MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Byrnes

The Buffalo Bills can’t decide if they want to be the team that entered the season with ESPN’s third best odds (+700) to win the Super Bowl, or the team that recently lost 30-13 to the hapless Dolphins. 

Without quarterback CJ Stroud, backup Davis Mills, and a strong defense the Texans have won the last two games and look to extend the streak.

Week 12 began in Texas:

Thursday Night:

Buffalo (7-3) @ Houston (5-5): Houston 23-19

Houston’s Will Anderson Jr. was everywhere, registering 2-1/2 of the Texans eight sacks, and had a key tackle on fourth down to end a deep drive late. 

The Texans intercepted reigning MVP Josh Allen twice, disrupting him the entire game, and also forced a fumble to round out a dominant defensive effort.

James Cook III had 116 yards and a touchdown, and Ray Davis returned a kickoff 97 yards for a score for Buffalo, in the loss.

Sunday:

Philadelphia (8-2) @ Dallas (4-5-1): Dallas 24-21

The reigning-NFL champion Eagles looked the part going into the second quarter, pulling out to a 21-0 lead. Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott (354 yards-3 total TDs) led the comeback, throwing deep passes to his receivers George Pickens (9-146-TD) and CeeDee Lamb (4-75) the entire second half. Prescott is now Dallas’ all-time passing leader with 34,378 yards, surpassing Tony Romo.

The Eagles fumbled in key moments, including one by Saquon Barkley, and it’s becoming clear that his 2000-yard season in 2024 took its toll. Barkley has only one 100-yard game this season and his 22 yards on the ground Sunday was his fifth game under 50 yards. 

The loss drops Philadelphia from the top spot in the NFC, making way for the LA Rams.

Sunday Night:

Tampa Bay (6-4) @ Los Angeles Rams (8-2): LA Rams 34-7

The Rams are known for their offense but it’s the defense that is shining.

Cobie Durant returned a ripped-out interception for a touchdown and teammate Emmanuel Forbes Jr. added the sixth LA interception in two games, holding Tampa to just 70 passing yards.

Linebacker Nate Landman, who just signed a 3-year, $ 22.5 million extension, added seven tackles in the win as the Rams are now the top defense in the NFL.

Not to be outdone, Matthew Stafford (273 yards-3 TDs) is running away with the MVP race and now has an NFL-record 27 consecutive touchdown passes without an interception.

Once a problem for the Rams, first quarter scoring is 63-3 since week 7, and Sean McVay is ruining opponent game plans early.

Other Sunday Games:

Kansas City 23 – Indianapolis 20

Chicago 31 – Pittsburgh 28

New England 26 – Cincinnati 20

Baltimore 23 – NY Jets 10

Seattle 30 – Tennessee 24

Green Bay 23 – Minnesota 6

Detroit 34 – NY Giants 27

Jacksonville 27 – Arizona 24

Cleveland 24 – Las Vegas 10

Atlanta 24 – New Orleans 10

Monday Night:

Carolina (6-5) @ San Francisco (7-4): San Francisco 20-9

A week after setting a franchise-record with 448 passing yards, Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (169 yards TD/ 2 interceptions) reverted back to the below average game that has him passing for under 200 yards for the ninth time in eleven contests.

San Francisco’s Brock Purdy overcame three interceptions in the first four drives to lead his team and hold onto a wildcard spot.

Christian McCaffrey ran for 89 yards and a score and caught seven passes for 53 yards to continue an amazing year where he has almost 1600 total yards.

Key Injuries:

Pit (CB) Joey Porter Jr (hip)

NE (LB) Jared Wilson (ankle)

NE (LT) Will Cambell (knee)

Cin (WR) Tee Higgins (concussion)

LV (RB) Ashton Jeanty (ankle)

NO (RB) Alvin Kamara (knee)

Phi (CB) Adoree’ Jackson (concussion)

TB (QB) Baker Mayfield (shoulder)

Car (CB) Jaycee Horn (concussion)

Byrnes Picks:

Week 12 Results:

(10-4) (118-59-1)

Week 13 Picks:

Detroit over Green Bay

Kansas City over Dallas

Baltimore over Cincinnati

Philadelphia over Chicago

San Francisco over Cleveland

Jacksonville over Tennessee

Indianapolis over Houston

Miami over New Orleans

Atlanta over New York Jets

LA Rams over Carolina

Tampa Bay over Arizona

Seattle over Minnesota

LA Chargers over Las Vegas

Buffalo over Pittsburgh

Denver over Washington

New England over New York Giants