{"id":375,"date":"2009-09-07T11:51:04","date_gmt":"2009-09-07T15:51:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.broadstreetbelievers.com\/?p=375"},"modified":"2009-09-08T13:58:06","modified_gmt":"2009-09-08T17:58:06","slug":"brys-week-by-week-nfl-preview-week-twelve","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/?p=375","title":{"rendered":"Bry’s Week-by-Week NFL Preview: Week Twelve"},"content":{"rendered":"

Week Eleven<\/a> saw the AFC’s elite separate themselves from the pack (Steelers 10-0, Patriots 9-1), while the NFC’s elite still haven’t shown themselves (six teams at 7-3, plus two more, including the Eagles at 6-4).\u00a0 The western divisions seem pretty bad again this year, as no team in either western division is above .500.\u00a0 Parity continue to reign in the NFL through 10 games, but maybe Week Twelve will answer some questions.\u00a0 (As always, winners in CAPS.)<\/p>\n

Thursday, November 26 (Thanksgiving Day):<\/strong>
\n12:30 – GREEN BAY (7-3) at Detroit (1-9)
\nYou would think that, since they play on this day every year, that there would be some sort of advantage for the Lions playing a 12:30 game on Thanksgiving, at home.\u00a0 But, they never <\/em>win this game, and recently it hasn’t even been that close.\u00a0 Oh, and for the record, do not take this game away from Detroit–as bad as they are, it is nice to have traditions, and watching the Lions lose and rooting for whoever plays the Cowboys is one of the better sports traditions we have going–don’t take that away.<\/p>\n

4:15 – Oakland (5-5) at DALLAS (7-3)
\nThe Cowboys get the Raiders on Thanksgiving Day.\u00a0 This may actually be a pretty interesting game to fall asleep on the couch to.\u00a0 But, in the end, I think the Cowboys are too good to lose to the Raiders at home.\u00a0 Over\/under 2.5 punts that hit the scoreboard in this one.<\/p>\n

8:20 – New York Giants (7-3) at DENVER (4-6)
\nI’m not sure I really like this nightime Thanksgiving game, but who really cares what I think, right?\u00a0 Either way, I think this might be a tough spot for the G-men.\u00a0 The Broncos are, despite being, well, bad, are only a game out of the division lead and still have hope.\u00a0 Plus, I can imagine that a great fan base like Denver would really “come to play” on Thanksgiving night and give the home team a boost.\u00a0 I like the Broncos to pull the mild upset at home.<\/p>\n

Sunday November 29:<\/strong>
\n1:00 – Miami (4-6) at BUFFALO (5-5)
\nMaybe the last gasp for one of these teams, I think the Bills should win this game at home.\u00a0 The fans could be riled up, knowing that their team goes to Toronto next week and Buffalo in late November is never good to the guys from South Florida, even though they have had 10 days to prepare.\u00a0 The Bills should stay in the playoff mix with a home win this week.<\/p>\n

1:00 – Seattle (5-5) at ST. LOUIS (2-8)
\nThis is a game that the Seahawks really should win, but I do not think that they will.\u00a0 First of all, it’s a 1:00 start for a West Coast team.\u00a0 Second of all, I don’t think that a Spagnuolo-coached team will quit (at least this early in the season).\u00a0 There should still be some fight left in the Rams, so I like them to pull off the mild upset here at home.<\/p>\n

1:00 – Washington (7-3) at PHILADELPHIA (6-4)
\nThe Redskins, who were the only NFC team at 7-2 drop their second straight and are in serious playoff jeopardy now.\u00a0 It might be another late-season swoon for the Skins.\u00a0 While, the Eagles are starting to put it together.\u00a0 I actually expect the Birds to win this one handily, even though Washington has given them some trouble in recent years.<\/p>\n

1:00 – Tampa Bay (2-8) at ATLANTA (2-8)
\nThe surprising battle for last place in the NFC South features the Falcons?\u00a0 Well, the schedule’s circumstances have not been kind to the Falcons, but they are clearly not a 2-8 team.\u00a0 The Bucs, on the other hand, may be a 2-8 team.\u00a0 In Atlanta, this should be an easy win for the Falcons…unless they’ve quit.<\/p>\n

1:00 – Arizona (4-6) at TENNESSEE (5-5)
\nThis is a tough spot for the Titans, who have played 4 tough games in a row now, and this one on a short week.\u00a0 But, their defense, at home, should be able to stop the Cardinals (who are getting hot at the right time again).\u00a0 I like the Titans, at home, especially at 1:00<\/p>\n

1:00 – INDIANAPOLIS (6-4) at Houston (6-4)
\nNo passing of the torch yet.\u00a0 The Colts should go into Houston and remind the Texans who has been the class of this division for a decade.\u00a0 The Colts are coming off a tough, physical win in Baltimore, but the Texans are working on a short week after an emotional win over Tennessee on Monday Night.\u00a0 I like Peyton Manning to win this game himself.<\/p>\n

1:00 – CLEVELAND (3-7) at Cincinnati (2-8)
\nThe Bengals have quit on Marvin.\u00a0 The Browns are still playing hard for Mangini.\u00a0 I think the Browns can go into Cincinnati and win.<\/p>\n

1:00 – Chicago (5-5) at MINNESOTA (7-3)
\nAnother tough loss for the Bears, who had just turned around their season after an 0-3 start.\u00a0 But, this is a tough spot.\u00a0 I wonder about the Vikings and the endurance of their quarterback by this point, but their defense is good enough to slow the Bears and AP could run all over their slightly overrated defense.<\/p>\n

1:00 – CAROLINA (7-3) at New York Jets (2-8)
\nThe Panthers have ten days to prepare for the Jets and should be able to run the ball down their throats.\u00a0 I do like the Jets defense, but it could be worn out by now and could give this game away in the second half.\u00a0 Plus, their offense is probably not going to put up more than 13 points or so.\u00a0 Take Carolina in a second half comeback win.<\/p>\n

4:05 – Kansas City (3-7) at SAN DIEGO (5-5)
\nThis should do it for the Chiefs hopes, even in this bad division.\u00a0 It is about this time of year that the Chargers wake up and realize that they really do have to play these games to win them.\u00a0 They should start to take control of this division from here on out, and it starts this week against KC.<\/p>\n

4:05 – Jacksonville (5-5) at SAN FRANCISCO (5-5)
\nThey are starting to believe in San Fran right about now.\u00a0 A big game between two playoff contenders hands the Jags a tough loss out west.\u00a0 The Niners can smell the division and these are the games that division champs have to win.<\/p>\n

8:20 – Pittsburgh (10-0) at BALTIMORE (6-4)
\nIs there a scarier team for an undefeated Pittsburgh team to face than the overly proud, extremely physical, and horrifyingly hateful Ravens in their stadium in primetime?\u00a0 I say no.\u00a0 This is where the undefeated dream almost ended for the Patriots two years ago, and it is where it ends for the Steelers this year.\u00a0 The Ravens just hate the Steelers so much that this will be their Super Bowl.\u00a0 They win this game.\u00a0 Mark it down, as the Ravens are the only team to beat the Patriots this year and now the only team to beat the Steelers.<\/p>\n

Monday, November 30:
\n<\/strong>NEW ENGLAND (9-1) at New Orleans (6-4)
\nTake the over on this one.\u00a0 I like the Saints to score in the 30’s against the Pats on Monday Night, but I like the Pats to hit 40 or 50 against the Saints.\u00a0 There will not be many punts–there probably won’t even be many running plays, for that matter–in this one, as the Patriots should win the shootout and go to 10-1.<\/p>\n

To go to Week Thirteen, click here<\/a><\/p>\n

STANDINGS AFTER WEEK 12:<\/strong>
\nNFC EAST:
\n<\/strong>8-3\u00a0\u00a0 Dallas (1)
\n7-4\u00a0\u00a0 New York Giants (6)
\n7-4\u00a0\u00a0 Philadelphia
\n7-4\u00a0\u00a0 Washington<\/p>\n

NFC NORTH:<\/strong>
\n8-3\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Green Bay (5)
\n8-3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Minnesota (2)
\n5-6\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Chicago
\n1-10\u00a0 \u00a0Detroit<\/p>\n

NFC\u00a0SOUTH<\/strong>:
\n8-3\u00a0\u00a0 Carolina (3)
\n6-5\u00a0\u00a0 New Orleans
\n3-8\u00a0\u00a0 Atlanta
\n2-9\u00a0\u00a0 Tampa Bay<\/p>\n

NFC WEST:
\n<\/strong>6-5\u00a0\u00a0 San Francisco (4)
\n5-6\u00a0\u00a0 Seattle
\n4-7\u00a0\u00a0 Arizona
\n3-8\u00a0\u00a0 St. Louis<\/p>\n

AFC EAST:<\/strong>
\n10-1\u00a0 \u00a0New England (1)
\n6-5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Buffalo
\n4-7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Miami
\n2-9\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 N.Y. Jets<\/p>\n

AFC NORTH:<\/strong>
\n10-1 \u00a0\u00a0Pittsburgh (2)
\n7-4\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Baltimore (5)
\n4-7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cleveland
\n2-9\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cincinnati<\/p>\n

AFC SOUTH:<\/strong>
\n7-4\u00a0\u00a0 Indianapolis (3)
\n6-5\u00a0\u00a0 Houston
\n6-5\u00a0\u00a0 Tennessee (6)
\n5-6\u00a0\u00a0 Jacksonville<\/p>\n

AFC WEST:<\/strong>
\n6-5\u00a0\u00a0 San Diego (4)
\n5-6\u00a0\u00a0 Denver
\n5-6\u00a0\u00a0 Oakland
\n3-8\u00a0\u00a0 Kansas City<\/p>\n

PLAYOFF PICTURE AFTER WEEK 12:
\n<\/strong>*-I am going to pick winners (why not?)\u00a0up until the championship games.\u00a0 You can draw your own conclusions from there.\u00a0 And, since the playoffs can be a bit of a crapshoot, the picks for the playoffs will just based on how I’m feeling that day.<\/p>\n

NFC:
\n<\/strong>Just out:\u00a0 Philadelphia (7-4), Washington (7-4), New Orleans (6-5), Seattle (5-6)<\/p>\n

Wild Card Round<\/u>
\n#6\u00a0New York Giants (7-4) at #3 CAROLINA (8-3)
\n#5\u00a0GREEN BAY (8-3) at #4 San Francisco (6-5)<\/p>\n

Divisional Round<\/u>
\nGreen Bay at\u00a0#1\u00a0DALLAS (8-3)
\nCAROLINA \u00a0at\u00a0#2 Minnesota (8-3)<\/p>\n

NFC Championship<\/u>
\nCarolina at Dallas<\/p>\n

AFC:
\n<\/strong>Just out:\u00a0 Buffalo (6-5), Houston (6-5), Denver (5-6), Jacksonville (5-6), Oakland (5-6)<\/p>\n

Wild Card Round<\/u>
\n#6\u00a0Tennessee (6-5)\u00a0at #3 INDIANAPOLIS (7-4)
\n#5\u00a0Baltimore (7-4)\u00a0at #4 SAN DIEGO\u00a0(6-5)<\/p>\n

Divisional Round<\/u>
\nSan Diego at\u00a0#1 NEW ENGLAND\u00a0(10-1)
\nIndianapolis at\u00a0#2\u00a0PITTSBURGH (10-1)<\/p>\n

AFC Championship<\/u>
\nPittsburgh at New England<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Week Eleven saw the AFC’s elite separate themselves from the pack (Steelers 10-0, Patriots 9-1), while the NFC’s elite still haven’t shown themselves (six teams at 7-3, plus two more, including the Eagles at 6-4).\u00a0 The western divisions seem pretty … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[748],"class_list":["post-375","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nfl","tag-nfl-week-by-week-preview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/375","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=375"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/375\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=375"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=375"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=375"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}