NFL 2019 Week Twelve  – Are We Heading For A Super Bowl XLVII Re-run?

In a week where things normally begin to take shape, the only thing we learned was that Cincinnati won’t be in the postseason and that there is a fair chance that we could be looking forward to a rematch of 2012’s Super Bowl. This time though the hype would be about the QB’s rather than the brotherly rivalry between the respective head coaches though given Jim Harbaugh is now in Michigan.

The 49ers showed that they were the class of the NFC this year, completely shutting down the Green Bay offense in a 37 – 8 win, while the Ravens kept the pressure on New England in the AFC with a very impressive 45-6 road win at last years Super Bowl finalists the Rams. Lamar Jackson continued to show is MVP credentials throwing for 5TDs as well as putting up 95 yards rushing!

The two face off in Baltimore this week in what will undoubtedly be the most anticipated game of the Thanks Giving Weekend.

Over In the AFC

Elsewhere in the AFC the Texans took control of the South with a narrow win over their nearest rivals the Colts. However, there is only one game in it and the Tennessee Titans stayed in touch winning the other divisional clash against Jacksonville. New England ground out another win, this time against Dallas in a game which was hard on the eyes, but not helped by the terrible weather. There has been a lot of talk of late regarding Tom Brady’s performances, however, they are 10-1 and a win at Houston on Sunday night would pretty much sew up at least a Wild Card slot. The mark of a good team is winning even when playing badly.

The race for the Wild Card places looks like being Buffalo and any one from eight other teams with even the NY Jets still pretty much alive at 4-7. Cleveland looks to be hitting form at the right time and although they are currently 10th in the standings they play the Steelers who hold the no 6 seed this week and a win would move them ahead of them. Let’s hope this weeks meeting is a little less dramatic. Speaking of which it looks likely that Mason Rudolph will be holding the clipboard this wee after being pulled at the half following another pretty dismal display.

In the NFC

Things are a bit more clear cut the top Six teams are starting to pull clear. The Saints can pretty much tie up the NFC South this week if they can get a result against the Falcons, while in the North Green Bay will be hoping to bounce back from their dismal display against San Fransisco with a trip to the NY Giants. They are in a bit of a dog fight with the Vikings for the division and both are still not completely clear of the Bears who have started winning again.

The game of the weekend here is the Vikings at the Seahawks, with both knowing that a win could put them top of their respective divisions. This would depend on the 49ers and Packers results but as this is the Monday Night Game both will know for sure what is at stake.

In the NFC East, both Dallas & Philadelphia play inter-conference games and although it looks unlikely that a Wild card will emanate from this division both have a chance of winning it. The division has only managed 15 wins total this year which is pretty dismal.

Bengals Still Winless.

Cincinnati’s dreadful season continues and it looks like Andy Dalton is back in favour as QB after the Ryan Finlay experiment failed miserably. We pencilled in this weeks game against the Jets as one they might win earlier in the season, however, New York is on a three-game winning streak so we could be discussing the 0-12 Bengals nex week.

I Bet You Didn’t Know…

New England may not have lit up the scoreboard in recent weeks but they have still only conceded 117 points through 11 games. That is the lowest through 11 games since 1977 when both the LA Rams  & Denver Broncos had fewer. But possibly what is even more impressive is the  +183 point differential. Since 1978 only three teams have done better the 1985 Bears, the 1991 Redskins, and the 1999 Rams. Guess what – all three went on to win the Super Bowl!

So how did we do predictions wise?

Not Great 9-5 straight up & a dismal 3-11 against the Spread – must do better.

Week Twelve’s Results

Thursday Night

Indianapolis 17 @ Houston 20 

Sunday Night 

Tampa Bay 35 @ Atlanta 22 

Denver 3 @ Buffalo 20 

NY Giants 14 @ Chicago Bears 19 

Pittsburgh 16 @ Cincinnati 10 

Miami 24 @ Cleveland 41 

Carolina 31 @ New Orleans 34

Oakland 3 @ NY Jets 34 

Seattle 17 @ Philadelphia 9 

Detroit 16 @ Washington 19 

Jacksonville 20 @ Tennessee 42 

Dallas 13 @ New England 19 

Green Bay 8 @ San Francisco 37 

Monday Night

Baltimore 45 @ LA Rams 6

Bye Week
Kansas City Minnesota Arizona LA Chargers 

Thats the last of the Byes so we will be back to a 16 game schedule for the remainder of the season.