A Super Bowl hangover and a head coach brothers’ clash: Five things to look out for in Week 12 of the NFL season
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Lions players celebrate after an interception during the team's big win over the Jaguars. David Reginek/USA TODAY Sports/Reuters
As we head into Week 12 of the NFL season, fantasy football players face a challenge with six teams on a bye week—more than any other week this season. The teams off this week are the Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints, and New York Jets, many of which could use the break considering their recent performances.
Here are five key storylines to watch for in Week 12:
1. Detroit Lions: The Super Bowl Favorite?
For the first time in franchise history, the Detroit Lions are considered the favorites to win the Super Bowl. After a dominant 52-6 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 11, Detroit’s odds to win it all moved to +350, overtaking the Kansas City Chiefs at +460. The Lions are now 9-1, with quarterback Jared Goff playing at an MVP-caliber level. Despite the success, Goff emphasized the effort required to maintain such a strong performance. “None of this is easy,” he said. “We’ve been playing well, but every game is tough.”
The Lions will travel to Indianapolis to face the Colts on Sunday, looking to continue their stellar season.
2. The San Francisco 49ers’ Super Bowl Hangover
The San Francisco 49ers have been struggling in recent weeks, falling to 5-5 after a heartbreaking loss to the Seattle Seahawks, where Geno Smith scored the game-winning touchdown with just 12 seconds left. The 49ers have now lost three division games, despite leading in the fourth quarter of all of them. Head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked about the “Super Bowl hangover,” but he dismissed the idea, saying, “It’s about what’s happening in the exact game.” The 49ers will face the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, followed by a challenging matchup against the Buffalo Bills next week.
3. Kansas City Chiefs Aim to Bounce Back
The Chiefs’ loss to the Bills ended their 15-game winning streak and marked their first defeat of the season. At 9-1, Kansas City remains a Super Bowl contender but needs to find consistency, particularly early in games. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has yet to throw a touchdown pass in the first quarter of any game this season and has thrown five interceptions in that time. Mahomes acknowledged the importance of starting games with urgency: “If we can play the entire football game like that, it won’t put us in these situations where we’re in one-score games at the very end.”
The Chiefs will play the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, who have won two straight games with rookie quarterback Bryce Young at the helm.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers’ Five-Game Winning Streak
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been on a surprising five-game winning streak, including a bizarre 18-16 victory over the Baltimore Ravens last week, in which they scored no touchdowns but managed to win thanks to six field goals from kicker Chris Boswell. The Steelers’ defense and special teams have been critical to their success, and they’ll need to continue that formula as they head to Cleveland for Thursday Night Football against the Browns. With QB Russell Wilson leading the charge, the Steelers are quietly gaining momentum as a playoff contender.
Wilson, who won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks, compared this Steelers team to his past championship squads, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the present: “The greatest teams, the greatest players, are locked into the moment.”
5. The ‘Harbaugh Bowl’
In one of the most anticipated games of the week, John and Jim Harbaugh will face off for the first time since the 2013 Super Bowl. Back then, John’s Ravens defeated Jim’s 49ers in a thrilling 34-31 game. This time, John coaches the Baltimore Ravens, while Jim is at the helm of the Los Angeles Chargers. Both teams are 7-4 and fighting for playoff spots, making this an important matchup in the AFC. Jim Harbaugh acknowledged the uniqueness of facing his brother, saying, “Usually, it hits me about six hours after a game. I’m just going to enjoy this one.”
The Ravens-Chargers game on Monday Night Football promises to be an exciting showdown with playoff implications.
Full Week 12 Schedule
Thursday:
- Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns – 8:15 p.m. ET
Sunday:
- Kansas City Chiefs vs. Carolina Panthers – 1:00 p.m. ET
- Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears – 1:00 p.m. ET
- Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans – 1:00 p.m. ET
- Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts – 1:00 p.m. ET
- New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins – 1:00 p.m. ET
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New York Giants – 1:00 p.m. ET
- Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders – 1:00 p.m. ET
- Denver Broncos vs. Las Vegas Raiders – 4:05 p.m. ET
- San Francisco 49ers vs. Green Bay Packers – 4:25 p.m. ET
- Arizona Cardinals vs. Seattle Seahawks – 4:25 p.m. ET
- Philadelphia Eagles vs. Los Angeles Rams – 8:20 p.m. ET
Monday:
- Baltimore Ravens vs. Los Angeles Chargers – 8:15 p.m. ET
As the NFL season heats up, Week 12 promises to bring thrilling matchups, surprising storylines, and plenty of playoff implications. Keep an eye on these key moments as teams battle it out for positioning in the final stretch of the season.
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