The 2024 NFL season has been one of the most exciting years in NFL history. There have been 95 games decided by eight points or fewer this season, the second-most through Week 11 of a season in NFL history, according to CBS Sports Research. Only 2016 had more (96).
Week 12 continued the “Thursday Night Football” trend with the underdog Cleveland Browns stunning the Pittsburgh Steelers by a score of 24-19 through a picturesque Cleveland snowfall. What other shocking events could occur in Week 12? Check out our new batch of bold CBS Sports NFL predictions.
The New England Patriots have never beaten Miami Dolphins Pro Bowl quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who has won all six of his starts against their AFC East rival. That is tied for the best record by an active quarterback against one team along with Russell Wilson’s 6-0 record against the Philadelphia Eagles and Matthew Stafford’s 6-0 record against the Washington Commanders.
However, that’s going to change in Week 12, when the Patriots’ No. 3 overall pick quarterback Drake Maye leads New England to victory against Tagovailoa’s Dolphins. It hasn’t been a typical year for Tagovailoa, who threw three or more touchdowns for the first time last week against the Las Vegas Raiders. He had four such games in 2023.
Maye’s 10 total touchdowns this season are tied for the most by a rookie in his first seven games of a season in the last four seasons along with Trevor Lawrence (2021), CJ Stroud (2023) and Jayden Daniels (2024). He’s also been an elusive fighter, averaging 9.29 yards per carry on 28 carries this season, which is the most by a rookie on at least 25 carries since Michael Vick’s 9.32 yards per carry average on 31 carries in two games played in 2001. The rush is also terrible when finishing pass rushes for sacks. They are generating a 34.4% quarterback pressure rate, which is 17th in the NFL, but they only have 17 sacks, which is the third fewest in the entire league.
I’m betting Maye avoids the Dolphins’ pressure and leads the Patriots to an upset victory over Tagovailoa and Co. in Miami.
Suffering a sprained MCL and groin strain early in the 2024 season has resulted in inefficient play from Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love — his 11 interceptions this season are tied for the most in the NFL along with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Seattle Seahawks. quarterback Geno Smith.
He has thrown an interception in all eight games this season, tying him for the fourth-longest streak in a single season by a Packers quarterback since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger, according to CBS Sports Research. Love is also the first quarterback since 2019’s Jameis Winston, who became the only player in NFL history with at least 30 touchdown passes (33) and at least 30 interceptions (30) in a single season with 16 or more touchdown passes (16). and 11 or more interceptions (11) in his first eight games of a season.
Naturally, one would expect Love’s interception streak to continue against a San Francisco 49ers defense that has had 11 interceptions this season, seventh-most in the NFL this season. However, Love looked the best he has all season fighting and creating time to throw with his legs in Green Bay’s Week 11 win over the Chicago Bears. With his mobility returning week after week, Love should play a clean game in Week 12 at home against San Francisco.
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Panthers’ Chuba Hubbard becomes first running back to rush for at least 60 yards against Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs (9-1) are the only NFL team not allowing a running back to rush for at least 60 yards in a game this season. It makes sense considering the Chiefs have had the highest-scoring defense (18.0 points per game allowed) and best total defense (292.6 total yards per game allowed) since 2023.
That streak of stifling opposing running backs to 59 yards or less this season will end Sunday against Carolina Panthers leader Chuba Hubbard at 3-7. He’s producing career highs in rushing yards per game (81.8), yards per carry (5.1) and rushing touchdowns (six). Hubbard’s 818 rushing yards are fourth-most in the NFL this season, and he’s looking to at least hit his 81.8 rushing yards per game average on Sunday against a Kansas City team that struggled against Josh Allen a week ago. .
Texans’ CJ Stroud avoids sack against Titans
CJ Stroud has been completely banged up since he stepped foot in the NFL. He has been sacked 35 times this season, second-most in the league, behind only Chicago Bears No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams’ 41 times, and has been sacked 73 times in his career, tied for most. in the NFL along with first overall in 2023. Pick Bryce Young.
Although Houston’s problems with pass protectionwill avoid being sacked in Week 12 against the Tennessee Titans because their defense has collapsed without top cornerback L’Jarius Sneed. Since his absence began in Week 7, Tennessee is allowing 30.7 points per game, third-most in the entire league. That’s because they lost the tightest coverage corner in football this season: Sneed has allowed the lowest completion percentage (37.5%) as a primary coverage defender this season among 221 defensemen with at least 20 passes thrown. in your direction.
The loss of Sneed has had a ripple effect throughout the Titans defense, which is why Tennessee Pro Bowl running back Harold Landry (five sacks this season) and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (three sacks this season) They will not defeat Stroud. on Sunday despite their vulnerable offensive line.
Lamar Jackson throws his first interception on Monday against the Chargers’ top defense
No quarterback has been better than Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson when playing football on Mondays. He has thrown for 20 touchdown passes and no interceptions on Mondays, putting him one touchdown pass away from tying Tom Brady for the most touchdown passes without an interception in a single day in NFL history, according to CBS Sports Research. Tom Brady holds that NFL record with 21 touchdown passes and no interceptions when he played on Saturday.
That interception-less streak will end in Week 12 when they face the Los Angeles Chargers. It’s bold given Jackson’s dominance on Monday, but that’s what will happen when facing Los Angeles’ No. 1 scoring defense (14.5 points allowed per game). Yes, that’s how many points allowed per game Los Angeles has allowed this season, even after allowing 27 points against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11. They’ve racked up nine interceptions this season, tied for 10th in the league, and they will. gets a tenth on Monday against Jackson.
