NFL Week 12 Betting Recap
NFL Week 12 Betting Recap
Can you believe that we’re nearly in December and headed to Week 13 of the NFL season? It’s crazy, but let’s go back and take a look at what happened in Week 12 of the NFL in terms of the lines, injuries and of course, penalties.
Thursday, Nov. 23
Green Bay (+8.5/46.5) over DETROIT 29-22
Nobody expected Jordan Love to go into Detroit on Thanksgiving and become Aaron Rodgers in his prime. Love was fantastic, going 22 of 32 for 268 yards with three TDs and no picks. He needed to be good because the Packers couldn’t run the ball that well (109 yds) without Aaron Jones. Green Bay’s defense did the job, for the most part, against Jared Goff. His stats were a bit misleading as he completed 29 of 44 for 332 yards with two TDs. But he also fumbled the ball three times and lost all of them. Detroit was fortunate that Minnesota lost to Chicago on Monday night and they are in the league at 8-3 in the NFC North.
DALLAS (-13.5/47.5) over Washington 45-10
Some Thanksgiving games are good and others are trash. This was a bad game as Dallas dominated another bad Washington team and DaRon Bland set an NFL record with his fifth pick-6 of the season. Dak Prescott completed 22 of 32 for 331 yards with four TDs and a pick. Dallas improved to 8-3 on the season and after Washington gave up 431 yards of offense, head coach Ron Rivera (reportedly) decided to fire DC Jack Del Rio and DB coach Brent Vieselmeyer.
San Francisco (-7/43.5) over SEATTLE 31-13
Another blowout as Niners just methodically ripped apart the Seahawks on the road in the nightcap on Thursday. Christian McCaffrey rushed for 114 yards and two TDs, while Deebo Samuel caught seven passed for 79 yards and rushed for a score to lead San Francisco, who led 24-3 in the half. Brock Purdy was efficient with 209 yards passing and a TD with a pick. Seattle did nothing offensively as Geno Smith was held to 180 yards passing with a pick and they rushed for 88 yards on 21 attempts without Kenneth Walker (out due to injury).
Friday, Nov. 24
Miami (-9.5/39.5) over NY JETS 34-13
If you were betting unders on Thanksgiving and Black Friday due to the Prime Time record (27-9 before Thursday), it didn’t work out. All four games went over including this game, but if you had the under here, you had the right side. The Jets scored on a 30-yard interception return from Brandin Echols and the Dolphins scored on a 99-yard interception return off a Hail Mary from Tim Boyle at the end of the half. Boyle threw a lot of short passes and went 27 of 38 for 179 yards with a TD and a pick, so not an upgrade over Zach Wilson. Tua Tagovailoa wasn’t much better against a very good Jets’ defense, completing 21 of 30 for 243 yards with a TD and two picks. Raheem Mostert led the way with 94 yards rushing and two TDs for Miami.
Sunday, Nov. 26
INDIANAPOLIS (-2.5/44.5) over Tampa Bay 27-20
The Colts improved to 6-5, which places them tied for second in the AFC South with Houston. Jonathan Taylor rushed for two TDs and Gardner Minshew added another rushing score to lead Indy. The Bucs (4-7) are not competing for anything right now. Rachaad White did have 100 yards rushing, but Baker Mayfield had just 199 yards passing with two TDs and a pick. The Colts were able to win this game with a steady defense and a strong running game (155 yards).
NY GIANTS (+4.5/34.5) over New England 10-7
This had to be one of the worst games of the year and yes, this was an easy under. Mac Jones was just brutal, completing 12 of 21 for 89 yards on a rainy day with two picks, while Bailey Zappe threw for 54 yards and a pick for the Patriots. Tommy DeVito found a way to win with 191 yards passing and a TD. New England fell to 2-9 as you have to wonder if it’s Caleb Williams or Drake May time after Chad Ryland missed a 35-yard field goal to tie the game with three seconds left. Instead of taking a chance. Bill Belichick played for overtime, which shows you how much faith he has in his quarterbacks.
ATLANTA (-1.5/40.5) over New Orleans 24-15
Bijan Robinson rushed for 91 of Atlanta’s 228 rushing yards and scored two TDs to lead the Falcons to a big NFC South win. The 5-6 Falcons moved into a tie for first place in the division with New Orleans. Desmond Ridder returned as a starter to threw for 168 yards, but was picked off twice by Tyrann Mathieu. Derek Carr threw for 304 yards, but also had a first-quarter interception picked off by Jessie Bates II for 92 yards and a score.
Pittsburgh (-2/35.5) over CINCINNAIT 16-10
With Matt Canada gone as the OC, Pittsburgh scored just 16 points, but that was enough to beat Jake Browning and the Bengals. Kenny Pickett threw for 279 yards and found TE Pat Freiermuth nine times for 120 yards. Browning completed 19 of 26 for 227 yards and a TD with a pick. The Bengals fell to 5-6 and is in trouble with Joe Burrow out for the season due to a right wrist injury.
Jacksonville (-1.5/48.5) over HOUSTON 24-21
This was a tight AFC South battle, but the Jags (8-3) came out on top to improve their chances of winning the division. QB Trevor Lawrence completed 23 of 38 for 364 yards with a TD and a pick. Rookie CJ Stroud had another strong game with 304 yards passing with 47 rushing yards. His favorite target was Nico Colins, who had seven catches for 104 yards. Houston DE Josh Allen came up with 1.5 sacks to lead a strong defensive stand in the fourth quarter.
TENNESSEE (-2.5/36.5) over Carolina 17-10
The struggling Titans (4-7) needed two Derrick Henry TDs to get by the woeful Panthers, who fired head coach Frank Reich after the game. Will Levis completed 18 of 28 for 185 yards for Tennessee. Bryce Young completed 18 of 31 for 194 yards with 23 rushing yards for the Panthers. Henry finished with 76 yards on 18 carries, which was the most he’s had rushing in four games. Carolina is now 1-10 on the season and will be led by interim coach Chris Tabor, who was their special teams coach. Carolina also fired QB coach Josh McCown and assistant head coach/RBs Duce Staley. Special Assistant Jim Caldwell will advice OC Thomas Brown, who will now call plays (Reich called them before).
DENVER (-1.5/37.5) over Cleveland 29-12
The Broncos continued their strong play by defeating the Browns, who fell to 7-4. Denver has now five straight wins and improved to 6-5 thanks to two TDs from Russell Wilson. As for Cleveland, rookie QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson thew for 134 yards and his first career passing TD before leaving in the third quarter due to a concussion. P.J. Walker replaced DTR and threw for 56 yards. The Browns are still in the playoff hunt, but they’ll turn to Walker or veteran Joe Flacco at quarterback now.
LA Rams (-2.5/45.5) over ARIZONA 37-14
Matthew Stafford finally looked like his old self with four TD passes. Tyler Higbee caught two and Kyren Williams added two receiving TDs, after missing the last four games due to an ankle injury. The Rams (5-6) have now won nine straight at Arizona. Kyler Murray completed 27 of 45 for 256 yards and a TD in his third game of the season. Arizona (2-1) was held to under 200 net yards after three quarters.
Kansas City (-9.5/42.5) over LAS VEGAS 31-17
Patrick Mahomes passed for 298 yards and a two TDs, while Isiah Pacheco ran for two TDs in the Chiefs solid road win over the Raiders. The Chiefs had to come back from being down 14-0 in the second quarter and scored 21 straight points to take control of the game. Kansas City improved to 8-3 overall and 10-1 against the Raiders since 2018. Rookie QB Aidan O’Connell was 23 for 33 for 248 yards and a TD. Josh Jacobs rushed for 110 yards and a score for the Raiders, who fell to 5-7.
PHILADELPHIA (-3/48.5) over Buffalo 37-34ot
This was the game of the day as the Eagles found a way to come back from a brutal star in the cold rain. They were down 17-7 at the half ad 24-14 in the fourth quarter. But Jalen Hurts found a way with three passing TDs and the game-winning rushing TD in overtime (and another rushing score). DeVonta Smith caugh seven passes for 106 yards and a TD. This was a brutal loss for the Bils, who fell to 6-6 on the season. Josh Allen threw for two TDs and rushed for two TDs. Gabe Davis added six catches for 105 yards and a TD. Jake Elliott was another hero for the Eagles, who hit a 59-yard field goal in the cold rain with 20 seconds left to force overtime.
Baltimore (-3.5/48.5) over LA CHARGERS 20-10
Another prime-time under as the Ravens forced four turnovers but turned them into just three points. Fortunately for Baltimore, they have a speedy rookie in Zay Flowers, who caught a TD pass and ran for the game-clinching score late in the game. Lamar Jackson was a pedestrian 18-of-32 for 177 yards with 39 rushing yards. The Chargers couldn’t do much against Baltimore’s defense. Justin Herbert completed 29 of 44 for 217 yards with a TD and a pick. WR Keenan Allen caught 14 passes for 106 yards. Los Angeles falls to 4-7 and has now lost three straight games.
Monday, Nov. 27
Chicago (+3/43.5) over MINNESOTA 12-10
There are classics, good games and then there’s this stinker of a MNF game. Joshua Dobbs went from “passtronaut” to throwing four picks for the Vikings, who fell to 6-6. He completed 22 of 32 for 185 yards and a TD. Justin Fields wasn’t much better as he completed 27 of 37 for 217 yards with 59 rushing yards. But, he lost two crucial fumbles that almost cost the Bears the game. Fortunately, Chicago had kicker Cairo Santos, who made four field goals, including the game-winner with 10 seconds left.