NFL Week 12 Contenders: Consider Browns, Vikings, Eagles
Lorenzo Reyes went 2-1 as a pick last week and is ready to carry that energy into Week 12.
Week 12 of the 2025 NFL season is projected to be the least appealing week on this year’s schedule, but the biggest gains often come from the lowest expectations.
Thursday night’s game between the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans was considered a matchup between the perennial division champions when it was set. It’s now a combination of two teams hoping to secure a wild-card spot, even as Houston tries to get through the next game without injured QB CJ Stroud.
What appears to be Sunday’s top contest also has a large asterisk. Is QB Aaron Rodgers a good fit for Steelers vs. Bears? Will running back Josh Jacobs be available for the Minnesota Vikings’ visit to the Green Bay Packers? Could QB Joe Burrow make a surprise return when the Cincinnati Bengals host the New England Patriots?
What is certain is that Cleveland Browns rookie QB Shedur Sanders will make his first regular season start against the Raiders in Las Vegas. One thing that’s fairly certain is that the .500 Kansas City Chiefs need to beat the first-place Indianapolis Colts to keep their postseason hopes alive.
Rounding out the primetime schedule, the Los Angeles Rams, arguably the top team in the league, host fellow division-leading Tampa Bay Bucs on Sunday night. The Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers will face off in Silicon Valley on Monday, a game with big playoff implications for both teams.
How do the chips fall? USA TODAY Sports’ NFL expert panel thinks:
(Odds provided by BetMGM)
NFL Week 12 Picks, Predictions, Odds
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