NFL Week 12 picks: Colts, Texans meet in must-win game

Earlier in the schedule, the AFC South looked like one of the NFL’s deepest divisions. That might still be true, though none of the four members has exactly distinguished itself.

Certainly, the Texans didn’t when they got mauled last week in Baltimore. As for the Colts, whom they host on Thursday night (TSN, 8:20 p.m.), few teams are more inconsistent.

Both are 6-4 and because they have not been able to put distance between themselves and Tennessee, there’s no certainty that this will be a defining game in the division.

Still, with the Colts owning a victory over Houston, they would take a mammoth step toward another post-season berth if they can sweep the Texans.

“It is a must-win Thursday,” Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins says.

“Everyone knows that. We have to move forward. What we want is still ahead of us. So, that means focusing on the Colts now.”

Houston is a four-point choice over the Colts.

Pick: Texans, 27-26

SUNDAY

No. 26 Denver (plus 4) at No. 10 Buffalo This line seems kind of low as Broncos come off monumental second-half flop.

Best bet: Bills, 20-10 No. 5 Green Bay (plus 3 1-2) at No. 3 San Francisco NFL loved this matchup so much it was flexed to Sunday night. Taking A-Rod over Jimmy G.

Upset special: Packers 27-23 No. 9 Dallas (plus 6) at No. 2 New England A pair of first-place teams not looking much like it these days.

Pick: Patriots, 20-17 No. 4 Seattle (plus 2) at No. 15 Philadelphia It sure would be nice to see what a healthy Eagles team looks like. Seahawks remain unbeaten on road.

Pick: Seahawks, 20-16 No. 29 Miami (plus 11) at No. 20 Cleveland Can the Browns find a way to make headlines without controversy? Probably not.

Pick: Browns, 29-20 No. 17 Pittsburgh (minus 6 1-2) at No. 32 Cincinnati Bungles might win one at some point, just not against ticked-off Steelers.

Pick: Steelers, 24-12 No. 30 New York Giants (plus 7) at No. 22 Chicago Wonder if Matt Nagy would rather have Daniel Jones than Mitchell Trubisky.

Pick: Bears, 16-13 No. 14 Oakland (minus 3) at No. 28 New York Jets The Jets’ modest two-game winning streak is trumped by Oakland’s three-gamer.

Pick: Raiders, 27-20 No. 16 Carolina (plus 8) at No. 6 New Orleans Lots of turmoil in Carolina, and it’s nice and Big Easy in Nawlins.

Pick: Saints, 30-19 No. 27 Tampa Bay (plus 4) at No. 24 Atlanta Nice turnaround by Falcons might save Dan Quinn’s coaching job.

Pick: Falcons, 28-22 No. 25 Detroit (minus 3 1-2) at No. 31 Washington Can’t see Detroit favoured over anyone as road team. But can’t see Washington winning anywhere.

Pick: Lions, 15-13 No. 21 Jacksonville (plus 3) at No. 18 Tennessee In case you haven’t noticed, Titans are in playoff chase.

Pick: Titans, 20-16

MONDAY

No. 1 Baltimore (plus 3) at No. 13 Los Angeles Rams Yes, we believe Ravens are NFL’s best. But desperation wins here.

Pick: Rams, 23-21

RECORD

Last week: 7-7 against spread, 10-4 straight up. Season: 85-75-1 against spread, 99-60-1 straight up.