NFL: Week 12 Predictions

My 2009 NFL Record: 91-54 (62.7%)

The Marquee Matchups

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4) @ Baltimore Ravens (5-5)

You’ll find it very hard to find a better rivalry game than this. You certainly won’t find a more physical, more violent game than when the Steelers and Ravens hook up. The Steelers and Ravens met 3 times last year, with the Steelers winning all 3, including a 23-14 win in the AFC Championship game.

The stakes are a little different this time around though, with both teams just fighting for a playoff spot. And Ben Roethlisberger, who suffered a minor concussion last week at Kansas City is not expected to play. Even without Roethlisberger, the Steelers will still present a difficult challenge for the Ravens. The Steelers come in to this game with the top ranked defense and a defense that confused Ravens QB Joe Flacco all of last year (1 TD, 5 INTs, 45% completions and 10 sacks in 3 games).

The way I see it, the Steelers don’t run the ball well enough (17^th in rushing yards) to win a game on the road in a hostile environment. Losing backup QB Charlie Batch last week just compounded the problem… the Steelers will be forced to start rookie Dennis Dixon, who has thrown 1 pass in his career.

The Ravens will come out in a close, defensive battled.

My Prediction: Steelers 10, Ravens 14

New England Patriots (7-3) @ New Orleans Saints (10-0)

The game of the year. Tom Brady vs. Drew Brees. Bill Belichick vs. Sean Payton. A team chasing regular season perfection against a team that achieved regular season perfection two years ago.

Let’s start with the offenses. The Saints rank 1^st in point scored; the Patriots 3^rd. The Saints rank 1^st in total offense; the Patriots right behind at 2^nd. The two teams do it slightly differently however. The Patriots do it mostly through the air with Tom Brady and co. 2^nd in the league in passing offense. Their run game is middle of the road (16^th), but they’ll need to mix that in to keep the Saints’ offense off the field as much as possible. The Saints feature a more balanced offensive attack, ranking 6^th in passing and 5^th in rushing.

I think the Patriots defense (2^nd in points, 7^th in yards) and turnover differential (+12) will prove to be critical in this game. The Saints are good in the turnover differential department as well (+10, 3^rd), but their defense has been mediocre, ranking 13^th in point allowed and 17^th in yards allowed. Factor in the Patriots decided edge in big game experience over the young Saints and I think the Patriots pull out a nail-biting victory, in what’s sure to be a raucous atmosphere.

My Prediction: Pats 34, Saints 31

The Rest of the Pack

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-9) @ Atlanta Falcons (5-5)

My Prediction: Bucs 3, Falcons 27

Miami Dolphins (5-5) @ Buffalo Bills (3-7)

My Prediction: Dolphins 21, Bills 10

Cleveland Browns (1-9) @ Cincinnati Bengals (7-3)

My Prediction: Browns 10, Bengals 34

Seattle Seahawks (3-7) @ St. Louis Rams (1-9)

My Prediction: Seahawks 10, Rams 14

Carolina Panthers (4-6) @ New York Jets (8-1)

My Prediction: Panthers 17, Jets 14

Washington Redskins (3-7) @ Philadelphia Eagles (6-4)

My Prediction: Redskins 10, Philadelphia 20

Indianapolis Colts (10-0) @ Houston Texans (5-5)

My Prediction: Colts 23, Texans 20

Kansas City Chiefs (3-7) @ San Diego Chargers (7-3)

My Prediction: Chiefs 7, San Diego 24

Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4) @ San Francisco 49ers (4-6)

My Prediction: Jags 14, 49ers 17

Arizona Cardinals (7-3) @ Tennessee Titans (4-6)

My Prediction: Cardinals 20, Titans 27

Chicago Bears (4-6) @ Minnesota Vikings (9-1)

My Prediction: Bears 14, Vikings 38