Twelve weeks of the NFL's regular season are almost in the books, and the playoff picture is starting to come into focus.Here's how the standings look after Sunday's games.AFCSeedTeamDivisionRecord1PatriotsEast10-12RavensNorth8-23TexansSouth7-44ChiefsWest7-45BillsEast8-36SteelersNorth6-5Stop us if you've heard this before, but the New England Patriots have the inside track for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs after defeating the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.The Baltimore Ravens, who play the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night, own a head-to-head win over the Patriots but can't clinch the top seed unless the AFC East leaders lose.New England will face the third- and fourth-seeded Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs, respectively, in its next two games.The Buffalo Bills have put themselves in a great position to secure the fifth seed. Some have derided the AFC East club for being buoyed by an easy schedule, but that won't be the case going forward.Four of the Bills' last five games are against teams with a winning record, including two against New England and Baltimore.The Pittsburgh Steelers moved into the other wild-card spot Sunday by avoiding disaster against the Cincinnati Bengals with a switch at quarterback.Head coach Mike Tomlin refused to say whether Mason Rudolph or Devlin Hodges will start next week, but the Steelers' lack of explosive plays with the former under center has been one of the team's weaknesses all year long.In the huntSeedTeamDivisionRecord7RaidersWest6-58ColtsSouth6-59TitansSouth6-510BrownsNorth5-6The Oakland Raiders and Indianapolis Colts both missed big opportunities to solidify their playoff spots this week. Oakland suffered a shock blowout loss to the New York Jets and Indy fell to division rival Houston on Thursday.In a vital AFC West clash next week, the Raiders travel to Arrowhead to take on the Chiefs.Meanwhile, the Tennessee Titans continue to fly under the radar, making easy work of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Their upcoming games include big matchups with the Colts, Raiders, and Texans (twice).Despite struggling for portions of the season, the Cleveland Browns are still alive in the wild-card race. Baker Mayfield and Co. have the chance to seal the tiebreaker over the Steelers in a Week 13 rematch of their controversial Thursday night contest.Cleveland also has favorable matchups against the Bengals (twice) and the Arizona Cardinals sandwiching a game with the Ravens.NFCSeedTeamDivisionRecord149ersWest10-12SaintsSouth9-23PackersNorth8-34CowboysEast6-55SeahawksWest9-26VikingsNorth8-3The San Francisco 49ers made a statement Sunday night by blowing out Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers to stay atop the NFC and ahead of the Seattle Seahawks in the West.It doesn't get any easier for the 49ers, though, as they face the Ravens in Week 13 before a pivotal matchup against the New Orleans Saints, who all but locked up the NFC South by beating the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.Both the NFC West and North look set to come down to the wire. The Packers took the first game with the Minnesota Vikings, and the rivals will face off again in Week 16. Meanwhile, San Francisco and Seattle are slated to play in the mouth-watering regular-season finale.The Cowboys still sit atop the NFC East, but owner Jerry Jones isn't happy with his team consistently losing to opponents with winning records.Head coach Jason Garrett is firmly on the hot seat, and both his fate and the division title will likely be decided by the Cowboys' matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16.In the huntSeedTeamDivisionRecord7RamsWest6-48BearsNorth5-69EaglesEast5-610PanthersSouth5-6Sean McVay needs to find some magic to reignite the Rams' offense. The NFC West club will likely need to put up a ton of points to avoid a loss Monday against the red-hot Ravens.Though the Eagles fell to the Seahawks, the Cowboys' loss to the Patriots means the NFC East remains wide-open, especially as Philadelphia has one of the easiest remaining schedules - it faces four teams with a combined record of 8-36.The Panthers and Chicago Bears - who both face tough remaining schedules - need minor miracles and a disastrous end to the year by the Vikings to force their way into the postseason.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite owner Jerry Jones' admitted frustration with the coaching staff following the Dallas Cowboys' 13-9 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday, no immediate coaching changes will be made, ESPN's Ed Werder reports."With the makeup of this team, I shouldn't be this frustrated," Jones said after the loss. "I don't think there's a game where a coaching staff couldn't do better. I don't like that we've got so many as I'm standing here tonight."Head coach Jason Garrett was widely criticized for several decisions, including choosing to kick a field goal with the ball at the Patriots' 11-yard line while down by a touchdown with six minutes left in the game.Jones took particular umbrage with special teams coordinator Keith O'Quinn after a miscommunication between Cowboys returners on a kickoff with 11 minutes left in the game. Two returners failed to field and advance the ball and it was downed at the 11-yard line."I think that every aspect of special teams, when you really look at it, have been problematic for us. There's no question about that," Jones said, according to team writer David Helman."To me, special teams is 100% coaching. It's 100% coaching. It's strategy, it's having players ready. That's why, today, (Patriots head coach Bill) Belichick - give him credit. They did a great job on special teams, and that was really, probably the determining difference. But special teams is nothing but coaching."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles guard Brandon Brooks left the team's Week 12 loss to the Seattle Seahawks with what head coach Doug Pederson called an illness.Pederson confirmed on Monday that Brooks' illness was connected to the lineman's anxiety issues."Yeah, it's connected," Pederson said on WIP Sports Radio, according to NBCS's Dave Zangaro. "I'll just say this, I'm not going to get into a lot of detail with that. Because, listen, this is a real-life issue. This is not a football issue with Brandon. This is a real-life issue that he has come out and publicly acknowledged and kind of shared his story a few years back. It's something that he's dealing with each and every day of his life."You never really know what triggers it. We're here to support him, we love him. It is unfortunate that it happened, but it's something that he deals with every single day. We're just going to continue to support him."The 30-year-old detailed his struggles on Twitter, stating his nausea returned on Sunday prior to the game.

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines the significance of those events moving forward.Mason Rudolph's time is upSetting aside the sideshow brawl with Myles Garrett and what was or wasn't said, there's no reason Mason Rudolph should throw another pass this season.The Steelers reportedly gave Rudolph a first-round grade and saw him as a successor to Ben Roethlisberger when they drafted him 76th overall in 2018, but he's appeared unfit for pro football in his nine appearances this season.Last week, before the Garrett fracas overshadowed everything else, Rudolph had thrown four interceptions. He tossed another one Sunday before the Steelers finally pulled the plug, benching him for Devlin Hodges in the second half of a narrow win over the Bengals.Hodges, an unimpressive prospect who went undrafted, almost immediately threw a 79-yard touchdown because the Bengals are the NFL's worst team and it's not that difficult for an even halfway competent quarterback to pick them apart.Mike Tomlin was noncommittal about next week's starter after the game, but with a rematch versus the Browns on the slate, it's a virtual certainty that the Steelers will leave Rudolph on the sideline.Carson Wentz is brokenThe Eagles committed $128 million over four seasons to Carson Wentz in June. They didn't make it through one year of that pact without raising questions about whether Wentz is their long-term answer at quarterback.Philly fans are notoriously hard to please, but the boos that rained down on Wentz as he missed pass after pass in Sunday's loss to the Seahawks weren't undeserved. The former No. 2 pick committed four turnovers and failed to lead a touchdown drive until the final 20 seconds. He lacked his full arsenal of receiving weapons and a few key linemen, but that can't explain why he looked like a novice throwing the football. On several occasions, Wentz badly over- and under-threw teammates on short tosses that a Pop Warner passer would describe as routine.Health might have been a factor. Wentz briefly left the contest for X-rays on his hand, but the results were reportedly negative. Might Wentz still be feeling the effects of the stress fracture in his back that cost him the Eagles' final three regular-season games and playoff run a year ago?Benching Wentz probably isn't on the table with 40-year-old journeyman Josh McCown as his backup and the playoffs still mathematically within reach. But if the Eagles' brass believes time away from live fire might help Wentz recalibrate, the idea shouldn't be ruled out.Raiders not there yetIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyWell, that was fun while it lasted.After emerging as surprise playoff contenders in Jon Gruden's second year back at the helm, the Raiders came crashing back down to earth in the form of an embarrassing blowout loss to the Jets. With a defense that constantly gets picked apart in the passing game and an offense that isn't built to play from behind, it's becoming more and more clear that Oakland just isn't a playoff-caliber team.The Raiders are technically still alive in a wide-open AFC wild-card race at 6-5, but next week's game - on the road against the Chiefs - could be even uglier than the loss in New York. Coming off a bye, which has always been huge for Andy Reid teams, Patrick Mahomes and Co. should be primed to light up the scoreboard.The Raiders are heading in the right direction with Gruden and Mike Mayock leading the way, and the rebuild is taking shape faster than many expected, but there just aren't enough pieces to make any real noise this year. Another rookie class filled with instant-impact players, like this year's group, would go a long way toward making next year a realistic target.Jets still aliveEasy as it may be to pile on the Raiders, we also must acknowledge just how much better the Jets have looked in recent weeks. It's been night and day from the disaster we saw early on.The offense is finally starting to come together now that Sam Darnold has had the chance to settle in, and Adam Gase deserves a lot of credit for some well-designed concepts that help his young quarterback get the ball to playmakers in space.And with such a dominant front in the ground game - New York is the NFL's top-ranked defense against the run - deficiencies in the secondary can at least occasionally be masked by favorable down-and-distance situations.There's still plenty of work to do, but if the Jets can continue to play like this, they could have an opportunity to challenge for a playoff spot. Next up on the schedule are matchups with the Bengals and Dolphins, which should get New York to 6-7. The Ravens, Steelers, and Bills follow to close out the regular season, with Baltimore representing the biggest challenge. But perhaps we shouldn't even count that as a loss just yet.If any team stands a chance of slowing down Lamar Jackson and a dynamic Ravens offense, it just may be the one that's already suffocating opponents' running games.Keep your eye on the Jets in December.Browns still kicking, tooKirk Irwin / Getty Images Sport / GettySpeaking of disappointments with an outside chance at salvaging their seasons: How about those Browns? All of a sudden, the Baker Mayfield-led offense is beginning to resemble the high-flying attack we expected to see after such an exciting offseason.Cleveland is 5-6 after rattling off three consecutive victories against the Bills, Steelers, and Dolphins - not the best competition, but wins are wins. And there are plenty of opportunities to stack a few more given the team's remaining schedule.After next week's rematch with the Steelers, the Browns close out the season with games against the Bengals, Cardinals, Ravens, and the Bengals again.As long as the Browns' recent success isn't a mirage, collecting four wins in that relatively favorable five-week stretch doesn't seem all that unrealistic. Pending potential tiebreakers, nine wins could be enough to give Cleveland a chance in the AFC wild-card race.Gore as rare as they getFrank Gore quietly took another step up the NFL's career rushing yards list in Sunday's win over the Broncos, passing Barry Sanders for third all time and now sitting behind only Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton.He'll probably never be considered one of the true greats at the position, so in that sense, the number is a little misleading - but it still provides more confirmation that he's one of the most underappreciated running backs we've ever seen.Gore has been the epitome of consistency throughout his 15-year career, which includes an NFL-record run of 12 straight seasons with at least 1,200 yards from scrimmage.At a position where careers are so often cut short either due to injuries or a swift decline caused by the overall physical toll of playing, Gore's longevity is incredible. The five-time Pro Bowler is still chugging at 36 years old and now handles an early-down role for the contending Bills. That's just not supposed to happen.Here's hoping he has a few years left in the tank to continue building his Hall of Fame resume.Tannehill reviving career in TennesseeWesley Hitt / Getty Images Sport / GettyHe may not be a franchise quarterback, but Ryan Tannehill is positioning himself to start somewhere in 2020 thanks to his surprising renaissance in Tennessee. He threw two touchdowns and rushed for two more in the Titans' blowout win over the Jaguars on Sunday, and has now won four of five starts since replacing Marcus Mariota. Whereas Mariota could never figure out when to take a chance downfield, check down, or run, Tannehill has seemingly mastered it. He's completed 71% of his passes as the Titans' starter, totaling 13 touchdowns (10 passing, three rushing) against three interceptions, and Tennessee is suddenly back in the playoff picture as a wild-card candidate.Tannehill will hit free agency in the offseason at the age of 31. While he's unlikely to cash in the way he did with the Miami Dolphins several years ago, he could land a starting-caliber deal, either with the Titans - who probably won't finish poorly enough to draft the quarterback of their choice - or elsewhere. The Bears, Buccaneers, and Broncos could all be looking for a quarterback in March.You can buy that Burrow jersey, Bengals fansNow two losses clear of the NFL's next-worst teams in Miami and Washington, the Bengals can rest assured they will have their pick of every player in the draft next spring.It's a great spot to be in - if you can get past the overwhelming sadness that comes with an 0-11 start.The Bengals can now play out the season's final five games without fear of accidentally winning a game and ruining their draft position. In other words, they can unabashedly try to win and avoid the ignominy of 0-16, and their fans can root for the same.It's reasonable to assume Cincinnati won't beat the Patriots, so the team will have four other chances to crack its goose egg: a home game against the Jets next week, a set of home-and-away contests against the Browns, and a Week 16 "Toilet Bowl" against the Dolphins that was once expected to determine the first overall pick.Cowboys don't grasp basic mathIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe Cowboys attempted a 29-yard field goal while trailing the Patriots by seven points with just over six minutes left in the game Sunday. Brett Maher made the kick, meaning his Cowboys went from needing to score a touchdown to ... needing to score a touchdown.The Cowboys began their next possession on their own 8-yard line (a slightly worse position than deep in Patriots territory, it must be said) and with the two-minute warning looming. Their hurry-up offense failed to produce the touchdown they needed and they lost the game.Trailing the Vikings by seven points in the fourth quarter of Week 10, head coach Jason Garrett also chose to attempt a field goal of fewer than 30 yards. Maher made that kick, too, and the Cowboys also lost that game by four points instead of seven.The analytics of football can be difficult to grasp, but there's nothing complicated about needing to score a touchdown and deciding not to try doing so with the ball deep in the opponent's territory. Doing it once is inexcusable; doing it twice in a month is fireable.Rodgers going coldFull credit to the 49ers. The defense was relentless again Sunday night, proving in its biggest test yet that its flashes of utter dominance this season have been no fluke. The rise of this unit has been incredible to watch.Still, that doesn't give the Packers a pass for what's becoming a pattern of underwhelming play on the offensive side - not when your quarterback is Aaron Rodgers. After they got blown out 37-8 by San Francisco in prime time, it's fair to start wondering what's going on with the Green Bay offense and its future Hall of Famer.All seemed to be well when Rodgers put together one of the best performances of his career back in Week 7, but let's not pretend the Raiders presented much of a challenge. Defenses on par with the Chargers, Panthers, and 49ers are more like what the Packers can expect to face in the playoffs, and the star quarterback's three-game total of 498 yards and two touchdowns against those teams over the last three weeks (with a 1-2 record) is at least mildly concerning.Green Bay is fine - we're not hitting the panic button yet, and neither should you. The Packers are 8-3 and still in the hunt for a first-round bye. There's lots of time to get things right before it really starts to matter.But they had better make good use of that time, since this very same opponent - along with other defensively stout teams like the Saints and Vikings - awaits in the NFC playoffs. What we've seen over the past few weeks will not fly if the Packers plan on going anywhere in January.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones didn't mince his words Sunday after his team once again fell short against a top contender, losing by a score of 13-9 to the New England Patriots."With the makeup of this team, I shouldn't be this frustrated," said Jones, according to team writer David Helman.The 6-5 Cowboys sit atop the NFC East through 12 weeks but are arguably far from the level of the top teams in a stacked conference.Dallas' six wins have come against teams with a combined record of 16-49-1. The Cowboys have lost to various playoff-bound squads, such as the Patriots, New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings."It is a significant setback for our team. We needed this win. We needed to win against an opponent like this," said Jones, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. "We haven't had them. Consequently, we're very aware of that."Jones took a particular issue with Dallas' costly issues on special teams during the loss to the Patriots, saying the unit's woes are "totally a reflection of coaching," according to Jeff Darlington of ESPN."I don't think there's a game where a coaching staff couldn't do better," Jones added, according to Helman. "I don't like that we've got so many as I'm standing here tonight."New England's only touchdown in the game came after a blocked punt put the Patriots in good field position.The Cowboys had another hiccup on special teams in the third quarter when they were confused by the Patriots' decision to not put a returner deep to receive and were called for an illegal procedure that negated a 47-yard punt.Embattled Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett - who is in a contract year - was widely criticized for having his team kick a field goal with it down seven points late in the fourth quarter.Dallas was able to get the ball back to attempt a potentially game-winning touchdown drive with two minutes left, but Dak Prescott and Co. ultimately turned it over on downs to all but seal the victory for New England.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson lobbied for the Pittsburgh Steelers to give Mason Rudolph, who was benched in Week 12, another start in their Week 13 rematch while taking a shot at the struggling quarterback."I don't really care, bro," Richardson told reporters Sunday when alerted of Rudolph's removal against the winless Cincinnati Bengals, according to NFL Network's Kimberley Jones. "I hope he plays."When asked why, Richardson responded, "Did you see him last game?"In the Browns-Steelers Week 11 contest, Rudolph threw four interceptions as Cleveland won 21-7. Late in the game, he was bashed over the head with his own helmet by Browns lineman Myles Garrett, sparking a brawl. Thirty-three players were fined for their involvement in the melee, but Richardson wasn't one of them.Against Cincinnati on Sunday, Rudolph tossed another pick and was pulled for Devlin Hodges, who led the Steelers to a comeback win. Afterward, Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin was non-committal on a starter for the upcoming matchup with Cleveland.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dwayne Haskins was just a little bit excited about his first career NFL victory.After an interception from the Washington Redskins' defense effectively sealed Sunday's win over the Detroit Lions, only a kneel-down in the victory formation was needed to make it official.However, the rookie quarterback was already in full celebration mode with the home fans, so veteran backup Case Keenum took the field to close it out.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz will undergo additional tests on his injured hand after X-rays came back negative on Sunday, according to Martin Frank of the Delaware News Journal.Wentz briefly left Philadelphia's 17-9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks due to the injury, though he returned in time for the Eagles' next offensive possession.The pivot labored through one of his worst performances of the season against Seattle, throwing a pair of interceptions and repeatedly missing receivers. For the day, he went 33-for-45 passing with 256 yards and a touchdown, but most of that production came late with the game out of reach.Injuries have hindered Wentz throughout his four-year career. The 26-year-old finished each of the last two seasons on injured reserve.Philadelphia sunk to 5-6 with the loss to Seattle.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin didn't commit to a starting quarterback for Week 13 against the Cleveland Browns after benching Mason Rudolph in favor of Devlin Hodges in Week 12."Just felt like our offense needed a spark," Tomlin told reporters after Pittsburgh sealed a 16-10 comeback win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. "Mason wasn't doing enough. (Hodges) came in and provided us with a spark, made a couple of plays. We'll see what next week holds, next week."Against Cincinnati, Rudolph completed 8 of 16 passes for 85 yards and an interception in his first game since being struck in the head with a helmet by Browns lineman Myles Garrett. He was benched for Hodges in the second half while the Steelers trailed the winless Bengals 7-3.Hodges almost immediately topped Rudolph's numbers with a 79-yard touchdown to James Washington on his second pass in relief. For the day, he went 5-of-11 passing for 118 yards and the lone score.Tomlin did hint that he's already decided which pivot will start for the Steelers in a divisional rematch with the Browns."I may have it as I stand here right now, but I'm just not going to share it with you guys," the coach said in response to a question from NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills running back Frank Gore surpassed Barry Sanders' 15,269 yards to become No. 3 on the NFL's all-time rushing list late in Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos.Gore is now behind only Emmitt Smith (18,355) and Walter Payton (16,726).

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.The Baltimore Ravens enter Week 12 at 8-2 and sit one game back of the New England Patriots for home-field advantage in the AFC. The Ravens have won six straight and will try to keep the momentum going on Monday night in Los Angeles against the Rams.The Rams are 6-4 and trail both the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West. With only six games left, a wild-card berth is the Rams' most likely path to the playoffs. An upset of the red-hot Ravens will go a long way in Sean McVay's team's quest to return to the postseason.Here's everything you need to know about the matchup from a betting perspective:Line movementThe line for this game opened Ravens -1.5 but early money pushed the line to -3. It hasn't moved off this number all week and remained there as of Sunday. Books will be reluctant to make Baltimore 3.5 because sharp bettors will buy back (bet the other side) on the Rams, trying to middle the game. The total opened at 49 and got bet down to 46.5. However, the public typically bets the over on Monday night and in a game featuring Lamar Jackson, that will likely be the case again.Betting trendsJackson is the current favorite to win the NFL MVP award and the Rams' defense will have its hands full trying to stop the dual-threat quarterback. Jackson has completed at least 63% of his passes in six straight games while rushing for over 60 yards and scoring 17 touchdowns over that span. The Rams' defense does present a tough test for the 22-year-old. Los Angeles entered Week 12 ranked fifth against the run, allowing just 89.1 yards per game.While the Rams' defense is playing well, McVay's offense has been inconsistent in 2019, especially when it comes to running the football. L.A. is averaging less than 100 rushing yards per game, which has put added pressure on Jared Goff and the Rams' depleted offensive line. This could be an issue for L.A. on Monday night against an aggressive Baltimore defense. The Ravens blitz more than any team in the NFL but if the Rams' offensive line can protect Goff, Baltimore's pass defense can be exploited. The Ravens only have 23 sacks on the season and are allowing 7.2 yards per completion.When the line for this game was released over the summer, the Rams were installed as a 7.5-point favorite. A lot has changed since July with the spread moving close to 10 points toward the Ravens. Baltimore has been profitable away from home on Monday Night Football, going 6-1 against the spread (ATS) in its last seven games in this spot. Meanwhile, the Rams are 0-6-1 ATS in their last seven games as home 'dogs and 4-11-1 in their last 16 overall when catching points.The X-factorThe Ravens are absolutely on fire entering this game. Baltimore has outscored its last four opponents 157-56. Those games came against tough competition, too, with three of the wins coming over division leaders Seattle, New England, and Houston. The Ravens have been one of the NFL's most profitable road teams, going 6-2 ATS away from home over the last two seasons. Baltimore is also 20-7-4 ATS in its last 31 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.PickThis is one of the toughest games to call in Week 12. The Ravens are the best team in the NFL right now but this looks like a tough spot. Baltimore has played three emotional games over the last month and hosts the 49ers next week.The value here could be with the total. While the number has been bet down to 46.5, the under is still worth considering. The Rams have scored just 29 total points over their last two games and Goff hasn't thrown a touchdown pass since Week 8. Los Angeles has gone under in three straight and four of its last five games. Look for that trend to continue with another low-scoring affair on Monday night.Thomas Casale is theScore's supervising editor of sports betting. He's been following the sports betting industry for almost 30 years. A devoted fan of the wishbone offense, Thomas bets on all sports but specializes in college football, NFL, and college basketball. Find him on Twitter @TheTomCasale.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.After a clunker of a Sunday Night Football game last week, recalibrate your expectations for this week, as the NFC's No. 1 seed San Francisco 49ers host the No. 2 seed Green Bay Packers in a potential Game of the Year candidate.Neither team has played its best football as of late, but both still control their destinies for a first-round bye after entering the year with so-so chances of even making the playoffs. The Packers are just a half-game up on the Minnesota Vikings in the division, while the 49ers have upcoming trips to Baltimore and New Orleans, making Sunday's clash crucial for both clubs.Here's everything you need to know about the matchup from a betting perspective:Line movementIt's hard to script a more obvious -3 than this one. The 49ers and Packers appear to be near-even adversaries entering this week, so home field gives the slight edge to the favored Niners. Jay Rood, Bet.Works' chief risk officer and theScore Bet's head trader, says he expects late Packers money could push this game to +2.5 or, if nothing else, juice the current +3 toward Green Bay.While the line hasn't moved, the total has ticked up 1.5 points from 46 at the open to 47.5 as of Saturday afternoon. Weather isn't expected to be a factor Sunday night.Betting trendsIt's not often that two teams with two losses or fewer meet this late in the year. In fact, it's only happened 15 times in the last 30 years and not since 2015. When it does, the favorite has rolled, going 11-3-1 against the spread (78.6%) with an average margin of victory of 11.1 points.The home favorite has gone 8-2-1 ATS (80%) and has been largely profitable whenever two heavyweights meet this late in the year. Since 1989, home favorites between teams with at least a .750 winning percentage are 31-16-1 ATS (66%) in Week 12 or later.The Niners have been mediocre as home chalk this year, but Aaron Rodgers has been similarly unimpressive as a road 'dog in his career. He's also 2-8 ATS in his last 10 Sunday prime-time games.Sunday night has been kind to under bettors this year with an 8-3 record, and this week's matchup could see another under between two capable defenses. It helps that it's expected to be a tightly contested game, as matchups with a home favorite of -2.5 or -3 are 15-8 to the under (65.2%) this year.The 49ers' defense has been elite, yet it's riding a four-game over streak. Regression could be looming: Teams with at least a four-game over streak are 50-34-2 to the under (59.5%) since 2015.The X-factorThe key to the spread and total will be San Francisco's significant advantage in the run game. The Niners are second in the league in rushing yards per game, while the Packers feature PFF's fifth-worst run defense grade in the NFL.If San Fran can get its rushing attack going early, it can limit Jimmy Garoppolo's duties against an opportunistic Green Bay secondary and force Rodgers to make plays against the Niners' second-ranked coverage unit, per PFF. If the Packers can establish early balance on offense, though, it could get ugly for San Francisco and over bettors.PickWhile these two appear mostly even on paper, most metrics give the nod to the Niners as the more complete team. It seems San Francisco's only weakness might be Garoppolo, whom coach Kyle Shanahan can mask with a run-heavy focus against Green Bay's beleaguered defense.That would be a winning recipe for the under, which is probably the safest bet in this game. But the 49ers should be a solid play here, too, behind an elite defense that can expose the Packers' offensive inconsistencies.C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Redskins have had a change of heart.Cornerback Josh Norman is active for the team's Week 12 matchup against the Detroit Lions, the club announced.Earlier Sunday, it was reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter that Norman was set to be made a healthy scratch for Washington's contest against Detroit. However, the team later changed its mind, according to Schefter.Instead, cornerback Aaron Colvin has been listed as inactive for Sunday's matchup.Norman has struggled this season, prompting criticism from Redskins defensive coordinator Greg Manusky on Friday."We're putting him in situations to make some plays, and we're just not making the plays," Manusky said, according to ESPN's John Keim.Norman has posted one interception, one forced fumble, and six passes defended through nine games with the Redskins this season.Prior to the trade deadline, Washington reportedly tried to deal the former Pro Bowler.Norman has one year left on his five-year, $75-million deal.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Lions have discussed shutting down quarterback Matthew Stafford for the remainder of the campaign, but the veteran still hopes to play this season, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.In fact, Stafford's been "maniacal" about getting back on the field before the year's done, a source told Schefter.The 31-year-old has missed Detroit's last two games with fractures in his back. Though the Lions enter Week 12 at 3-6-1, Stafford has not yet been shut down for the season.Doctors previously told the signal-caller that most players with his injury would be sidelined for six weeks.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns pass-rusher Myles Garrett has been suspended for the remainder of this season and the postseason, but the NFL is hopeful and optimistic he won't miss any games next season, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.Garrett was handed an indefinite suspension for striking Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph in the head with a helmet. Garrett appealed the ban, hoping to get a concrete date in which the suspension would be lifted. Though the appeal was denied, the Browns' defensive star could be back in action for the start of the 2020 campaign.Garrett has been mandated to meet with the commissioner's office in the offseason and as long as the league approves of his behavior, there's a strong chance he won't miss any games next season, Schefter adds.In addition to the suspension, Garrett was fined $45,263 for his role in the Week 11 brawl.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Francisco 49ers are expected to get a big boost for Sunday's prime-time showdown with the Green Bay Packers, as tight end George Kittle is expected to play, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Kittle, who's officially listed as questionable with ankle and knee injuries, missed San Francisco's previous two games against the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals.He continued to play in the Niners' Oct. 31 game against the Cardinals despite a broken bone in his ankle, Schefter reports.The 2018 Pro Bowler remains the 49ers' leading receiver despite his absence over the last two weeks. He enters Week 12 with 46 catches for 541 yards and two touchdowns on the season.Wide receiver Deebo Samuel, listed as questionable due to a shoulder injury, is also expected to play, according to Schefter.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jason Garrett may not be done with the NFC East even if he's not re-signed by the Dallas Cowboys.NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that if Garrett is allowed to walk by the Cowboys and the New York Giants move on from head coach Pat Shurmur, the Giants are Garrett's preferred next destination, and they're a "real and legitimate" landing spot for him.Garrett is in the final year of his contract with Dallas and currently has the 6-4 Cowboys in first place in the division.The Giants are 2-8 in Shurmur's second year at the helm. He has a 7-19 overall record with New York.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It looks like Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett won't miss any game action despite being hospitalized with a shin bruise. And he has an unlikely ally to thank.Lockett is expected to play in the Seahawks' Week 12 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles after receiving help in his rehab process from the division-rival San Francisco 49ers, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.The 27-year-old wideout was hospitalized for two nights due to swelling caused by a lower leg contusion he suffered in Week 10 during Monday Night Football against San Francisco. While in the hospital after the game, he reportedly requested a Game Ready device, which is a high-end compression therapy unit used to accelerate recovery. However, the hospital didn't have the device.Lockett then asked if the Niners could provide a Game Ready to aid him in his rehab. After a call from his agent to members of the team's front office, San Fransico's training staff brought him the device Tuesday morning. It's unknown if Lockett would've recovered so quickly without the assistance, Rapoport notes."(Lockett) did well at practice. He's ready to go," head coach Pete Carroll said Friday.Seattle, coming off its Week 11 bye, will battle the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.Lockett has posted 62 catches, 793 yards, and six touchdowns through 10 games in 2019.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players to consider starting and potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our Week 12 rankings. You can also listen to the Week 12 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.StartBaker Mayfield, Brownsvs. DolphinsJamie Sabau / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Browns were one of the main topics we discussed on the podcast this week, since their matchup with the Dolphins is the ultimate get-right game for a team still trying to jell two-and-a-half months into the season. Miami is giving up the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, including four total touchdowns to Josh Allen last Sunday. Mayfield is also coming off back-to-back games with two passing touchdowns against far tougher defenses in the Bills and Steelers. It's been a challenging season for Cleveland, but a relaxed schedule sets Mayfield up to be a QB1 over the next month.Boone's projection: 268 passing yards, 3 passing TDsOther QBs to start

theScore's Justin Boone is coming off his sixth top-10 finish in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition. Follow the links below to see his updated rankings for Week 12.Half PPR

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is expected to make a full recovery from his season-ending hip injury and, if he decides to enter the 2020 NFL Draft, is still expected to be a first-round draft pick, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports, citing five high-ranking NFL executives.Those sources project Tagovailoa as a pick in the first half of the opening round. Prior to the injury, he was expected to be one of the first names called on draft day.The junior quarterback underwent surgery on Monday for an injury suffered last Saturday. Though Tagovailoa suffered a dislocated hip and a reported posterior wall fracture, he's expected to resume football activities in three months and could throw for NFL teams before the draft, Rapoport reports.None of the NFL executives Rapoport spoke with believe Tagovailoa will fall out of the first round. One of them said his best-case scenario involves falling to a team with a veteran quarterback he could sit behind, while another executive could see a team moving up to select Tagovailoa anywhere from the 10th to 12th overall pick.The lefty passer could also return to school for his senior year, whether he chooses to play football for the Crimson Tide again or not.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots receiver Mohamed Sanu is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys, but there remains a chance he'll play despite pessimism early in the week, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.Sanu felt better Saturday and wants to see how he'll feel Sunday before determining whether he'll play.The veteran wideout got in only a limited practice session on Friday.Sanu was injured in the Patriots' win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 11. He had just two receptions for four yards in the game.Fellow receiver Phillip Dorsett suffered a concussion in that contest and has yet to be cleared for football activities. If Sanu and Dorsett are both unavailable, the onus will fall on Julian Edelman, rookie N'Keal Harry, and Jakobi Meyers in Sunday's marquee matchup.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets signed veteran tight end Ryan Griffin to a multi-year contract extension on Saturday.Griffin inked a three-year deal worth up to $10.8 million with incentives, including $4 million guaranteed, a source told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.The 29-year-old leads the team with a career-high four touchdown receptions to go along with 25 catches for 225 yards over 10 games in his second year with the Jets.Griffin broke out with five grabs for 109 yards and a touchdown in a Week 11 win over Washington.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph has been fined $50,000 by the NFL for his actions in last Thursday's brawl against the Cleveland Browns, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Rudolph was hit in the head with his own helmet by Browns defensive end Myles Garrett in the final seconds of the game. Garrett has been suspended indefinitely and will miss the rest of the season.Replays showed that the Steelers' signal-caller pulled at Garrett's helmet first while the two were on the ground."I was just trying to get him off from on top of me," Rudolph said Wednesday.Garrett reportedly alleged that Rudolph used a racial slur during the brawl, which the quarterback "vehemently denied."The league said it investigated the pass-rusher's claim, which was made during his unsuccessful appeal, and "found no such evidence."Garrett lamented that his accusation was made public, but he stood by his claim."I know what I heard," said Garrett.Rudolph, who's starting in place of the injured Ben Roethlisberger, has a base salary of $658,267 this season, according to Over The Cap.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.The player prop market is a hot one for bettors. While standard spread and total bets account for an entire game, individual props focus on specific matchups.Here are five bets to consider for Week 12:Josh Allen under 208.5 passing yards, under 19.5 completions, and under 1.5 touchdownsExpect Allen to struggle Sunday when the Bills host the Broncos. Here's a list of some of the defenses that Allen's faced so far and where they currently rank in pass DVOA:Dolphins (No. 32) - twice

Le'Veon Bell became one of the highest-paid running backs in the NFL after signing with the New York Jets in March. But his first season with the new club hasn't produced the results he might have expected.Despite posting just 508 yards and three touchdowns through 10 games, Bell has made peace with his free agency choice."I made a decision," he said, according to Manish Mehta of New York Daily News. "And I'll live with it."The 27-year-old back hasn't eclipsed 100 rushing yards in a game this season, and he's posted a career-low 3.2 yards per carry. He's hauled in 46 catches for 309 yards and one score.Before sitting out in 2018 due to a contract dispute, Bell averaged 1,599 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns per year over five seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers."I feel like when I get those numbers here, people are going to look at me differently," he said. "Like, dang, he didn't even have to go to the Chiefs. He didn't have to go to the Colts or whatever team has a high-powered offense. I didn't have to go there to do it. I came here and helped this team turn around."The 3-7 Jets have averaged 16.4 points and 248.2 yards per contest in 2019, which rank 29th and 32nd in the league, respectively."At the end of the day," Bell said, "I've never been a person that really cares about trying to go to a team and joining a whole bunch of other good players."Bell's four-year, $52.5 million contract ranks third among running backs in average annual salary ($13,125 million), per Over The Cap.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry expressed disappointment after the NFL upheld teammate Myles Garrett's indefinite suspension stemming from last Thursday's brawl."It's like they wanted to put it to bed early and make an example," Landry said on Friday, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. "The process wasn't handled appropriately. They expedited the process based on the video footage and based on the reaction of the world."Garrett will miss the remainder of the 2019 season after swinging his helmet at Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph.The star pass-rusher claimed he heard a racial slur during his scuffle with Rudolph, but the second-year pivot strongly denied that assertion.After all appeals were heard, the NFL reduced Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey's ban by one game. The league didn't suspend Rudolph following the incident, which also frustrated Landry."With the appeal process, you have (Pouncey) kicking and punching Myles, and he gets suspended, (then) he gets a game taken off of his (ban)," he said. "Then you have (Browns defensive tackle) Larry (Ogunjobi), who did way less than that. He still gets suspended for his game. So it makes no sense."Then you have (Rudolph) who's involved and pretty much instigated the whole thing, and nothing happens to him. It's almost like (the NFL is) deliberately trying to like mess with Cleveland."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney will be a game-time decision for Sunday's contest against the Philadelphia Eagles due to a hip injury, head coach Pete Carroll announced Friday, according to ESPN's Brady Henderson.Carroll said Clowney was away from the team Friday while getting the injury assessed after sitting out all three practices this week.The pass-rusher suffered the injury during his dominant performance last Monday against the San Francisco 49ers, Carroll added.Clowney terrorized Jimmy Garoppolo throughout Seattle's 27-24 overtime win that helped the Seahawks close the gap in the NFC West, racking up one sack, five quarterback hits, and a forced fumble.Even with the addition of Clowney through a trade with the Houston Texans in September, the Seahawks consistently struggled to pressure the passer prior to the game against San Francisco.Seattle is averaging just two sacks per game (tied for 27th in the league), and Clowney and linebacker Mychal Kendricks' three sacks each lead the team.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady popped up on the New England Patriots' injury report with an right elbow injury and participated in Friday's practice on a limited basis.New England labeled Brady as questionable for its Week 12 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, though a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport that he's still expected to play.The quarterback was not featured on the injury report this week prior to Friday.Brady hasn't missed a start due to injury since 2008, though the Patriots have designated him as questionable for a handful of games over the last few years due to various ailments.Fourth-round rookie Jarrett Stidham would start at quarterback against the NFC East-leading Cowboys if Brady is unable to suit up.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard will play in the team's Week 12 matchup against the Chicago Bears after clearing the concussion protocol, the Giants announced Friday.Cornerback Janoris Jenkins and offensive tackle Nate Solder also cleared the concussion protocol and will suit up Sunday.Shepard missed New York's past five games, while Jenkins and Solder didn't miss any action after suffering their injuries in Week 10 against the New York Jets, just before the Giants' bye week.The 26-year-old Shepard, who also missed his team's Week 2 matchup due to a concussion, has posted 25 catches, 267 yards, and one touchdown through four games in 2019.Jenkins leads the Giants in interceptions and passes defended with four and 11, respectively.Solder has allowed eight sacks over 10 starts this season, according to PFF.The 2-8 Giants are currently on a six-game losing streak and sit third in the NFC East.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson will miss Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks due to a concussion, the team announced Friday.Rookie offensive tackle Andre Dillard, who has never played right tackle at any level, will take over. Dillard started three games earlier in the season in place of left tackle Jason Peters.Additionally, running back Jordan Howard (shoulder) and wide receivers Alshon Jeffery (ankle) and Nelson Agholor (knee) are listed as questionable.Howard, who sat out against the New England Patriots last week due to a stinger, needs to be cleared for contact before he can return to the lineup.Jeffery suffered his injury in a Week 9 win over the Chicago Bears and also missed last Sunday's loss despite resting in the Eagles' intervening bye week.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson's dominance on both the ground and through the air this season has led many to refer to him as the second coming of Michael Vick.The Los Angeles Rams' defense will be the latest to try and contain the MVP frontrunner. On Wednesday, star cornerback Jalen Ramsey took to Instagram to ask the original dual-threat wonder for "tips" on how to stop Jackson ahead of Sunday's game.

Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky has been cleared to start Sunday against the New York Giants after the team didn't list him on Friday's injury report.Trubisky was dealing with a right hip pointer but was able to practice in full all week.The struggling third-year quarterback was pulled from the final minutes of Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Rams for backup Chase Daniel.It was initially thought Trubisky had been benched, but Bears head coach Matt Nagy revealed after the loss that the signal-caller was hurt on a sack near the end of the second quarter."Every decision that was made, it had zero to do with his play," Nagy said. "It was completely based off his injury and where he was at."Coming off a solid sophomore season, Trubisky has regressed in 2019. The former second overall pick is 29th out of 33 quarterbacks in ESPN's QBR metric, is averaging 175.5 passing yards per game, and has thrown just nine touchdowns in nine games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton didn't make the expected impact in his return from a three-game absence during Thursday's pivotal divisional clash against the Houston Texans.Hilton hauled in just three catches for 18 yards in the Colts' 20-17 loss, and he shouldered the blame postgame."I let the team down," Hilton said, according to ESPN's Mike Wells. "Totally on me."The 30-year-old had two significant third-down drops on back-to-back possessions in the second half."I have to make that," he said. "That's what I get paid for. I have to make them. One hundred percent on me."Hilton played in 25 of 67 offensive snaps in his first appearance since Week 8. He had been battling with a calf injury suffered during practice."I give him credit for wanting to be on the field," head coach Frank Reich said. "We knew even if we could get him on the field for 20, 30 plays, some of it was just as a decoy so hopefully (the Texans) would roll the coverage to him or do something like that and give us a chance to run it a little bit better. So that was part of the plan."Houston has been Hilton's favorite opponent over his eight-year career. The wideout's 85 catches, 1,537 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns in 16 games against the division rivals are all personal bests against any opponent.With the loss, the 6-5 Colts dropped to second in the AFC South, one game behind the 7-4 Texans.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett announced linebacker Leighton Vander Esch is considered week-to-week with a neck injury and won't feature in the team's Week 12 matchup against the New England Patriots, according to ESPN's Todd Archer."Leighton was having some symptoms. We determined (he) has some issues with his neck," Garrett said. "Won't play this week. We don’t think it’s career-threatening."Vander Esch's injury flared up in practice early this week, which prompted an MRI. He'll have another MRI in three weeks, according to Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram."We think at some point he will be back," Garrett added, per Hill. "We think it needs to calm down. Want to give it time to do that. Hopefully, we can get him back real soon.""I see something here that doesn't come to my mind as problematic long term," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said, according to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News.Vander Esch has worn a neck roll since his time in Boise State. The 23-year-old played all 16 games in his rookie campaign with the Cowboys but missed Week 9 after suffering a stinger in the previous week against the Philadelphia Eagles.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia announced that quarterback Matthew Stafford won't play in the team's Week 12 matchup against the Washington Redskins on Sunday, according to Dave Birkett of Detroit Free Press.Stafford is reportedly dealing with fractured bones in his back, an injury that occurred last season. He has missed two games this year because of the issue.Doctors apparently said that the signal-caller's injury should require six weeks of recovery, but the Lions consider the 31-year-old's status to be "week-to-week."On Wednesday, Stafford said that there haven't been any discussions about sending him to injured reserve.Fourth-year quarterback Jeff Driskel will make his third consecutive start for the 3-6-1 Lions. He lost the previous two tilts, completing 58.3% of his passes and throwing for 478 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.Every Friday during the NFL season, theScore's betting writers release their best bets for the week. Each writer has been given an imaginary $1,000 bankroll to manage throughout the campaign. If you decide to follow any of the picks, please gamble responsibly.Odds courtesy of theScore Bet.C Jackson Cowart ($1,061)Season record: 12-9-2, +$61Seattle Seahawks at Philadelphia Eagles (-1.5)The Seahawks are clearly the better team here and oddsmakers agree, pricing the Eagles as short home chalk. When that's the case, betting the better team has been money: road 'dogs getting fewer than two points are 23-5 ATS since the start of 2017.Pete Carroll is better than 60% ATS as an underdog in his career, and his Seahawks are 4-1-1 ATS on the road off a bye week. The Eagles could also suffer after last week's loss to the Patriots; the nine teams to face New England this year are 2-7 ATS in their next game.Everybody and their dog are on Seattle this week, but as Casale often likes to say, "sometimes it's hip to be square." Take the better side with an eye on the moneyline, too.Picks: Seahawks +1.5 ($30), Seahawks +105 ($20)Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons (-4.5, 52)With a 1-7 record heading into its bye week, Atlanta was dead in the water. Then, Dan Quinn shuffled his staff in what was probably an attempt to save his job and the Falcons ripped off two dominant wins over the Saints and Panthers.Both of those teams are better than Tampa Bay, which has dropped five of its last six games (0-5-1 ATS) thanks to an offense that leads the league in turnovers. Atlanta's reinvented defense snagged four takeaways on Sunday and should be able to match up with the Bucs' top weapons in a lower-scoring game than the public may expect.Picks: Falcons -4.5 ($25), under 52 ($25)Alex Kolodziej ($1,044)Season record: 10-7 (+$44)Oakland Raiders at New York JetsTotal: 46.5We’ve seen some over money push this total from 45.5 to 46.5, but it hasn’t climbed out of betting range. Oakland’s still one of the most effective offenses in the league, ranking No. 7 in pass offense DVOA and No. 12 in rush offense. Lately, I've liked quarterback Derek Carr’s willingness to push the ball down the field. He’s averaged 7.0 yards per attempt or more comfortably in each of his last six games, and Oakland’s posted at least 24 points in five of those contests. In the one exception, last weekend against Cincinnati, the Raiders still averaged 5.8 yards per play. Oakland should get back to its scoring ways against a Jets defense that’s still banged up in the secondary.Meanwhile, the Jets' offense is slowly starting to find a groove. It’s tough to trust the unit against stiffer competition when it's clearly outmatched, but a Raiders defense that’s No. 23 in pass defense DVOA and No. 22 in rush defense should be a recipe for New York to continue putting points on the board.Pick: Over 46.5 ($40)Thomas Casale ($888)Season record: 7-7-2, -$112Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers (-3)This is one of my favorite plays of the NFL season. While these are two of the NFC's top teams on paper, one (Packers) is overvalued and the other (49ers) is still a little undervalued. San Fran will dominate this game in the trenches on both sides of the ball. The Packers allow 4.8 yards per rush and have to stop the No. 2 ranked running team in the NFL. On defense, Nick Bosa and the boys are a nightmare matchup for Green Bay's average offensive line. It's going to be a rough night for Aaron Rodgers. The Packers will be a popular public play as underdogs and with the 49ers dealing with some injuries, but I'm going the other way here. I see San Fran's defense controlling the game and the 49ers winning by 10+ points.Pick: 49ers -3 ($100)Alex Moretto ($707)Season record: 10-13-1, -$293Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers (-3)The world couldn't be much lower on the 49ers right now after three unimpressive weeks, scraping by the Cardinals twice and losing to the Seahawks. The public is all over Green Bay but this line isn't budging - that should tell you something. The Packers have been absolutely gashed on the ground, allowing 4.8 yards per rush (27th in the NFL), which is a recipe for disaster against a 49ers team that averages 34.9 rushing attempts and 149 yards per game; both second in the NFL.San Fran's rushing attack will allow the 49ers to keep Rodgers off the field, offering him limited possessions to attack the league's best secondary, which is complimented nicely by the NFL's most prolific pass rush. It's going to be a long night for the Cheeseheads in the Bay Area.Pick: 49ers -3 ($60)Detroit Lions at Washington RedskinsTotal: 41.5Jeff Driskel has faced a pair of top-10 defenses in his two starts in lieu of Matthew Stafford and has actually moved the ball fairly effectively. Now he faces a Redskins unit that ranks 28th in DVOA. The Lions' defense isn't much better, allowing 412.8 yards a game this season and 6.1 yards per play. Detroit will also likely be without leading pass rusher Trey Flowers, meaning Dwayne Haskins should have all the time he needs in the pocket. If he can't get the Redskins' offense going here, against a Lions defense allowing 30.9 points a game over the last five weeks, he never will.Pick: Over 41.5 ($60)Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brandin Cooks never considered walking away from football while recovering from his latest concussion."Absolutely not," the Los Angeles Rams receiver said Thursday, according to Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times. "No doubt about it. When it happened, that never went through my mind, and even now it's not going through my mind."Cooks, who's been cleared to return for Los Angeles' Week 12 clash with the Baltimore Ravens, missed the Rams' last two games after sustaining a concussion on Oct. 27.It was his second concussion in a 25-day span and prompted two visits to a specialist in Pittsburgh. The 26-year-old has suffered four documented concussions since Super Bowl LII in 2018, with a fifth one on record from earlier in his career."One of the biggest things that I learned, concussions (are) a case-by-case thing," Cooks said. "To be able to go there and get some information from Dr. (Michael) Collins in Pittsburgh was extremely helpful. I'm just thankful for the team - putting me in the right position and looking out for my best interest."Cooks said he's working with a new helmet, but the concussions he's picked up this season are "not really concerning at all" to him."I understand that it's one of the things that's part of the game," said Cooks, who's in the first season of a five-year, $81-million contract. "What's going through my mind is like, 'OK, let's get some answers.' Then figuring out what's going on. It's a blessing that I don't have ever have symptoms after."In eight appearances this season, Cooks has 27 receptions for 402 yards and one touchdown. The speedster has eclipsed 1,000 yards in receiving in each of the previous four campaigns.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans moved into first place in the AFC South with a Thursday Night Football win over the Indianapolis Colts, but the victory didn't come without controversy.Late in the fourth quarter, Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson attempted a run on second down to move the chains and seal the game. Watson fumbled on the play, though it was initially unclear on which team recovered the ball.

The Houston Texans took control of the AFC South with a crucial 20-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday Night Football.Houston moved to 7-4 with the win and split the season series with its division rival. Indianapolis, meanwhile, dropped to 6-5.More to come.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It remains unclear whether Antonio Brown will return to the NFL in the near future, but the New England Patriots aren't interested in a reunion if he does, a source told The Athletic's Jeff Howe.Howe's report comes after former Patriots tight end Christian Fauria, who now works for local radio network WEEI, said Thursday that New England has held internal discussions about such a move.The NFL continues to investigate multiple accusations of sexual assault against Brown. The 31-year-old was reportedly interviewed by the league for eight hours Thursday.Brown is reportedly expected to miss the remainder of the 2019 campaign.The seven-time Pro Bowler signed with the Patriots following his release by the Oakland Raiders. He was cut by New England after one game.Three teams have reportedly been in contact with Brown, but the NFL is prepared to place him on the commissioner's exempt list if he's signed.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After the NFL upheld his suspension for his role in last Thursday's brawl with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Myles Garrett released a statement on the league's ruling and claimed he heard a racial slur from Mason Rudolph."I was assured that the hearing was space that afforded the opportunity to speak openly and honestly about the incident that led to my suspension," Garrett said. "This was not meant for public dissemination, nor was it a convenient attempt to justify my actions or restore my image in the eyes of those I disappointed."I know what I heard. Whether my opponent's comment was born out of frustration or ignorance, I cannot say. But his actions do not excuse my lack of restraint in the moment, and I truly regret the impact that this has had on the league, the Browns, and our devoted fans."During the hearing, the NFL looked into Garrett's allegations and "found no such evidence."Rudolph told reporters Wednesday he didn't say anything to the Cleveland Browns defensive end that would've escalated tensions prior to the fight, and the quarterback's attorney slammed the allegation immediately after it was publicized.Garrett will miss the remainder of the 2019 season under the ban and will be required to meet with commissioner Roger Goodell prior to a decision on his reinstatement.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL upheld the indefinite suspension for Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett on Thursday after an appeal.The ruling by jointly appointed appeals officer James Thrash confirms that Garrett will sit out the rest of the season, including any playoff games, for swinging Mason Rudolph's helmet at the quarterback in the final seconds of last Thursday's game.Browns general manager John Dorsey released a statement shortly after the ruling was made public:

The Indianapolis Colts listed wide receiver T.Y. Hilton as active for their Thursday night tilt against the Houston Texans.Hilton missed the team's last three games with a calf injury suffered in practice.Despite his absence, the four-time Pro Bowler leads the Colts with 32 catches and five touchdowns this season. Indianapolis has gone 1-7 in games without its top wideout since he entered the league in 2012.Hilton's return provides a significant boost for Frank Reich's offense, and gives quarterback Jacoby Brissett a much-needed weapon in a pivotal AFC South matchup.Tight end Eric Ebron is also active after battling an ankle injury on a short week.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is among the front-runners for the MVP award with nearly two-thirds of the regular season in the books, but he's focused solely on winning games and getting his 6-4 team into the playoffs."No. Not at all. Not at all," Prescott said when asked if the award means anything to him, according to Michael Gehlen of The Dallas Morning News. "One, it's crazy early, right? And two, I mean as I've talked about, it's wins. The only thing I care about is wins."So if that means I'm the winningest quarterback in the league, sure, I'll want it. But until it means that, I don't care. It's something cool, right? But I want to win games, and that's the most important thing to me."Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (3-2) is the betting favorite to take home the league's top honor, but Seattle Seahawks signal-caller Russell Wilson (7-4) and Prescott (7-1) are nipping at his heels.Prescott leads the league in passing yards through 11 weeks and sits second in ESPN's QBR metric behind Wilson. His 21 touchdown passes are already just two shy of his career high that he set during his rookie season.However, the Ravens and Seahawks have each won two more games than the Cowboys have, and team records are usually a big factor in deciding who wins the award.The last six MVP winners - all of whom were quarterbacks - have averaged 12.6 wins, so Prescott will likely need to get Dallas on a roll to beat out Wilson and Jackson, starting with a clash with the New England Patriots on Sunday.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Houston Texans wide receiver Will Fuller will play in the team's Week 12 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday Night Football, head coach Bill O'Brien told ESPN's Ed Werder.Fuller was officially listed as questionable heading into Thursday. He's missed the Texans' past three contests since suffering a hamstring injury in the first meeting between the division rivals in Week 7.The 25-year-old wideout has now missed 20 games throughout his career due to injury and has yet to play a full campaign.Despite being sidelined, Fuller has the second-most catches (34) and receiving yards (450) for Houston this season, behind DeAndre Hopkins.The Texans went 2-1 without Fuller. They enter Thursday night's matchup with a 6-4 record.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In his unsuccessful appeal of an indefinite suspension Wednesday, Myles Garrett accused Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph of hurling a racial slur at him before they began brawling on Thursday Night Football, sources told ESPN's Josina Anderson and Adam Schefter.However, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Thursday that the league looked into Garrett's allegations "and found no such evidence," according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Rudolph told reporters Wednesday he didn't say anything to the Cleveland Browns defensive end that would've escalated tensions prior to the fight."Mason vehemently denies the report of being accused of using a racial slur during the incident Thursday night in Cleveland," Steelers spokesperson Burt Lauten said in a statement. "He will not discuss this accusation any further and his focus remains on preparation for Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals."Rudolph and Garrett started fighting after the former took exception to what he felt was a late hit in the dying seconds of the game. The brawl quickly escalated and resulted in Garrett ripping Rudolph's helmet off and bashing him over the head with it.Rudolph's attorney slammed the allegation immediately after it was publicized:

The Pittsburgh Steelers' locker room rallied around Mason Rudolph on Thursday after it was reported that Myles Garrett had accused the quarterback of using a racial slur prior to the brawl on Thursday Night Football.Defensive tackle and team captain Cameron Heyward said Rudolph told him he never used a racial slur. Heyward added that several Steelers offensive linemen corroborated the signal-caller's version of events, according to Dale Lolley of DK Pittsburgh Sports"It's very serious," Heyward said of the allegation, per Chris Adamski of Trib Live. "We all have a brotherhood in this league, we all respect this league ... To use that (defense) as your appeal, and to think that's OK; one action doesn't deserve another."I know Mason didn't say it."Steelers offensive tackle Matt Feiler was among those in the scrum with Rudolph and Garrett. He also came to his QB's defense."There's no way he said anything like that," Feiler said of Rudolph, according to Joe Rutter of Trib Live. "Mason's not that kind of guy."Rudolph had been set to speak with reporters following Thursday's practice but wasn't made available, per Mark Kaboly of The Athletic.On Wednesday, the 24-year-old pivot said he "definitely didn't say anything that escalated" the melee.Garrett reportedly made the accusation during the appeal of his indefinite suspension, which was upheld on Thursday.In Cleveland, Browns players were seemingly caught off-guard by the news.

theScore's Justin Boone is coming off his sixth top-10 finish in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition. Follow the links below to see his updated rankings for Week 12.The final rankings will be released Sunday morning.Half PPR

Colin Kaepernick is getting a signature shoe.As part of its endorsement deal with the free-agent quarterback, Nike will release a Kaepernick shoe in early December, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports reports. It's unknown how many shoes Nike plans to roll out, but sources told Robinson the brand increased its production figures during development due to strong projected demand.Kaepernick appeared to be wearing a pair of the shoes while stretching at his workout in Georgia on Saturday. His former teammate, Carolina Panthers safety Eric Reid, also shared a photo of the shoes on Instagram.