16 Dec 10 NFL Week 12: Picks and Predictions

Can the Patriots spoil Detroit's Thanksgiving Day extravaganza?Jim Rogash/Getty ImagesNFLSoup.comis your home for all things fantasy football, but our writers also publish their picks for each week.Think you can beat the "experts"?If so, send your picks for week 12 to NFLSoupgmail.com. If you wind up with a better record than all four of the writers for the week, then you'll win a free copy of the brand-new book, America's Team: The Official History of the Dallas Cowboys.On to the picks.New England Patriots Reebok Denver Broncos #15 Tim Tebow Realtree camo Jersey
(8-2) at Detroit Lions (2-8)The first game on the Thanksgiving Day docket pits the surging New England Patriots against the struggling Detroit Lions.NFL Soup Verdict: Patriots (Patriots: 4, Lions: 0)New Orleans Saints (7-3) at Dallas Cowboys (3-7)The defending champion Saints will celebrate Turkey Day in Arlington, Texas, where the resurgent Cowboys will be waiting for them.NFL Soup Verdict: Push (Saints: 2, Cowboys: 2)Cincinnati Bengals (2-8) at New York Jets (8-2)The Bengals are struggling mightily, while the Jets have been making a habit of pulling out wins in the final seconds on a weekly basis.NFL Soup Verdict: Jets (Jets: 4, Bengals: 0)Tennessee Titans (5-5) at Houston Texans (4-6)The Titans, riding a three-game losing streak, will turn to third-string QB Rusty Smith as they head south to take on division rival Houston.NFL Soup Verdict: Texans (Texans: 4, Titans: 0)Green Bay Packers (7-3) at Atlanta Falcons (8-2)The premier game of the week has the red-hot Packers riding into Atlanta to take on the equally red-hot Falcons.NFL Soup Verdict: Falcons (Falcons: 3, Packers: 1)Carolina Panthers (1-9) at Cleveland Browns (3-7)The hapless Panthers were shredded by the Ravens last week, while the Browns are coming off a tough loss at the hands of the Jaguars.NFL Soup Verdict: Browns (Browns: 4, Panthers: 0)Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3) at Buffalo Bills (2-8)Pittsburgh rebounded nicely from the loss to the Patriots by manhandling the Raiders, while the Bills have suddenly won two straight games in impressive fashion.NFL Soup Verdict: Steelers (Steelers: 4, Bills: 0)Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4) at New York Giants (6-4)The Jags have surged to 6-4, while the Giants have faded to 6-4.NFL Soup Verdict: Giants (Giants: 3, Jaguars: 1)Minnesota Vikings (3-7) at Washington Redskins (5-5)The Leslie Frazier era gets underway for the Vikings, as they travel to the nation's capital to take on the yellow-panted Redskins.NFL Soup Verdict: Push (Vikings: 2, Redskins: 2)Miami Dolphins (5-5) at Oakland Raiders (5-5)The Dolphins are struggling to find a rhythm on offense, while the Raiders will look to bounce back from their brutal loss to the Steelers.NFL Soup Verdict: Raiders Reebok Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers Realtree camo Jersey
(Raiders: 3, Dolphins: 1)Kansas City Chiefs (6-4) at Seattle Seahawks (5-5)A matchup of unlikely first-place teams pits the young Chiefs against the inconsistent Seahawks.NFL Soup Verdict: Chiefs (Chiefs: 4, Seahawks: 0)St. Louis Rams (4-6) at Denver Broncos (3-7)Sam Bradford and the Rams look to keep their playoff hopes very much alive as they head to Denver to take on the Broncos and their prolific passing offense.NFL Soup Verdict: Push (Rams: 2, Broncos: 2)Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-3) at Baltimore Ravens (7-3)If the Bucs can march into Baltimore and take down a tough Ravens team, then they're the real deal.NFL Soup Verdict: Ravens (Ravens: 3, Buccaneers: 1)Philadelphia Eagles (7-3) at Chicago Bears (7-3)Can the Bears (third in the league in total defense) slow down the speedy Eagles?NFL Soup Verdict: Eagles (Eagles: 3, Bears: 1)San Diego Chargers (5-5) at Indianapolis Colts (6-4)San Diego has been impressive against Peyton Manning throughout the years, but the Colts rarely lose two straight games.NFL Soup Verdict: Push (Chargers: 2, Colts: 2)San Francisco 49ers (3-7) at Arizona Cardinals (3-7)Despite their records, these two teams are actually still alive in the playoff hunt.NFL Soup Verdict: Push (49ers: 2, Reebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
Cardinals: 2)Have a fantasy football question? Send your question to NFLSoupMailbag1gmail.comto have it answered live on the air during the NFL Soup Weekly Dish!Head over to NFLSoup.comfor all things fantasy football as well as breaking NFL news.