NFL Week 12 is loaded with anticipated matchups, including a couple awesome Thanksgiving day games and heated divisional rivalry clashes.
With another action-packed week of games starting on Thursday, it’s time to shine the spotlight on the contests that will have the biggest impacts around the league.
Carolina Panthers (10-0) vs. Dallas Cowboys (3-7)
The Dallas Cowboys play host to the undefeated Carolina Panthers at 4:30 p.m. ET on Thanksgiving afternoon when Tony Romo and gang will try to build on a 24-14 win during his return from injury.
However, the Cowboys will be tasked with attempting to dismantle and outperform a team against which no other has secured the upper hand. Knowing that he and the team face a daunting opponent, Romo pointed out the Cowboys have beaten undefeated teams in the past.
And, an interesting tidbit of information heading into this turkey-day feast is that Las Vegas oddsmakers may have started tipping champagne early because the Panthers are two-point underdogs.
Say what? Carolina coach Ron Rivera doesn’t understand that.
“It is a little disrespectful, I guess. But apparently they know something we don’t. We are just going to prepare and get ourselves ready for Thursday. We’ll show up.”
The oddsmakers are probably taking into consideration that Romo sports a 6-2 record on the Thanksgiving Day games he has started.
Dallas’ 20th-ranked offense will be challenged by Carolina’s stout fourth-ranked defense combined with Cam Newton, who is playing some ridiculously awesome football this season. Plus, the Panthers boast a 10.8-point average margin of victory.
There won’t be much room for error on Dallas’ side come Thursday.
Prediction: Panthers 35, Cowboys 30
Chicago Bears (4-6) vs. Green Bay Packers (7-3)
The NFC North franchises have faced each other 191 times since 1921. Until this season, though, the two teams had never met on Thanksgiving Day.
Of the team’s 191 games, the Chicago Bears lead the Green Bay Packers 93-92-6. But since 2010, the Bears have only manged to win two of 12 meetings. Considering the current status of each team, the Packers are heavily favored to win.
Although the Packers have had a few head-scratching moments this season, including a slip-up vs. the Detroit Lions just two games ago. Because of that inconsistency, let’s not completely discount the Bears entering Thursday’s game.
Should Chicago’s sweet-and-sour offense led by Jay Cutler manage a win, it would rock the division and make Green Bay vulnerable to falling behind the Minnesota Vikings.
The Bears (and Lions) serve as a spoiler team in the division and can mess with the Packers (and Vikings) status within the NFC North.
Prediction: Packers 31, Bears 20
New York Giants (5-5) vs. Washington Redskins (4-6)
The New York Giants currently hold a one-game advantage in the the NFC East over Washington and the Philadelphia Eagles. To create a little more separation, the G-Men will be looking to defeat a team that has encountered major ups and downs this season.
Should New York lose while Philadelphia and Dallas win, all four NFC East teams will be in playoff contention after this weekend.
On Sunday at FedEx Field, Kirk Cousins will try to exploit the NFL’s worst-ranked pass defense. As for the Giants passing game, Eli Manning will be much more challenged against Washington’s defense that has allowed an average of only 234 passing yards per outing.
Each team has the ability to post a fabulous game then follow it up with a stinker, and vice versa. According to the odds, New York is a two-point favorite.
Prediction: Giants 30, Washington 24
Minnesota Vikings (7-3) vs. Atlanta Falcons (6-4)
Minnesota will attempt to shake off last Sunday’s loss to Green Bay and vent the lingering frustrations on the mistake-prone Atlanta Falcons in Week 12.
Overall, the Vikings have looked sharper than the Falcons, who have made bad decisions on the field as well as some questionable coaching calls. Atlanta needs to move past a three-game stretch that consisted of two embarrassing home losses and a road loss to Blaine Gabbert and the San Francisco 49ers.
Between Minnesota’s feisty ground attack and a defense that has allowed the third-fewest points per game, Atlanta will have its work cut out on Sunday. Granted, Matt Ryan Co. have averaged nearly 400 yards.
Since the Vikings and Falcons represent the two Wild Card teams, Sunday’s contest will be a race to see which franchise can take another step toward securing a playoff spot.
Prediction: Vikings 20, Falcons 17
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-5) vs. Indianapolis Colts (5-5)
Who would have guessed these teams would share the same record after 10 games? The Tampa Bay Buccaneers already have three more wins than last season, but the once-dominant Indianapolis Colts are tied with the Houston Texans in the AFC South.
As for the Bucs, Jameis Winston recently put on a star-studded five-touchdown performance, and the team has won four of its last six games to move one game behind Atlanta for the final Wild Card spot.
The Colts have been successful with Matt Hasselbeck (3-0) filling in for Andrew Luck, who has sustained a multitude of injuries this season. However, Indianapolis’ 27th-ranked defense is going to be challenged stopping Winston and Doug Martin, who exploded for 235 rushing yards last week.
Indy’s secondary grabbed three interceptions from the Falcons, but Winston has thrown just eight picks this season. The Colts will have to pressure the rookie into making mistakes.
Both teams need a victory to stay in the playoff race, so it should be a close game this Sunday.
Prediction: Buccaneers 28, Colts 24
New England Patriots (10-0) vs. Denver Broncos (8-2)
What was supposed to be a game pitting Hall of Fame quarterbacks against each other has turned into a chance for the young Brock Osweiler to end the New England Patriots perfect season on Sunday Night Football.
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In his starting debut, Osweiler avoided major mistakes and achieved his first official win. Granted, the victory can be attributed to Denver’s No. 1-ranked defense that has limited opponents to 18.3 points per game.
Tom Brady and Co. are going to be challenged Sunday evening. The Patriots’ loss of Julian Edelman has become rather apparent, and the team has struggled to sustain drives. Brady showed obvious signs of frustration against the Buffalo Bills in a low-scoring contest last week.
With the Broncos defense yielding only 190.6 passing yards per game, Brady will face the most challenging secondary of the season. New England’sdefense will need to disrupt Osweiler and shut down the Broncos’ middling ground game.
While both teams are destined for the playoffs, it would be quite the accomplishment if an Osweiler-led Broncos knocked the Patriots off of their perch.
Prediction: Patriots 20, Broncos 17