Week 12 NFL shockers revealed as Chiefs roar back against the Colts while Eagles narrowly topple the Cowboys.QQ
There was a little more normalcy with the Week 11 2025 NFL regular season results to feel more confident going into Sporting News’ Week 12 game picks and predictions against the spread.
A busy slate of division games saw some fortunes changing plenty in the race for the playoffs. Everything will only get tighter and tougher down the stretch with only seven weeks left before the playoffs.
Here’s diving into the latest fearless forecast of professional pigskin prognostications:
(Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook)
NFL picks against the spread for Week 12
- Game of Midweek: Bills (-4.5, 43.5 o/u) at Texans
Thursday 8:15 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime Video
The Bills rode Josh Allen’s wild stallion passing and running dominance to victory over the Buccaneers’ defense, but the Texans present a tougher challenge in prime time on the road. They can stop the run and pressure him, backing it up with good coverage. He will need to dig deeper to make a few big plays off script. Unfortunately, the Texans don’t have the pop with either QB to edge him.
Pick: Bills win 23-20 but fail to cover the spread.
- Game of the Week: Buccaneers at Rams (-6.5, 49.5 o/u)
Sunday 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock
The Buccaneers are finding new young contributors to boost their offense every week but they are getting a little erratic with Baker Mayfield and also having too many key defensive lapses. That doesn’t bode well for taking down a Sean McVay-coached team on the road, but Mayfield will do his best gamer vs. Matthew Stafford.
Pick: Rams win 27-24 but fail to cover the spread.
- Lock of the Week: 49ers (-6.5, 47.5 o/u) over Panthers
Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN
The Panthers are a nice story at 6-5 and trying to catch the Buccaneers in the NFC South. But they have their own prime-time problems on the road against a NFC West power. Christian McCaffrey, revenge game aside, is a terrible matchup for Carolina’s defense. George Kittle is an even worse one. Offensively, they don’t have the passing juice, much like Arizona, to keep up with San Francisco.
Pick: 49ers win 38-17 and cover the spread.
- Upset of the Week: Cardinals (+2.5, 47.5 o/u) over Jaguars
Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS
The Cardinals have Jacoby Brissett tossing the ball around the stadium to various weapons and he should get Marvin Harrison Jr. back. The Jaguars are up and down and tend to play their toughest at home. Arizona can contain Jacksonville’s running game and that means Trevor Lawrence is put in a bad spot, maybe without Brian Thomas Jr. again.
Pick: Cardinals win 23-20.
- Steelers at Bears (-3, 45 o/u)
Sunday I p.m. ET, CBS
Aaron Rodgers may not get a chance to try to beat the Bears one more time in Soldier Field to duel Caleb Williams, who has revved up his team to three consecutive victories and first place over Rodgers’ former team, the Packers. Chicago has enough defense to handle Pittsburgh’s limited offense, while the diversity and explosiveness of the Bears’ attack grinds out another win.
Pick: Bears win 24-20 and cover the spread.
David Butler II-Imagn Images
- Patriots (-7, 50 o/u) at Bengals
Sunday 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Drake Maye and the Patriots’ offense have no reason to cool down against the Bengals’ reeling defense, especially now that TreVeyon Henderson and the offensive line have helped make the running game a much bigger factor. Joe Flacco is hitting a wall when facing some more challenging defenses. The Bengals’ season is already lost to they will be just looking ahead to Joe Burrow helping them play spoiler down the stretch.
Pick: Patriots win 27-17 and cover the spread.
