NFL Week 12 Picks and Previews

Updated: November 18, 2025

NFL Week 12 Picks and Previews for every game by Raj our American Football expert tipster.

Minnesota at Detroit

A highly favorable “undercard” for the Thanksgiving Day football match-ups. Detroit and Minnesota both sit atop the NFC North with a 6-4 record, though the Lions hold the tiebreaker because of their head-to-head win just two weeks ago. With both teams winning this past Sunday, the winner of this game gets the early inside track to the division crown.

Thanksgiving Day Game Significance

Thanksgiving Day football is not just a pastime but a cherished tradition. Since the Detroit Lions started playing on Thanksgiving in 1934, the holiday has been synonymous with key NFL matchups. The game between the Lions and Vikings is not only a crucial match-up for the NFC North race but also adds to the rich history of Thanksgiving football, attracting nationwide viewership. Pick: Minnesota

Washington at Dallas

This is the true “heavyweight fight” of the holiday weekend. Washington looked superb in dismantling the overmatched defense of the Green Bay Packers, but they'll travel to Dallas to take on what could be the best team in the entire NFL. The Cowboys offense is so much more than just Ezekiel Elliott running the football, as evidenced by Dak Prescott going for 27 of 36 for 301 yard and three touchdown passes last week against Baltimore. The Cowboys are just too dynamic of a football team right now. Prescott and Elliott have transformed the Cowboys into one of the most formidable teams this season. Prescott's poise and accuracy, paired with Elliott's explosive running, have been important assets. Up to this point, Prescott has thrown for over 2,800 yards, and Elliott has rushed for over 1,100 yards, making them one of the most productive rookie duos. Pick: Dallas.

Pittsburgh at Indianapolis

The entire complexion of this game changes if quarterback Andrew Luck of the Indianapolis Colts cant play on Sunday. He's currently in the concussion protocol, after taking a hit in the Colts win against Tennessee last Sunday. If Indianapolis is forced to start backup quarterback Scott Tolzien, expect the Pittsburgh Steelers to run away with this game in a laugher. Luck's absence is a significant setback for the Colts. His leadership and passing abilities often keep Indianapolis competitive, so without him, they may struggle offensively. Scott Tolzien, though experienced, doesn't bring the same playmaking ability, leaving the Steelers in a strong position. Pick: Pittsburgh

San Diego at Houston

An interesting pairing of teams: one team that's not likely to make the playoffs even though many people feel they might be underrated, and another team that's increasingly likely to make the playoffs even though most people feel they're highly overrated. The Houston Texans still sit atop the AFC South, despite the consistently sub-mediocre play of quarterback Brock Osweiler. Pick: Houston.

Tennessee at Chicago

Sitting only one game back of Houston in the AFC South, this is the type of game that the Tennessee Titans must win, if they truly fancy the idea of sneaking away with the division crown. When it comes to injuries, the Chicago Bears have had the season from hell, as evidenced by quarterback Jay Cutler missing the rest of the season with (yet another) injury.

AFC South Playoff Picture

The AFC South race is heating up, with Houston leading but Tennessee nipping at their heels. With a win against Chicago, the Titans could tighten the gap, putting immense pressure on Houston. Every game is now decisive, as both teams look to secure a playoff berth. Pick: Tennessee.

Jacksonville at Buffalo

Buffalo snapped their three-game losing streak in a miserable 16-12 victory over Cincinnati last Sunday. They're now back to a .500 winning percentage, thanks to a 5-5 record, but they still face long odds for making a playoff run. If they have any sense of professional pride, they need to make quick work of a Jacksonville Jaguars team that's incredibly close to quitting on the remainder of this season (and their head coach). Pick: Buffalo.

Cincinnati at Baltimore

Two AFC North rivals trending in totally opposite directions. The Baltimore Ravens feel like a team that's starting to come together right when it matters most, while the Cincinnati Bengals are quickly unraveling. The injuries to Bengals running back Gio Bernard and star wide receiver A.J. Green couldn't be more catastrophic for that offense. Pick: Baltimore.

Arizona at Atlanta

This game represents the “last gasp” for any playoff hopes the Arizona Cardinals might harbor. They cannot afford to pick up their sixth loss of the season, especially considering they're already sitting in 10th place in the NFC going into the game. It's all up to the Cardinals top-ranked passing defense to stop Matt Ryan and Julio Jones of the Atlanta Falcons. Can Arizona win this game for Bruce Arians, who was hospitalized with chest pains this week? Pick: Arizona.

San Francisco at Miami

Before the season started, this looked like one of the games that San Francisco could steal a precious win. The Miami Dolphins figured to be a team that struggled under first-year head coach Adam Gase. But fast-forward to Thanksgiving weekend, and it looks like the 49ers are overwhelmingly favored to instead pick up their 10th straight loss of the season. Pick: Miami

Los Angeles at New Orleans

Even though the offense of the Los Angeles Rams still looked as anemic as ever last Sunday, let's at least give rookie quarterback Jared Goff the remainder of the season before we start writing him off as a draft bust. This entire organization needs to be totally renovated and overhauled. Pick: New Orleans

NY Giants at Cleveland

It's not always pretty, but the New York Giants just keep finding ways to win football games. They haven't lost a game since the middle of October, and their current five-game winning streak is tied for second-longest in the NFL. In that span of time, their defense has limited opposing quarterbacks to only a 44% completion percentage, and hasn't allowed a single touchdown pass. One would expect both of those marks to continue against the quarterback-needy Cleveland Browns.

NFC Playoff Wild Card Race

The NFC wild card battle is fiercely contested. The Giants' impressive winning streak has bolstered their position, but they cannot rest easy. With multiple teams close behind, each victory is crucial to maintain their lead. A win against the Browns would solidify their standing and keep playoff hopes alive. Pick: Cleveland.

Seattle at Tampa Bay

Is Tampa Bay quietly flying under-the-radar? They've picked up back-to-back wins in their last two games, outscoring opponents by a 56-27 margin. After throwing eight interceptions in his first four games, Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston has only thrown two interceptions in his last six games (compared to 12 touchdown passes). That's a key reason the Buccaneers have gone 4-2 in that span. They face their toughest test of the season on Sunday, hosting what could be the best team in the NFC. Pick: Seattle.

Carolina at Oakland

[wpsm_video]https://youtu.be/OcV_SjhFfdU[/wpsm_video] During his team's current four-game winning streak, Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has averaged 298 yards passing per game, and thrown a total of eight touchdowns (and only one interception). His combination of talent, poise, and “gunslinging” demeanor has turned the Raiders into an emerging offensive force in the AFC. They should make quick work of the Carolina Panthers, who will likely be playing without their emotional leader, linebacker Luke Kuechly. Pick: Oakland

New England at NY Jets

Last week, traveling all the way across the country on a slightly shortened week, New England Patriots quarterback had yet another day at the office, throwing for 280 yards and four touchdowns against the San Francisco 49ers. Since Brady returned to the lineup, the Patriots have averaged over 27 points per game. It just seems far-fetched to expect the New York Jets to be able to keep up in the scoring column. Pick: New England

Kansas City at Denver

This is easily the game with the biggest playoff implications in the AFC. While both teams presently own a 7-3 record, Kansas City holds the tiebreaker over Denver because of win percentage in division games. After having their five-game winning streak snapped in an upset loss to Tampa Bay last week, the Chiefs — and their struggling offense — will have another tough go of things, playing against a Broncos defense that allows the 2nd fewest points per game in the NFL (17.6). Pick: Denver

Green Bay at Philadelphia

In case Green Bay fans hadn't done so already: yes, now would be a good time to panic. They Packers defense has given up over 38 points per game in their last four games, including a total of 89 points over the last two weeks. Even with all the injuries this team has faced, it's now time to ask whether the proverbial bottom is falling out on head coach Mike McCarthy‘s tenure in Green Bay. Pick: Philadelphia. Get more free NFL Weekly Picks and Previews next time.

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