Nfl Week 12: What’s at Stake?
It’s Week 12 of the NFL season, and there’s still a lot to be decided. Here’s a look at what’s at stake for each team heading into this week’s action.
Week 12 NFL Power Rankings
The NFL season is winding down, and teams are jockeying for playoff positioning. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the Week 12 power rankings.
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots are currently atop the AFC East with a record of 10-1. They are coming off of a Week 11 loss to the Houston Texans, but remain the clear favorite to win the division. The Patriots have a two-game lead over the second-place Buffalo Bills, and hold the tiebreaker over them as well. They also have a one-game lead over the third-place Miami Dolphins.
The Patriots have a very favorable remaining schedule, with games against the Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, and Miami Dolphins. All three of those teams are currently below .500. The Patriots should be able to win all three of those games and finish the regular season with a 13-3 record.
Even if the Patriots were to lose one of those three games, they would still be in good position to win the division. They would need some help from either the Bills or Dolphins, but it is certainly within the realm of possibility. The bottom line is that the Patriots are in control of their own destiny and should be able to win the AFC East for the 10th straight season.
Seattle Seahawks
1. Seattle Seahawks (10-1) – The Seahawks were on their bye in Week 11, but they’ll be back in action this week against the Minnesota Vikings. With a win, they would clinch the NFC West title and maintain their hold on the top spot in the conference.
2. San Francisco 49ers (9-2) – The 49ers had a bye in Week 11 as well, but they’ll return to action this week against the Baltimore Ravens. With a win, they would clinch a playoff berth and keep pace with the Seahawks atop the NFC West.
3. New Orleans Saints (9-2) – The Saints picked up a big win in Week 11, defeating the Carolina Panthers 34-13. With a win this week against the Atlanta Falcons, they would clinch the NFC South title and move one step closer to securing a first-round bye in the playoffs.
4. Green Bay Packers (9-2) – The Packers picked up a big win in Week 11 as well, defeating the Minnesota Vikings 24-17. With a win this week against the New York Giants, they would clinch the NFC North title and move one step closer to securing a first-round bye in the playoffs.
5. Dallas Cowboys (7-4) – The Cowboys bounced back from their loss to the Bills in Week 10 with a big win over the Detroit Lions in Week 11. They’ll look to keep things going this week against the Bears, but they’ll need some help to catch up to Green Bay and New Orleans for a first-round bye.
Dallas Cowboys
With a win over the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday Night Football, the Dallas Cowboys improved to 7-4 on the season and solidified their place atop the NFC East. The Cowboys have a two-game lead over the Philadelphia Eagles and a three-game lead over the Washington Redskins, so they are in control of their own destiny.
The Cowboys have a tough road ahead, with games against the Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints, and Seattle Seahawks remaining on their schedule. However, if they can win just two of those games, they will likely be division champions.
The Cowboys are led by quarterback Dak Prescott, who has thrown for 3,221 yards and 23 touchdowns this season. Running back Ezekiel Elliott is also having a strong year, with 1,074 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. receiver Amari Cooper has been a key addition to the offense, catching 53 passes for 725 yards and six touchdowns.
On defense, the Cowboys are allowing 22.0 points per game, which is ninth in the NFL. They are led by linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, who has 137 tackles this season. Defensive end Demarcus Lawrence is also having a strong season, with 10.5 sacks.
Green Bay Packers
The NFC North is one of the NFL’s most competitive divisions, and the Green Bay Packers currently sit atop the division with a 7-3 record. The Packers have won four of their last five games, and their only loss in that span was a narrow one-point defeat to the Los Angeles Rams.
The Packers’ recent success has been due in large part to the play of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who has been on an absolute tear over the last month. In his last five games, Rodgers has thrown for 1,583 yards and 16 touchdowns with just two interceptions. He’s also rushed for two touchdowns in that span.
Rodgers’ play has helped elevate the play of the entire Packers offense, and they currently rank fourth in the NFL in points scored per game (29.4). The Packers will look to keep their winning ways going this week when they take on the division-rival Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football.
Week 12 NFL Games
In Week 12 of the NFL season, there are a few key games with playoff implications. The New Orleans Saints will be looking to keep their winning streak alive as they take on the Dallas Cowboys. The Green Bay Packers will be trying to get back on track as they take on the Minnesota Vikings. These are just a few of the games that will be played this week.
New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks
One of the most highly-anticipated games of the NFL season is set to take place this Sunday when the New England Patriots travel to Seattle to take on the Seahawks. This could very well be a Super Bowl preview, as both teams are among the best in the league.
The Patriots come into this game with a 9-1 record, and they are coming off of a dominant win over the Philadelphia Eagles. The Seahawks, meanwhile, are 8-2 and coming off of a tough loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
This game will feature two of the best quarterbacks in the league in Tom Brady and Russell Wilson. Both teams also have strong defenses, so it could be a low-scoring affair.
Whoever wins this game will have a big advantage in terms of seeding for the playoffs. The Patriots are currently atop the AFC standings, while the Seahawks are second in the NFC.
Dallas Cowboys vs. Green Bay Packers
On Thursday night, the Dallas Cowboys will travel to Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers. The Cowboys are coming off a Thanksgiving Day win over the Buffalo Bills, while the Packers are coming off a loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
What’s at stake in this game?
For the Cowboys, they can clinch the NFC East division title with a win. They can also clinch a first-round bye in the playoffs with a win and a loss by the Los Angeles Rams.
For the Packers, they can stay alive in the NFC North division race with a win. They can also clinch a playoff berth with a win and losses by both therams and Carolina Panthers.
What’s at Stake in Week 12 NFL Games
NFL Week 12 has several big games with playoff implications. In the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles can clinch the division with a win over the Dallas Cowboys. The Los Angeles Rams can clinch a first-round bye with a win over the Detroit Lions. In the AFC, the New England Patriots can clinch the division with a win over the Miami Dolphins.
New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks
The New England Patriots are facing the Seattle Seahawks in a game that has big implications for both teams. For the Patriots, a win would keep them in first place in the AFC East, while a loss would drop them into a tie with the Buffalo Bills. The Seahawks, meanwhile, are currently in first place in the NFC West, but a loss would give the Los Angeles Rams a chance to take over first place with a win later in the day.
Dallas Cowboys vs. Green Bay Packers
The Dallas Cowboys are currently in first place in the NFC East with a record of 6-5. They are coming off of a Thanksgiving Day win against the Buffalo Bills, while the Green Bay Packers are coming off of a loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The Packers are currently second in the NFC North with a record of 5-6.
A win for the Cowboys would give them a two game lead over the Packers and put them in control of their own destiny when it comes to making the playoffs. A loss, on the other hand, would bring Green Bay back into contention for the division title and make things much more interesting down the stretch.
For Green Bay, a win would put them right back in the thick of things in both the division and conference race. With a loss, however, they would all but rule themselves out of any chance at making the playoffs.
Both teams desperately need a win in this one, so it should be an exciting matchup.
