NFL Week 12 preview

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)

Last year, these two teams met in the Wild Card Round. This year, they're a combined 6-14, and going nowhere. Jacksonville fell apart down the stretch against the Steelers, and their playoff hopes have evaporated. The Bills were impressive last week against the Jets, but impressive isn't a word that really should be used too often in conjunction with Buffalo. Matt Barkley was good against New York, but he's not the answer at quarterback. The question with Jacksonville is, as always, what can Blake Bortles be? If the Jaguars believed in Bortles at all, they'd have let him try to win the game on offense against the Steelers. Instead, the Jags went ultra-conservative late and paid dearly for it. The Jags are injured all over the place, but with Leonard Fournette back, they look like a better team. That said, losing here wouldn't be bad for them, as they could add another high-impact player somewhere on the field, though probably not at quarterback, much to their fans' chagrin.

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)

The Bengals have to be kicking themselves after blowing a lead and losing to Baltimore. A loss here would make the AFC North basement a real possibility this season and just about end the Bengals' playoff chances. Andy Dalton was good, but not good enough. Perhaps the most alarming part of the loss was the fact that the Bengals couldn't find a way to force Lamar Jackson into more passing situations, as he gashed them for over 100 yards on the ground. Cleveland's Baker Mayfield doesn't present that same kind of threat with his legs, but he has great footwork and is considerably further along than Jackson as a passer. The Browns had a bye week to rest on their laurels after beating Atlanta and doubtless would like a victory to both improve their chances of escaping the basement and just to stack some wins, given the incredible lack of actual on-field success the franchise has had of late. Strangely, despite the mediocre records involved, this game has the potential to be fun. 

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)

The Pats had a week to stew after a humiliating loss to Tennessee, and now it's likely that the Jets will serve as the target for all that frustration, even with the game in New Jersey. The Titans had the recipe to beat New England down pat: get to Tom Brady and make him uncomfortable, and hammer the Patriots physically. That's easier said than done, of course, and not every team has the Titans' talent level on defense. The Jets have also had an extra week to try and process the humiliation of their loss to the Bills, though no one expects them to bounce back, no matter who plays quarterback. Josh McCown did not exactly perform up to snuff last week and looked every bit his age. The Jets had no answers for Matt Barkley, so why would they have any for Brady? This game should be a good barometer for whether or not Tennessee was a blip on the radar for New England or whether Bill Belichick and his staff should be genuinely concerned. The rest of the AFC will be watching closely.

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)

Philly's Super Bowl hangover is officially a crisis, as the Eagles got pummeled by the Saints and are in danger of falling into the NFC East cellar alongside the Giants if they lose this game. New York's offense has shown gradual but steady improvement the last two weeks, but it's certainly going to be too little too late in terms of a playoff push. Not that the G-Men or their fans probably want one, at this point. Production without wins is the best scenario for New York. Philadelphia has higher aspirations, and as mediocre as it is, a win would keep Philly right in the thick of things in the division. The Eagles still get Washington twice this season, and more than anything, they need to establish some consistency. Two out of their next three are at home, and all are against divisional opponents. A three-game winning streak could vault them back into first place in the division, so it's time for Carson Wentz to start playing like an MVP again.

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)

This game is one of several that doesn't have much to offer as far as stakes go. Neither team is going anywhere, and both teams would likely rather fall to the bottom of the standings than move up. San Francisco, at least, knows it has a quarterback — or at least thinks so — in the form of Jimmy Garoppolo. If the Niners draft high, they'll likely take the best player available. Tampa Bay probably isn't so sure, at this point. Ryan Fitzpatrick isn't the man, Jameis Winston has shown no sign of taking over the position, and while the Bucs lead the league in offensive yards, they are only eighth in points. Tampa's problem has been the turnover, with 29, most in the league this year. To compound the problem, the defense is second-worst in the NFL at forcing turnovers. The Bucs have racked up 500 or more yards of offense in five of their games this season yet are only 1-4 in those games. The only game they played with a plus turnover differential this year? Their Week 1 win over the Saints. Figures.

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)

You could have passed off the Panthers' loss in Pittsburgh as a predictable outcome. They were on the road, on a short week, and Ron Rivera didn't seem concerned by their performance. A loss to Detroit, even on the road, was more troubling. Cam Newton threw three touchdowns, but they weren't enough, and more alarmingly, the Lions were able to run the ball against the Panthers' front seven. Seattle got the drop on the Packers last Thursday night, thanks in large measure to the inept coaching of Mike McCarthy late in the game. A Seahawks loss would clinch the NFC West for the Rams, but a playoff berth is still within their reach, especially if they can get a win. This game is pretty simple in terms of dynamics. If Seattle can get its league-best running game going, it should be able to dictate terms to the Panthers. Carolina is a different team at home than on the road, though, and one presumes that Newton and Christian McCaffrey will be much more effective in Charlotte.

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)

Baltimore kept its season alive, functionally speaking, with a gut-check win over the Bengals. The reward is a Raiders team that has been mostly incompetent all season, yet somehow managed a win over the Cardinals last week. Oakland's largely undisciplined, uninspired play should be a tonic for the Ravens, who have slogged through some truly difficult battles, win or lose, in the AFC North. Derek Carr was only average in last week's win, but this game's outcome could hinge on whether or not the Ravens get steady quarterback play from whomever suits up under center. Lamar Jackson was a boon to Baltimore's running game, even though he was up and down as a passer, and did enough in the end to get a crucial win. Joe Flacco sat out practice Wednesday, and if he can't go, Jackson will try to get his first winning streak established. If he does play and wins again, even against lower-end competition, it might spell the beginning of the end of the Flacco Era in Baltimore. 

Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET (FOX)

Los Angeles' loss to Denver was one of the most disappointing performances of Week 11, and it cost L.A. a chance this week to pull into a tie with the Chiefs. The Chargers need to get back on the horse in a hurry, because the division is still not lost. Arizona should be a nice helper in that direction, as the Cardinals were unable to muster up enough of an effort to beat even the hapless Raiders. The Chargers' defense betrayed them at the wrong times against Denver, and turnovers were also their enemy. Aside from that, many of the elements that have made them a serious contender all year were still in evidence. Melvin Gordon was productive, Keenan Allen had a good game, and even the ageless Antonio Gates posted five catches for 80 yards. Against Josh Rosen, the Chargers' seventh-ranked defense should be able to tee off early and often, as Rosen has experienced more than his fair share of growing pains so far this season. 

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)

The Steelers got revenge over Jacksonville, and Ben Roethlisberger threw a few pointed barbs at the Jaguars' secondary after the game — and that was after he threw a few perfect passes to bring the Steelers back in the fourth quarter, before winning things with a last-gasp touchdown dive. The Steelers have been laying in the weeds as a possible No. 1 seed in the AFC, but the road is tough and they can't afford any setbacks. A win over Denver will be a tough challenge, especially on the road. Roethlisberger leads the NFL in pass attempts, and the Steelers completely abandoned the run late in Jacksonville. A return to a heavy dose of James Conner will help to keep Von Miller and Bradley Chubb off balance and out of the Pittsburgh backfield. Offensively, Denver will have to hope it can get a lead and play from ahead, because despite its comeback over the Chargers last week, it is not a team built to rally from big deficits. A Broncos win, given their remaining schedule, would make them an interesting dark horse playoff candidate.

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)

Four straight wins have the once-dead Colts back up off the ropes and with a real chance to derail Houston's AFC South coronation. First, though, they have to get past Miami, which they probably should. The Dolphins are 2-5 after a 3-0 start and don't really do much of anything particularly well on either side of the football. Ryan Tannehill should be back for Miami, but there's no guarantee that he'll be particularly sharp or dynamic in his return. Frank Gore remains an ageless workhorse and has a chance at a 1,000-yard season if he finishes the year strong. Gore is averaging 4.5 yards per carry this season after being below 4.0 each of the last three seasons. For Indy, Andrew Luck has been sharp, and the running game, once maligned, has picked up dramatically over the last six weeks. Marlon Mack, Jordan Wilkins and Nyheim Hines have all been part of that rushing attack and will need to keep it rolling against Miami. A win here would put the Colts at 6-5 and have them rooting hard for Tennessee to beat Houston and further muddle the AFC South picture.

Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)

Mike McCarthy's end-game decision making against Seattle came under fire, and rightfully so, and his mismanagement helped put the Packers in further peril. Now he'll have to lean on Aaron Rodgers on the road in Minnesota, as Green Bay tries to stay in the NFC North race. If McCarthy stays out of the way and lets Rodgers do his thing, there's a chance that his greatness will win the day. The Vikings' defense has been mostly stout all year, but they only have a 5-4-1 mark to show for their excellence on that side of the ball. Green Bay has started to strike an offensive balance — but it may have come too late in the season. If the Packers can get a steady running game going against the Vikings, Rodgers should be able to have some success. Still, the game is on the road, and the crowd in Minnesota is going to make life difficult on the Packers. If Dalvin Cook and Co. get Minnesota's running game humming, and the Vikings can play from ahead, they'll have a good chance of putting Green Bay on the brink.

Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN)

This one is important, to say the least. If the Texans win, they'll be very much in control of the AFC South. They have now won seven games in a row after an 0-3 start. Five of those seven wins were by one score or less, including last week against Washington, so it isn't like they've been dominant during this stretch. They've just managed to get it done. They'll get a chance to avenge one of their only losses of the year against Tennessee. Houston's defense has been its calling card, and it might end up facing a Titans team that is operating at less than ideal strength, as quarterback Marcus Mariota is still dealing with a stinger and may not play. If he doesn't, Tennessee will have to rely on Dion Lewis and Derrick Henry, but they might not be enough, because the Titans are offensively challenged enough even with Mariota in the fold. A Tennessee win, especially if the Colts get a victory, means that the AFC South is up for grabs. Another Texans win would make them tough to catch.