton Manning matchup here. That's a good thing because Manning has looked awful this year, and unless he does something different with his body, specifically his arm, he should definitely retire. Reports have it that Manning wants to play in 2016. He just isn't able to put the same mustard on his passes like he used to, which means he's been relegated to underneath throws. Defenses have game planned for those throws, and it was quite evident in the game against the Chiefs when he was benched. However, I think the Patriots get their first loss here. The Broncos defense is terrific, and the Patriots aren't necessarily dominant despite being 10-0.

New England Patriots 20 Denver Broncos 23

Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns
Monday November 30, 2015 8:30pm
ESPN -- Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden
FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, OH

There was some hope for the Browns to be decent, but poor quarterback play once again has them at 2-8. The Ravens' poor play this season has been one of the surprises this season, as John Harbaugh has always had his team prepared to play well. They have lost Joe Flacco to a torn ACL, so they have now lost all of their best players. Terrell Suggs, Steve Smith, Justin Forsett and now Flacco are done for the season, so I don't expect the Ravens to come in and beat the Browns in Cleveland. It doesn't sound like a difficult thing to do, but it is now with all of their missing players.

Baltimore Ravens 6 Cleveland Browns 10

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