NFL WEEK 12 MATCHUPS
NEW ENGLAND (10-0) AT DENVER (8-2)
Tom Brady versus Brock Osweiler just doesn’t have the same Hall of Fame ring to it. Still, when Brady leads his undefeated Patriots into Denver tonight, the game will have plenty of significance. And no one should write off the Broncos’ chances, even with the untested Osweiler subbing for Peyton Manning. Osweiler’s first NFL start was a victory at Chicago. While Manning mends from a variety of ailments — he’ll probably miss another two weeks — the Broncos aren’t shying away from the challenge against New England. “Obviously, what Coach Belichick has accomplished in the past decade, 15 years is maybe second to none,” Osweiler said. “But at the end of the day, I’m not going against Bill Belichick on Sunday. I’m going against their defense and their football team. This is going to be two football teams going against each other. I’m not big into the one-on-one matchups.” Brady said he will miss matching up with his longtime rival quarterback. But he’ll likely miss not having some key parts on offense, particularly injured Julian Edelman, who is out, and Danny Amendola, who is unlikely to play. “There’s nobody that has more respect for Peyton than me, outside of probably his parents, his brother,” Brady said. “If anybody can appreciate what Peyton has accomplished, it’s me. He’s just been remarkable in every part of his career — he’s been a tremendous player.” So has Brady, of course. He has won five of his last six games against Denver, passing for 17 touchdowns and two interceptions. Brady is four touchdown passes from surpassing Dan Marino for third on the all-time list with 421.
PITTSBURGH (6-4) AT SEATTLE (5-5)
These are two teams to watch as the NFL enters its stretch drive. The Steelers are 3-0 against the NFC West this season, and Ben Roethlisberger is 3-0 in his career against the Seahawks, including a Super Bowl win. He was forced into emergency action when Landry Jones went down two weeks ago against Cleveland and performed impressively on a bum ankle. He has plenty of offensive help from receivers Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant, as well as running back DeAngelo Williams, who has been subbing well for injured All-Pro Le’Veon Bell. Seattle seems to have discovered a new star at running back, Thomas Rawls. With Marshawn Lynch out, the rookie rushed for 209 yards against the 49ers, the second-best game in franchise history. The Seahawks have rushed for 100 yards as a team in 21 straight games. “He’s done very well and been consistent,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said of Rawls. “Whenever he’s been given a real good shot, he’s come through in a big way.”
ARIZONA (8-2) AT SAN FRANCISCO (3-7)
Arizona annihilated San Francisco 47-7 in September. The Cardinals are just as good now, while the 49ers have nosedived even more. The Cardinals have won four in a row to take hold of the NFC West, but they haven’t won in San Francisco in seven years. Their balanced offense, with a revitalized Chris Johnson running the ball and Carson Palmer connecting with Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown, will severely test the 49ers. San Francisco linebacker NaVorro Bowman likes the sight of Arizona. Bowman, who leads the NFC with 97 tackles in a comeback season from knee surgery, has 25 tackles, one sack, one interception, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in his past three meetings with the Cardinals.
N.Y. GIANTS (5-5) AT WASHINGTON (4-6)
No team is worse at finishing off games than the Giants, who top the mediocre NFC East even though they have blown four games late in the final quarter. Coming off a bye, they’ll need to discover a rushing game down the stretch, as well as a stingier pass defense. They are tied for the league lead with a plus-13 turnover margin. Washington still has four division contests left and probably needs to sweep them to be a factor. Redskins coach Jay Gruden is 0-3 vs. New York’s Tom Coughlin.
ST. LOUIS (4-6) AT CINCINNATI (8-2)
Suddenly, the Bengals are looking behind them at Pittsburgh, a team they seemed to leave in the dust with an 8-0 start. St. Louis has a big-time pass rush, which it will need to pressure Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton and stop him from finding the league’s most productive tight end — Tyler Eifert, who leads the NFL with 11 touchdown catches, the most ever by a Bengals tight end.
TAMPA BAY (5-5) AT INDIANAPOLIS (5-5)
While the Colts are deadlocked with the Texans atop the AFC South, the Buccaneers have virtually no chance of winning their division with the Panthers out of sight in the NFC South. But both Tampa Bay and Indianapolis have made impressive turnarounds. The Bucs have won two straight and three of their past four with a strong offense led by running back Doug Martin and top overall draft pick Jaimes Winston, who threw five touchdown passes last week. Tampa Bay has forced at least one turnover in 17 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the NFL. Indianapolis, which was 3-5, has won its past two over teams with winning marks (Denver and Atlanta) and has not missed a beat when starting quarterback Andrew Luck has been sidelined. At age 40, backup Matt Hasselbeck is 3-0 this season.
NEW ORLEANS (4-6) AT HOUSTON (5-5)
New Orleans fired defensive coordinator Rob Ryan during its off week. The Saints might get some helpful lessons from watching the rapidly developing Texans defense, led by 2014 defensive player of the year J.J. Watt. He is having another All-Pro caliber season and has gotten plenty of help from linebackers Brian Cushing and Whitney Mercilus. Houston is tied atop the weak AFC South after winning three straight games and four of five.
BUFFALO (5-5) AT KANSAS CITY (5-5)
Remember when the Chiefs were 1-5 and in a funk? Now look at them. Their defense might be the league’s best right now, led by linebackers Justin Houston and Tambi Hali, and the Chiefs lead the AFC with a plus-10 turnover differential. Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith doesn’t throw interceptions. Inconsistent Buffalo needs to cut back on the penalties and unleash its two-pronged rushing attack with LeSean McCoy and Karlos Williams. The latter has five touchdowns, second among rookies to the Rams’ Todd Gurley.
MIAMI (4-6) AT N.Y. JETS (5-5)
These teams had designs on challenging the Patriots in the AFC East, but now they’re long shots for a wild-card berth. They more likely will struggle to post a winning record this season. The Jets have lost four of five, with only one of those to an opponent currently with a winning mark, New England. The offense has stagnated, with questionable play calling among the factors, and now top cornerback Darrelle Revis is battling a concussion.
SAN DIEGO (2-8) AT JACKSONVILLE (4-6)
Although the Chargers send a team out each week, it’s a shell of what the roster looked like when the season kicked off. Not the greatest advertisement for a potential move up to Los Angeles. The Jaguars are a mere one game behind in the AFC South, but does anyone truly regard them as a playoff contender? One of the NFL’s youngest teams is making progress, though, and wideouts Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson have combined for 14 touchdown receptions.
BALTIMORE (3-7) AT CLEVELAND (2-8)
Too bad the NFL isn’t into flexing its Monday night game. This one has virtually no attraction, especially with Baltimore’s top two offensive players, quarterback Joe Flacco and running back Justin Forsett, added to its long list of guys on injured reserve. Maybe fans of Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel will be eager to tune in.