NFL Week 12 weekend preview
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Raiders (2-8) at Ravens (5-5)
Time, TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS
Pregame.com line: Ravens by 11 Raiders’ keys: Attack the middle of the field to give QB Derek Carr quicker options and exploit a suspect linebackers corps. Effectively running on first and second downs would take pressure off Carr and allow Oakland to use play action to free up the long ball.
Ravens’ keys: They need a good run/ pass ratio to keep the Raiders from stacking the line of scrimmage. QB
Lamar Jackson will have to be safe with the football. On defense, the Ravens simply need to shut down the run to make the Raiders one-dimensional so they can harass Raiders QB Derek Carr.
Who wins? With the Ravens still firmly in the playoff hunt, they have come out spirited and playing with more passion. Ravens, 21-3
Jaguars (3-7) at Bills (3-7)
Time, TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS Line: Jaguars by 3
Jaguars’ keys: To break a six-game losing streak, they have to get out to a quick start. RB Leonard Fournette has to lead the way. Defensively, the Jags have to do what they do best: shut down the opposing quarterback.
Bills’ keys: These teams mirror each other — both run the ball well and have stout defenses. After the offseason smack talk from Jaguars CB Jalen Ramsey, it’ll be fun to see if he’s right about Buffalo rookie QB Josh Allen.
Who wins? Jaguars coach Doug Marrone could be fighting for his job against his ex-employer. The Bills will turn up the thermostat on the hot seat. Bills, 27-17
Seahawks (5-5) at Panthers (6-4)
Time, TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox Line: Panthers by 3
Seahawks’ keys: They will look to RBs Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny, who combined for 129 rushing yards and a touchdown on 25 carries against the Packers. Defensively, Seattle will need to contain a dynamic rushing attack. Panthers’ keys: The key to beating Seattle is getting pressure on QB Russell Wilson. Seahawks LB Bobby Wagner is the best middle linebacker in the league outside of the Panthers’ Luke Kuechly, but he will have his hands full trying to stop Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey, an elusive, dual-threat back. Who wins? Panthers QB Cam Newton, 1-4 against the Seahawks, has matured as a player a great deal since his early failures against them. Seattle’s road wins have come against Arizona, Oakland and Detroit, but Carolina will be a different story. Panthers, 26-23
Browns (3-6-1) at Bengals (5-5)
Time, TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS Line: Bengals by 3 Browns’ keys: High-percentage throws for a rookie quarterback (Browns’ Baker Mayfield) on the road is great. That a bad defense helps turn them into highupside throws makes an upset possible. Bengals’ keys: WR John Ross has excelled in the red zone but doesn’t have a strong connection with QB Andy Dalton down the field. The coaches have to better work RBs Joe Mixon and Giovani Bernard into the passing game.
Who wins? The Bengals have their share of problems and the Browns picked up a win before a Week 11 bye, but it’s not enough to move the needle to road-upset territory. Bengals, 27-24
Patriots (7-3) at Jets (3-7)
Patriots’ keys: No matter whether the quarterback is Josh McCown or Sam Darnold, the Jets don’t have a prayer of keeping up with Patriots QB Tom Brady.
But New England’s defense could do the offense a favor by bringing consistent pressure on whoever is under center for New York.
Jets’ keys: They are on a four-game losing streak in which the offense has sputtered and the defense has been inconsistent. The only real reason for hope is that New York is coming off its bye and players will be well-rested.
Who wins? New York’s offense will falter again, and Brady will pick apart New Jack City. It’s hard to envision anything else happening. Patriots, 35-14
Giants (3-7) at Eagles (4-6)
Time, TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox Line: Eagles by 6
Giants’ keys: They won consecutive games for the first time since December 2016 with a victory over the Buccaneers. Rookie RB Saquon Barkley scored three TDs and ran for 142 yards, and QB Eli Manning passed for two TDs. New York will look to hit the Eagles with the quick passing game, pitches and sweeps to Barkley before throwing up top. Eagles’ keys: They will have to make plays through the air against a vulnerable secondary and establish some semblance of a running game so the play-action pass can evolve naturally.
Who wins? The Eagles need this game, they’re embarrassed and, luckily for them, they’re still better than the Giants. Eagles, 24-21
49ers (2-8) at Buccaneers (3-7)
Time, TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox Line: Buccaneers by 31⁄ 2
49ers’ keys: QB Nick Mullens will have to execute to take full advantage of Tampa Bay’s lack of a consistent pass rush and an inexperienced secondary.
Buccaneers’ keys: The offense continues to put up huge yardage numbers, but they’ve mattered little because of turnovers, red-zone struggles and an unreliable kicking game. QB
Jameis Winston, who is back starting over Ryan Fitzpatrick, needs to avoid the costly giveaways that have sent each to the bench.
Who wins? The Bucs should feel a sense of urgency, and with the home crowd behind them, they will make just enough big plays. Buccaneers, 27-24
Cardinals (2-8) at Chargers (7-3)
Time, TV: 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox Line: Chargers by 121⁄ 2
Cardinals’ keys: They can’t afford for rookie QB Josh Rosen to make the same mistakes. Taking care of the ball will be big, and so will protecting Rosen. Chargers’ keys: They can’t let Arizona hang around. When RB Melvin Gordon gets going, the offense is tough to stop. When DE Melvin Ingram is in the opponent’s backfield, the Chargers usually are getting off the field.
Who wins: The Chargers will force turnovers and hit on a couple of big plays. Chargers, 31-17
Dolphins (5-5) at Colts (5-5)
Time, TV: 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS Line: Colts by 8
Dolphins’ keys: Coming out of their bye, the defense has struggled stopping the run (30th in NFL). Getting their own run game going with RB Frank Gore while using RB Kenyan Drake as a pass catcher could give the Colts defense fits. Colts’ keys: They will want to feature RB
Marlon Mack heavily while getting him the ball in space. The offense also will want to continue using the play action with QB Andrew Luck, who has thrown three or more TD passes in seven games in a row.
Who wins? The Colts offense is rolling, even against strong defenses. The Dolphins defense is anything but strong. Colts, 29-23
Steelers (7-2-1) at Broncos (4-6)
Time, TV: 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS Line: Steelers by 31⁄ 2
Steelers’ keys: Slowing down Denver’s rushing attack. The Steelers appear to have a respectable run defense; they have allowed starting running backs to rush for an average of 68 yards per game over the last four weeks.
Broncos’ keys: QB Case Keenum hasn’t been setting the world on fire this season (he has 11 TD passes against 10 interceptions), but Denver should be able to find ways to get WRs Emmanuel Sanders and Courtland Sutton the ball.
Who wins? Denver has been underperforming since Vance Joseph took over as coach in 2017. The Steelers, on the other hand, have won six games in a row. Steelers, 31-21
Packers (4-5-1) at Vikings (5-4-1)
Time, TV: 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday, NBC Line: Vikings by 3
Packers’ keys: This game could be decided by whether Mason Crosby can turn into one of the better kickers in the league again. He has missed six field goal attempts this season, his highest total since 2014. He also has failed to convert two extra points.
Vikings’ keys: If QB Kirk Cousins can get the offense going early and get a lead, that should be enough to give the crowd a boost and make life difficult for Packers QB Aaron Rodgers.
Who wins? The Vikings are 4-1-1 against the Packers in their last six meetings and 2-0 against them at U.S. Bank Stadium. Cousins will lead the Vikings to an exciting win on a national stage. Vikings, 27-20
Titans (5-5) at Texans (7-3)
Time, TV: 8:15 p.m. ET Monday, ESPN Line: Texans by 51⁄ 2 Titans’ keys: QB Marcus Mariota has done a masterful job of converting third downs, but his availability was in question because of a recurrence of his elbow injury. RB Dion Lewis provides the lightning aspect to RB Derrick Henry’s thunder along with second-year WR Corey Davis.
Texans’ keys: The Texans led the earlier encounter 17-14, but a QB Deshaun Watson interception in Tennessee territory cost them a chance for points. He has done a better job protecting the ball since the 0-3 start. The Texans will need to create balance with RB Lamar Miller along with ensuring that WR Demaryius Thomas, acquired from the Broncos, is integrated into the offense. Who wins? Watson has learned to play complementary football, and Houston keeps finding ways to win. Tennessee hasn’t consistently fired on all cylinders. Texans, 26-21
Game previews provided by USA TODAY Sports Media Group affiliates.