Week 12 NFL Matchups to Watch

By The 33rd Team

Save to My Playbook

Here are some interesting Week 11 matchups that are worth watching:

Chiefs (9-1) at Buccaneers (7-4)

The Chiefs have the best EPA per play of any offense in the league, but when the Bucs faced the second-most efficient offense -- the Packers, in Week 6 -- they held them to only 10 points, forced two Aaron Rodgers interceptions and held him to a dismal 46% completion rate.
The Bucs should have some success on the ground if they can prevent the Chiefs from jumping out to a big early lead, as Kansas City’s rush defense has been one of the worst in the league in EPA allowed.
Tom Brady has only thrown one interception when facing a defense outside the top 10, so he is likely to end his turnover woes against the Chiefs’ 14th-ranked defense. This one should be a tight contest.

Titans (7-3) at Colts (7-3)

The Colts should have some success through the air in this matchup, with the 11th-ranked passing offense facing a 25th-ranked Titans pass defense.
Both the Colts’ defense and Titans’ offense are top 5 units, so whoever can win in this strength-on-strength matchup will gain an edge.
Special teams played a big role in the last matchup between these teams, including a blocked punt returned for a Colts touchdown. The Titans’ special teams has continued to struggle, ranking among the worst units in the league.

Bears (5-5) at Packers (7-3)

The Packers have had mixed results against top defenses this seasons: beating the Saints by 7, losing a heartbreak

er to the Colts in OT last week, and getting demolished by the Bucs in Week 6, only managing to score 10 points.

The Bears’ pass defense ranks slightly below those teams, indicating Rodgers may have some success through the air. The Bears’ offense, on the other hand, ranks near the bottom of the league in nearly every category. This rivalry game could get ugly.

Cardinals (6-4) at Patriots (4-6)

These teams boast the two most efficient rushing offenses in the NFL, while both have defenses in the bottom half of the league against the run.
The Cardinals’ passing attack will likely be the difference in this one, as they face a bottom five New England passing defense and receiver DeAndre Hopkins leads the league in receiving yards.

Saints (8-2) at Broncos (4-6)

While performing against a poor Falcons defense, Taysom Hill looked good in his first NFL start at QB, completing 78% of his passes and scoring two TDs on the ground. Between this season and last, the Saints are 6-0 without Drew Brees at QB.
The Broncos’ defense ranks in the top 10 in EPA allowed per play, so expect a conservative game plan from the Saints. Facing a struggling Broncos offense, this has the makings of a low-scoring affair.