NFL Week 12 Staff Picks: Steelers look to steal one in Seattle
Each week during the NFL season, theScore's NFL staff will put on their prognosticator hats and offer up selections against the spread for all of the week's games, highlighting several marquee matchups.
| Game | Thomson | Holroyd | Wilkins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eagles at Lions | DET +1 | PHI -1 | DET +1 |
| Panthers at Cowboys | DAL +1.5 | CAR -1.5 | CAR -1.5 |
| Bears at Packers | CHI +9 | GB -9 | GB -9 |
| Raiders at Titans | OAK -1.5 | OAK -1.5 | TEN +1.5 |
| Bills at Chiefs | KC | KC | KC |
| Buccaneers at Colts | IND -3 | TB +3 | TB +3 |
| Giants at Redskins | NYG -2.5 | NYG -2.5 | NYG -2.5 |
| Saints at Texans | HOU -3 | NO +3 | HOU -3 |
| Vikings at Falcons | MIN +2 | ATL -2 | MIN +2 |
| Rams at Bengals | CIN -8.5 | STL +8.5 | CIN -8.5 |
| Chargers at Jaguars | SD +4 | JAX -4 | SD +4 |
| Dolphins at Jets | NYJ -3.5 | NYJ -3.5 | NYJ -3.5 |
| Cardinals at 49ers | SF +10.5 | SF +10.5 | ARI -10.5 |
| Steelers at Seahawks | PIT +4.5 | SEA -4.5 | PIT +4.5 |
| Patriots at Broncos | NE -3 | NE -3 | DEN +3 |
| Ravens at Browns | BAL +2.5 | CLE -2.5 | CLE -2.5 |
| Season Record | 78-59-2 | 73-64-2 | 66-71-2 |
Marquee Matchups
Pittsburgh Steelers at Seattle Seahawks
Joe Thomson: The Steelers getting an extra week to prepare for the Seahawks is huge at this point in the season. With Ben Roethlisberger closer to full health, the Steelers have a shot at a rare win in Seattle. The Steelers are 6-2 under Mike Tomlin coming off a bye. Steelers +4.5
Dan Wilkins: The Steelers are more than capable of going into Seattle and coming away with a win. Given the recent struggles of a typically dominant Seahawks defense, Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh passing game should only continue to produce at a high level. Steelers +4.5
Caitlyn Holroyd: The Steelers should give the Seahawks more trouble than the 49ers did in Week 11, but another big game from rookie running back Thomas Rawls will get Seattle in the win column for the second straight week. Seahawks -4.5
Minnesota Vikings at Atlanta Falcons
Wilkins: Home-field advantage shouldn't be enough for a struggling Falcons team to be a favorite over a Minnesota club that's now established itself as a legitimate contender. Matt Ryan will continue to struggle against a strong Vikings defense. Vikings +2
Holroyd: Adrian Peterson was held to 45 yards against the Packers and now faces the top-ranked rushing defense in the NFL. Look for the Falcons to put an end to their three-game losing streak with a big win at home. Falcons -2
Thomson: Minnesota's crushing loss to the Packers shouldn't linger too long as they have another big matchup with a playoff contender. Though they couldn't get over the hump against the Packers, a strong defensive performance should get them a win over the suddenly terrible Falcons. Vikings +2
New England Patriots at Denver Broncos
Holroyd: This game figures to go right down to the wire with the NFL's No. 1 offense and defense going head-to-head. Tom Brady and company will do enough to cover the spread, though, and keep the Patriots undefeated. Patriots -3
Thomson: How can the Patriots keep winning while the injuries keep piling up? I don't know, but they can. This will be Brock Osweiler's first primetime game and the bright lights won't be friendly. Pats keep rolling. Patriots -3
Wilkins: With injuries across the board on offense, New England will have trouble moving the ball for a second consecutive game. Getting by in a home game against Buffalo in one thing, but doing so on the road against the league's top defense will be far more difficult. Broncos +3
Wild-Card Selections
Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers
Thomson: This is a bit of a trap game for the Cardinals. Coming off an impressive win over the Bengals, they get the awful 49ers who have been a different team at home this season. 49ers avenge the Week 3 embarrassment and pull off an upset. 49ers. +10.5
Philadelphia Eagles at Detroit Lions
Wilkins: Detroit has quietly strung together consecutive strong performances, and the Eagles look like a complete mess. Look for the Lions' defense to continue its surge against an offense that just can't seem to put it together. Lions +1
Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns
Holroyd: Things went from bad to worse for the Ravens with the season-ending injuries to Joe Flacco and Justin Forsett. Those losses will be too much to overcome, even against a struggling Browns team. Browns -2.5
(Lines courtesy: Pinnaclesports)