EmailEmail
PrintPrint
Gerry Dulac's NFL Forecast: Week 12
Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Last week: 13-3 (.813)

Season record: 101-59 (.631)




Green Bay Packers (6-4) at Detroit Lions (2-8), 12:30 p.m., Thursday

The Skinny: The Lions hadn't scored 38 points in a game since the middle of the 2007 season. But they will be without the quarterback responsible for that outburst, Matthew Stafford, against the Packers, who have won two in a row.

Prediction: Packers, 34-20




Oakland Raiders (3-7) at Dallas Cowboys (6-4), 4:15 p.m., Thursday

The Skinny: Can the Raiders surprise another division-leading team for the second week in a row? Unlikely, especially because they tend to play like turkeys on the road, averaging only 10.5 points per game.

Prediction: Cowboys, 23-10




New York Giants (6-4) at Denver Broncos (6-4), 8:20 p.m., Thursday

The Skinny: The Broncos are starting to tumble like Dudley Moore in "10," losing four in a row. The Giants already went through their four-game slide, ending it last week with an overtime victory against the Falcons.

Prediction: Giants, 31-20




Steelers (6-4) at Baltimore Ravens (5-5), 8:20 p.m., Sunday

The Skinny: The Steelers won all three meetings in '08, including the AFC title game. But, after losing in KC, anything is possible, especially against a team that has lost four by a combined 13 points.

Prediction: Ravens, 16-13




Cleveland Browns (1-9) at Cincinnati Bengals (7-3), 1 p.m., Sunday

The Skinny: Could the Bengals possibly lose two games in a row to a team they are expected to beat? And where, all of a sudden, did the Browns come up with 37 points in one game?

Prediction: Bengals, 20-13




Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-9) at Atlanta Falcons (5-5), 1 p.m., Sunday

The Skinny: Atlanta and Baltimore might be the best 5-5 teams in the NFL. The Falcons have lost four of their past five games, but all of the losses have been on the road.

Prediction: Falcons, 37-13




Miami Dolphins (5-5) at Buffalo Bills (3-7), 1 p.m., Sunday

The Skinny: The Dolphins easily won the first meeting this season by rushing for more than 200 yards. Even without Ronnie Brown, the result probably won't be much different against the Bills.

Prediction: Dolphins, 24-17




Indianapolis Colts (10-0) at Houston Texans (5-5), 1 p.m., Sunday

The Skinny: The Texans are one of four teams to almost beat the Colts in November. But Indy has won 19 consecutive regular-season games for a reason, and his name is Peyton Manning.

Prediction: Colts, 24-20




Carolina Panthers (4-6) at New York Jets (4-6), 1 p.m., Sunday

The Skinny: It has been a tough stretch for rookie QB Mark Sanchez, who has thrown 11 interceptions during the Jets' 1-4 slide. Good thing the Jets can run the ball better than Carolina.

Prediction: Jets, 23-20




Washington Redskins (3-7) at Philadelphia Eagles (6-4), 1 p.m., Sunday

The Skinny: It's not going to get much easier for the Eagles, one of the most schizophrenic teams in the NFL. After this, the 49ers are the only non-winning team on the schedule.

Prediction: Eagles, 20-9




Seattle Seahawks (3-7) at St. Louis Rams (1-9), 1 p.m., Sunday

The Skinny: Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck has won his past seven starts against St. Louis, including a 28-0 shutout in the season opener. But the Rams are starting to be competitive.

Prediction: Seahawks, 20-17




Kansas City Chiefs (3-7) at San Diego Chargers (7-3), 4:05 p.m., Sunday

The Skinny: If you think the Chiefs, who have won two in a row, will surprise the Chargers, who have won five in a row, raise your hand. That's what I thought.

Prediction: Chargers, 33-10




Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4) at San Francisco 49ers (4-6), 4:05 p.m., Sunday

The Skinny: Has it occurred to anyone that a Jaguars team that was shutout in Seattle (41-0) and doesn't have a victory against a team with a winning record is tied with the Steelers?

Prediction: 49ers, 20-16




Chicago Bears (4-6) at Minnesota Vikings (9-1), 4:15 p.m., Sunday

The Skinny: The Vikings might have a five-game lead on Chicago in the NFC North, but the Bears have something they don't have -- a victory against the Steelers. Can you believe it?

Prediction: Vikings, 31-16




Arizona Cardinals (7-3) at Tennessee Titans (4-6), 4:15 p.m., Sunday

The Skinny: After struggling on the road in their Super Bowl season, the Cardinals are 5-0 away from home this season. But the Titans have won four in a row with QB Vince Young.

Prediction: Titans, 24-21




New England Patriots (7-3) at New Orleans Saints (10-0), 8:30 p.m., Monday

The Skinny: The unbeaten Saints have injury problems in the secondary, never a good thing when preparing to meet Tom Brady, who has 14 TDs in his past five games.

Prediction: Patriots, 34-31

Ed Bouchette's blog on the Steelers and Gerry Dulac's Steelers chats are featured exclusively on PG+, a members-only web site from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.

First published on November 25, 2009 at 4:34 pm