scorecardNFL Week 12 is here and we picked the winner of every game
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NFL Week 12 is here and we picked the winner of every game

Tyler Lauletta   

NFL Week 12 is here and we picked the winner of every game
Terry McLaurin.AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman
  • NFL football is back for another week of action.
  • Through 11 weeks, our picks are 84-80-1 against the spread.

Football is back for another week of action.

Last week, our picks against the spread went a tough 6-9, our worst week of the season so far. Let's see if we can bounce back with a strong weekend, starting with three games on Thanksgiving.

Take a look below at our best bets against the spread for Week 12 of the NFL season (* indicates home team).

LAST WEEK: 6-9
OVERALL: 84-80-1

Detroit Lions* (+3) over Chicago Bears

Detroit Lions* (+3) over Chicago Bears
D'Andre Swift.      AP Photo/Ron Schwane

It's a great year to eat Thanksgiving dinner early and save your football watching for later in the afternoon. But if you are tuning in to bet Bears-Lions, back Detroit.

The Bears are basically in open revolt against head coach Matt Nagy, who earlier this week had to deny reports that he's set to be fired after the holiday. As for the Lions, despite still being winless on the year, they've played with pride in spots. Taking the points, the money line, and the Lions to get their first win of the season.

Dallas Cowboys* (-7.5) over Las Vegas Raiders

Dallas Cowboys* (-7.5) over Las Vegas Raiders
Dak Prescott.      AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

Tread carefully with this game, as the Cowboys are pretty banged up offensively and could be missing their two top receivers. Still, Dallas should take care of business at home against a Raiders team in free fall. Just wait for the final injury report to come out before putting any money down.

Buffalo Bills (-6.5) over New Orleans Saints*

Buffalo Bills (-6.5) over New Orleans Saints*
Josh Allen.      AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes

The Bills are coming off an embarrassing loss to the Colts last week. It feels like the short week will help them get back to playing their game against a Saints team that hasn't looked great with Trevor Siemian at quarterback the past few weeks.

Philadelphia Eagles (-3.5) over New York Giants*

Philadelphia Eagles (-3.5) over New York Giants*
Jalen Hurts.      AP Photo/Rich Schultz

The Giants fired offensive coordinator Jason Garrett this week as if he were the entirety of the problem in New York rather than a symptom of the broken franchise. Go birds.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3.5) over Indianapolis Colts*

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3.5) over Indianapolis Colts*
Tom Brady.      AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio

Indianapolis is one of the hottest teams in football right now, winners of three straight and five of their last six games. Hot streaks even out over time, and it feels like the Buccaneers a hit their stride just as the Colts are set to stumble a bit. Indy should still be a contender come playoff time, but their postseason status is going to come down to the final weeks.

Pittsburgh Steelers (+4.5) over Cincinnati Bengals*

Pittsburgh Steelers (+4.5) over Cincinnati Bengals*
Najee Harris.      AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

AFC North divisional games feel like they tend to be tightly contested. The Steelers' defense is still dealing with a slew of injuries, but there's enough depth there to slow down the Bengals a bit. This feels like a relatively low-scoring affair, so take the points.

Tennessee Titans (+6.5) over New England Patriots*

Tennessee Titans (+6.5) over New England Patriots*
Dontrell Hilliard.      AP Photo/Wade Payne

Last week the football world woke up to an all too familiar troubling realization: the Patriots were at it again. Bill Belichick has now won five straight games and is suddenly a game out of first place in the AFC and could take control of the conference with a win over the Titans on Sunday. They might very well win this game, but this is too many points to give to a Tennessee team eager to re-assert themselves after a disappointing showing against the Colts.

Carolina Panthers (-2) over Miami Dolphins*

Carolina Panthers (-2) over Miami Dolphins*
Cam Newton.      AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

Cam Newton's return to Carolina didn't go as planned, with the Panthers losing to Washington. Still, Newton looked solid, and Carolina still has the potential to make noise in the NFC. The Dolphins feel a bit overrated after rattling off three straight wins, but two of those were against the Texans and Jets. While they all count the same in the standings, when gambling, not all wins are created equal.

Atlanta Falcons (-1) over Jacksonville Jaguars*

Atlanta Falcons (-1) over Jacksonville Jaguars*
Matt Ryan.      AP Photo/Danny Karnik

Even at 4-6, the Falcons are hilariously in contention for the final playoff spot in the NFC. The Jaguars are already dead and looking at games against the Rams and Titans next on the schedule. Falcons should cruise.

Houston Texans* (-2.5) over New York Jets

Houston Texans* (-2.5) over New York Jets
Tyrod Taylor.      AP Photo/John Amis

Zach Wilson should be back in action for the Jets, but it doesn't matter. The Texans have been playing tough the past couple of weeks, despite their horrid record.

Denver Broncos* (+2.5) over Los Angeles Chargers

Denver Broncos* (+2.5) over Los Angeles Chargers
Courtland Sutton.      AP Photo/Bart Young

The Broncos are home underdogs at high altitude after everyone spent the weekend eating too much turkey. I can't imagine a worse spot for a road team than being bloated on stuffing and gravy at Mile High Stadium.

Minnesota Vikings (+3.5) over San Francisco 49ers*

Minnesota Vikings (+3.5) over San Francisco 49ers*
Justin Jefferson.      AP Photo/Stacy Bengs

This feels like a coin flip. Either take the half-point hook or leave it alone.

Los Angeles Rams (+1) over Green Bay Packers

Los Angeles Rams (+1) over Green Bay Packers
Matthew Stafford.      AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

Aaron Rodgers is apparently battling a case of COVID Toe (do not google image search!) and has not looked 100% since his return to the field. Until we see the reigning MVP looking like his old self again, the Packers are difficult to trust, especially against a team with as much firepower as the Rams.

Baltimore Ravens* (-3.5) over Cleveland Browns

Baltimore Ravens* (-3.5) over Cleveland Browns
Devonta Freeman.      AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps

Lamar Jackson should be back under center for the Ravens in this one after missing last week's game due to illness, but keep an eye on the injury report before betting this game.

Washington Football Team* (-1) over Seattle Seahawks

Washington Football Team* (-1) over Seattle Seahawks
Terry McLaurin.      AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

The Seahawks look utterly lost right now, and the potential of a Russell Wilson departure this offseason feels more and more likely. For Washington, Terry McLaurin is now one of the top 10 receivers in football, and Taylor Heinicke is doing enough to keep the offense moving.

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