play2:08Rich Eisen is outraged by J.J. McCarthy criticismRich Eisen sees flashes of greatness from J.J. McCarthy and predicts a road win at Green Bay.
play1:10Herbstreit to McAfee: If Joe Burrow is healthy, he is going to playKirk Herbstreit joins Pat McAfee and weighs in on the mindset of a player such as Joe Burrow when it comes to returning from injury.
play2:02Kurt Warner: I’m not sure Justin Fields will get another full-time starting QB shotKurt Warner joins Rich Eisen and weighs in on Justin Fields’ future after a tough season so far with the Jets.
play1:25Stephania Bell: ‘Jacoby Brissett is fantasy gold’Field Yates, Daniel Dopp and Stephania Bell discuss Jacoby Brissett’s productive fantasy performances since taking over for Kyler Murray.
play1:19Orlovsky: What’s going on with Jalen Hurts is ‘so disrespectful’Dan Orlovsky explains why the Eagles’ reported locker room frustration directed toward Jalen Hurts is “disrespectful.”
play1:27Why Rich Eisen sees Matthew Stafford emerging as NFL MVPRich Eisen explains why Matthew Stafford has the numbers to justify being the NFL MVP this season.
Kimberley Martin: Every game is a must-win now for the Chiefs (1:01)Kimberley Martin and Peter Schrager explain why the Chiefs must win against Colts and from here on out to stay in the AFC playoff race. (1:01)
Rich Eisen is outraged by J.J. McCarthy criticismRich Eisen sees flashes of greatness from J.J. McCarthy and predicts a road win at Green Bay.
Herbstreit to McAfee: If Joe Burrow is healthy, he is going to playKirk Herbstreit joins Pat McAfee and weighs in on the mindset of a player such as Joe Burrow when it comes to returning from injury.
Kirk Herbstreit joins Pat McAfee and weighs in on the mindset of a player such as Joe Burrow when it comes to returning from injury.
Kurt Warner: I’m not sure Justin Fields will get another full-time starting QB shotKurt Warner joins Rich Eisen and weighs in on Justin Fields’ future after a tough season so far with the Jets.
Kurt Warner joins Rich Eisen and weighs in on Justin Fields’ future after a tough season so far with the Jets.
Stephania Bell: ‘Jacoby Brissett is fantasy gold’Field Yates, Daniel Dopp and Stephania Bell discuss Jacoby Brissett’s productive fantasy performances since taking over for Kyler Murray.
Field Yates, Daniel Dopp and Stephania Bell discuss Jacoby Brissett’s productive fantasy performances since taking over for Kyler Murray.
Orlovsky: What’s going on with Jalen Hurts is ‘so disrespectful’Dan Orlovsky explains why the Eagles’ reported locker room frustration directed toward Jalen Hurts is “disrespectful.”
Dan Orlovsky explains why the Eagles’ reported locker room frustration directed toward Jalen Hurts is “disrespectful.”
Why Rich Eisen sees Matthew Stafford emerging as NFL MVPRich Eisen explains why Matthew Stafford has the numbers to justify being the NFL MVP this season.
The Chiefs hope to get their season back on track against the Colts, historical nemesis Aaron Rodgers could make his return to Chicago, and two of the league’s most exciting offenses — the Bucs and the Rams — face off.
Let’s get into the full Week 12 slate, which culminates with a “Monday Night Football” matchup between the Panthers and 49ers on ESPN. (Game times are Sunday unless otherwise noted.)
Jump to a matchup: IND-KC | MIN-GB | NYG-DET NE-CIN | PIT-CHI | NYJ-BAL SEA-TEN | JAX-ARI | CLE-LV PHI-DAL | ATL-NO | TB-LAR CAR-SF
Stat to know: Colts QB Daniel Jones has four interceptions in his past two games after throwing only three in his first eight games this season. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Chiefs WR Rashee Rice will record at least eight receptions. Thirty-eight percent of targets against the Colts go to players aligned in the slot, which is third most of all defenses. Rice can have success from playing inside. — Walder
Betting nugget: The Colts are 7-3 ATS (against the spread) this season. Overs are 4-1 in their past five games. Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Colts 30, Chiefs 27 Moody’s pick: Chiefs 27, Colts 24 Walder’s pick: Chiefs 24, Colts 20 FPI prediction: KC, 61.5% (by an average of 4.5 points)
Matchup must-reads: RB Taylor and four QBs; handicapping the NFL MVP race … Why Chiefs are 5-5 and what’s next … Chiefs LT Simmons mum on 22-day absence
Stat to know: The Packers’ offense has an NFL-best 49% third-down conversion rate this season. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: The Vikings will have a minus-10% or lower pass rate over expectation, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. With McCarthy struggling, I expect Minnesota will try to take a more run-heavy approach as it attempts to upset its division rival. — Walder
Rich Eisen sees flashes of greatness from J.J. McCarthy and predicts a road win at Green Bay.
Fantasy nugget: Vikings RB Aaron Jones Sr. faces his former team, and while I’m buying into the revenge-game narrative, the matchup is legitimately favorable given how Green Bay has struggled against RBs lately. The Packers’ defense has allowed the seventh-most rushing yards per game over the past three weeks. And Jones has scored at least 11 fantasy points in three straight games. See Week 12 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: The Packers are 1-5 ATS against teams with losing records this season. Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Packers 27, Vikings 13 Moody’s pick: Packers 27, Vikings 20 Walder’s pick: Packers 24, Vikings 16 FPI prediction: GB, 71.3% (by an average of 8.6 points)
Matchup must-reads: QB McCarthy’s struggles limiting Vikings’ chances to win … Why Packers’ playoff hopes might rest on next three games
What we’re hearing on the Giants: “Aggressive.” That is how Giants offensive coordinator Tim Kelly described the Lions’ defense under Kelvin Sheppard. Detroit hasn’t allowed a 300-yard passer or a 100-yard rusher this season. Consider that a challenge for veteran quarterback Jameis Winston, who has three 300+ yard games in his last eight starts dating back to last year in Cleveland. — Jordan Raanan
What we’re hearing on the Lions: Coach Dan Campbell was selected by the Giants as the 79th pick of the 1999 NFL draft. He suited up with them from 1999 to 2002 and developed his foundation there. “Obviously, [Giants president and CEO] Mr. [John] Mara is still there, and he was there when I was there and that Mara family will always mean something to me,” Campbell said. “… I had four good years there, and it felt like a family.” — Eric Woodyard
Stat to know: Since Campbell became coach in 2021, the Lions have gone for it on fourth down 32% of the time, the highest mark in the NFL. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Giants edge Abdul Carter will have a big enough game that he’ll vault himself into second place in the Defensive Rookie of the Year odds. (He’s currently sixth.) Perhaps last week’s opening series benching will be a wake-up call. — Walder
Fantasy nugget: Lions WR Jameson Williams has been exceptional for managers over the past three games since the Lions came out of their bye. He has seen at least six targets and scored 16.0 or more fantasy points in three straight games, including a season-high 23.9 points in Week 10. Williams is in a great spot against a Giants defense that has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game. See Week 12 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: The Giants are 8-15 ATS on the road since 2023. They are 0-6 outright on the road this season (3-3 ATS). Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Lions 34, Giants 10 Moody’s pick: Lions 34, Giants 17 Walder’s pick: Lions 25, Giants 24 FPI prediction: DET, 70.9% (by an average of 8 points)
Matchup must-reads: Giants’ coaching search: What it means for Schoen to run it … Lions’ Hutchinson ‘excited’ for key 3-game stretch … Goff, Lions shut down in loss to Eagles
Stat to know: The Bengals have allowed 27-plus points in nine consecutive games, which is tied with the 1964 Broncos and 2020 Chargers for the longest single-season streak in NFL history. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Patriots WR DeMario Douglas will record four or more receptions, at least tying his season high. Douglas works over the middle of the field, which is where offenses tend to attack the Bengals defense. 53% of targets against Cincinnati are between the numbers, the sixth-highest rate in the league. — Walder
Herbstreit to McAfee: If Joe Burrow is healthy, he is going to play
Fantasy nugget: Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson has been superb over the past three games with Rhamondre Stevenson out with a toe injury. He had at least 15 touches in each matchup, including 24 in Week 11. Henderson averaged 24.3 fantasy points over that span. Even if Stevenson returns this week, Henderson should still lead the Patriots’ backfield. Cincinnati’s defense has given up the most fantasy points per game to RBs. See Week 12 rankings. — Moody
Maldonado’s pick: Patriots 28, Bengals 7 Moody’s pick: Patriots 31, Bengals 20 Walder’s pick: Patriots 30, Bengals 27 FPI prediction: NE, 53.6% (by an average of 1.4 points)
Stat to know: The Bears have an NFL-best 22 takeaways and 15 interceptions this season. Chicago has a 7-1 record, outscoring its opponents by 39 points, when finishing with at least one takeaway. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: The Steelers’ defense will force a turnover against play-action. Chicago runs play-action 31% of the time, third most in the NFL, but the Steelers are one of the best defenses against it (despite being a middle-of-the-pack defense on all other plays), with a minus-.15 EPA per play allowed (second best) and 43% success rate allowed (sixth best). — Walder
Fantasy nugget: Bears WR Rome Odunze had a hot start to the season, averaging 19.9 fantasy points over the first five games. However, since Chicago’s bye, he has scored double-digit fantasy points in only two of his past six games. The talent is there, and Odunze has produced whenever he gets targets. He should get a chance against a Steelers defense that has allowed the most receptions and fantasy points per game to WRs. See Week 12 rankings. — Moody