Week 12 NFL Score Predictions

The NFL has an officiating problem and something needs to be done. In an era of sports betting scandals rocking professional and college sports, the league needs to have more oversight over penalties to prevent further damage to its reputation. Think about it, there are reviews for all scoring plays, turnovers, as well as multiple coaches challenges given to each team. Why can’t those challenges be used for penalties such as pass interference or holding?

The NBA does it with foul reviews – it’s time for the NFL to follow suit. I know there are people out there willing to believe any sports conspiracy, including the NFL being scripted. That’s BS and you know it. There are too many variables to script specific outcomes in the league. But there needs to be a way to counter arguments such as a pro-Chiefs bias, for example. Stop worrying about which international city should host the next game, NFL, fix your officiating first!

On to the Week 12 NFL score predictions after an 80% Week 11…

Last week: 12-3
2025-26 Season: 110-53-1 (67%)
2024-25 Regular Season: 180-92 (66%)
2024-25 Overall: 190-95 (69%)

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Interesting stretch for the Bills coming up with four of their next five games on the road. As of this writing, I’m not sure who is going to start at quarterback for the Texans with C.J. Stroud’s concussion issues still hampering his availability. But Buffalo’s defense has become a giant question mark due to injuries galore and I’m confident that Houston’s rock- solid defense can slow down Josh Allen some. Give me the home team in an upset on Thursday night to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Texans 23, Bills 20

I really don’t know what the Jets are doing by starting a journeyman QB, Tyrod Taylor, over Justin Fields. Sure, Fields has been a disappointment this year but do they really think Taylor can help win them more games? Or is this a method to further tank for a higher draft pick? Either way, I expect the Ravens to win their fifth straight game and be a lot more crisp on offense than they were in Cleveland.
Ravens 34, Jets 10

Six of the Bears ten games have been decided by one score. And in those games, Chicago is 5-1. They’re just finding ways to rally late and win these nail biters. Ben Johnson’s team is good but no threat to the NFC’s top teams, yet it’s hard to discount them as a potential playoff team. Expect another close one against Pittsburgh this week, but yet again, Chicago will find a way.
Bears 24, Steelers 19

Cincinnati’s playoff hopes are dead and gone so the loss of star receiver Ja’Marr Chase due to a suspension for spitting isn’t as painful. The Bengals’ defense is horrendous, so they aren’t beating New England as is. But remember one thing this week: Cincinnati’s other receiver, Tee Higgins, has a touchdown in nine straight home games. That’s a MUST BET again this weekend, especially with Chase out. New England continues their unexpected push for the AFC’s top seed.
Patriots 30, Bengals 22

After their losses this season, the Lions have won games by 31, 15, and 22 points. I would buy the spread up to 14+ this week and bet on Detroit’s offense getting back on track against a New York team, which although they’re playing hard, is very likely to be picking in the top-5 again next April. Start all of your Lions in fantasy football, including Jared Goff and David Montgomery this week.
Lions 33, Giants 16

Minnesota is going to have a big dilemma with J.J. McCarthy because he sure doesn’t look to be it. If I was the GM of the Vikings, you almost have to bring in a veteran to compete with McCarthy in 2026 as they did last year with Sam Darnold. The Vikings are going nowhere this season, as I predicted at the outset, and while the Packers are banged up and not showing a ton offensively lately, they’ll do enough to pick up their 7^th win on Sunday.
Packers 21, Vikings 17

We’ve now reached must win territory for the Chiefs, despite the fact that they’re likely to be favored in each of their last seven games. They probably need to win at least five of those contests to make the playoffs, starting this week against the 8-2 Colts who are coming off a bye week. Look for Kansas City’s defense to sell out and try to stop the NFL’s likely Offensive Player of the Year, Jonathan Taylor, while at the same time slicing and dicing the Colts defense. Patrick Mahomes and company will find a way to prevent the NFL’s ultimate nightmare, no Taylor Swift sightings come January.
Chiefs 31, Colts 24

If there was ever a team who should think about forfeiting games, this year’s Titans would be in the mix. They absolutely stink and #1 overall pick Cam Ward is somehow regressing. Coming off a disastrous four interception game in L.A., that his team almost won somehow, look for Sam Darnold to light up the Tennessee secondary. We also probably need to discuss at some point whether Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a top-3 NFL wide receiver talent-wise at this point. His 2025 numbers are incredible (72-1142-5) and a 2,000 yard receiving season is definitely in play.
Seahawks 28, Titans 10

Arizona coach Jonathan Gannon is very likely to be a casualty of Black Monday as one of the head coaches fired after the season. His team played incredibly undisciplined football and got wrecked on Sunday by the 49ers. Yet somehow backup QB Jacoby Brissett now holds the NFL record for completions in a game (47) after the garbage time play in Week 11. Make sure to ask your friends that trivia question in a few years…I have a feeling that we’ll all forget by then. Jacksonville is still hanging on to their playoff lives at 6-4, with road games this week and at Tennessee next week. If they can win both, they also have home games with the Jets and Titans on their schedule later this season. I would consider betting them to make the playoffs now even though the price is not ideal at -200 odds.
Jaguars 26, Cardinals 23

How can anyone pick a winner in this crap fest? Well, I’m assuming that Shedeur Sanders starts for the Browns, and if so, the Vegas defense will feast. Maybe he surprises all of us with a week of practice time, but I won’t be betting on it. This might be the only time this season that Geno Smith isn’t the worst QB on the field. Las Vegas needs to find Smith’s replacement ASAP. Either way, they’ll win this battle of bottom dwellers on Sunday.
Raiders 19, Browns 13

Dallas played a good game on Monday night coming off the bye week but don’t expect a repeat against an elite Philadelphia defense. The Eagles really need to figure out their passing game sooner or later, but playing one of the league’s worst secondaries might be the answer for Jalen Hurts and company. I don’t expect this game to come down to the final minutes as we saw in Week 1. The Eagles will assert their dominance and move to 9-2 atop the NFC.
Eagles 33, Cowboys 23

No Michael Penix Jr. No Drake London. Does that mean Atlanta will give Bijan Robinson 30+ touches to avoid watching Kirk Cousins and his weak group of receivers? If so, maybe the Falcons can win this game. But I’m done with Atlanta – coach Raheem Morris won’t make it to Year 3 and the team will continue its poor play against the lowly Saints on Sunday. New Orleans enters off a bye week and will do just enough to win this crap fest between the two NFC South bottom feeders.
Saints 20, Falcons 17

Fun matchup here between two likely high NFC playoff seeds. At 6-4 and having lost three of their last four games, some Bucs fans may be panicking now. Don’t be. Their schedule after this game softens tremendously to the point where I would be surprised if they didn’t win 10 or 11 games. But as for this week, the Rams are better and at home. Matthew Stafford hasn’t thrown an interception since Week 3, and unless Tampa Bay can force multiple turnovers, I have a hard time seeing them pull the upset. Los Angeles should be the NFC’s #2 seed, if not higher, come January.
Rams 31, Buccaneers 25

I thought Carolina would be improved this season and at 6-5, they’re definitely that. But they’re so inconsistent from week-to-week…beating Green Bay at Lambeau Field, then losing at home to New Orleans. Make it make sense! In Week 12, there’s a fun angle of Christian McCaffrey against his former team, and the 49ers star running back should have a field day (night?) on Monday Night Football. San Francisco will be a dangerous team to face in the playoffs if their offense remains healthy.
49ers 30, Panthers 20

Back later this week with Week 13 CFB thoughts…