Week 12 of the NFL season is upon us, and that means it's time for another round of bold predictions. As always, this week's edition of fearless prognostications includes a macho helping of audaciousness and abandon as we head into Sunday and Monday's contests. Warning: these predictions are not for the faint of heart.
Darrelle Revis picks off two passes against Tom Brady
Father Time caught Darrelle Revis in 2016, ensnaring the former lockdown corner a carbonate chamber none can avoid forever. The 31-year-old cover man has zero interceptions this season, a sorry two passes defensed and is allowing a 105.0 passer rating when targeted. Revis has been burned more times this year than Uncle Jackie using the deep fryer. Even as Father Time hugs Revis tight to his chest, calmly letting him know everything will be all right eventually, the corner will make one last futile effort to escape the grasp. The Patriots have talked respectfully about their former teammate this week, giving the venerable veteran accolades his career has warranted. But come Sunday, Brady will attempt to pick on his former comrade. With the competitive juices giving Revis a temporary rejuvenation, the corner will pick off Brady twice Sunday. It won't be enough for the Jets to win, but Sunday's big day will allow Revis to smile a little bit and have one more story to tell the youngsters from his rocking chair.
-- Kevin Patra
Browns get off the schneid
By won-loss record, the Cleveland Browns are literally the worst team the New York Giants have faced in their 92-year history. The G-Men are accepting back-slaps this week, hailed as a legitimate NFC contender while riding a five-game winning streak. Would it surprise anyone, though, if they stumbled on the road in Cleveland in advance of a big showdown with AFC playoff hopeful Pittsburgh on the horizon?
The Giants' margin of victory (27 points) is the lowest over a team's first seven wins in NFL history. Do they have a super power that allows their mettle to shine through in close-and-late situations, or is this a regression to the mean after blowing so many fourth-quarter leads last year? Last year's 6-10 team would have boasted an 11-4-1 record had all games ended at 1:46 in the fourth quarter, per NFL Research. This year's 7-3 squad would have a 5-4-1 record under the same scenario. With Josh McCown back under center -- throwing to the likes of Terrelle Pryor, Corey Coleman, Gary Barnidge and Duke Johnson -- the Browns have sneaky upset potential if the quarterback gets protection.
-- Chris Wesseling
Todd Gurley finally rushes for at least 100 yards
So Jared Goff wasn't the quick-fix phenom that many had hoped for in La La Land. In his first pro start, the Rams quarterback was hesitant, struggled on downfield throws and earned little respect from Miami's ferocious front seven. As a result, few holes opened up in the run game, especially for struggling sophomore back Todd Gurley, who has yet to exceed 100 rushing yards in a game this season... that is until this Sunday. Gurley returns to an atmosphere that suited him well in his rookie season -- a dome with FieldTurf -- to take on a Saints defense that has improved in stopping the run since Sheldon Rankins has returned from injury (76.5 rush YPG in last two games). Gurley has seen his production ramp up in recent weeks (consecutive 20-plus-carry games) and should see similar action in New Orleans, if and when the Saints are drawn out of the box to cover Goff's intermediate gains and deep attempts. Jeff Fisher will seek to play a time of possession game once again, which means more love for Gurley. After 11 weeks of futility, Sunday's matchup is the back's best chance at cracking the century mark yet this campaign.
-- Jeremy Bergman
Jay Ajayi gets reacquainted with the 200-yard club
Miami saw its season change for the better when it placed an added emphasis on the running game. Led by Ajayi and his back-to-back 200-plus-yard games, the Dolphins vaulted into the league's top 10 in rushing. Miami went from relying too much on the arm of Ryan Tannehill to letting Ajayi's churning legs to do the work, and suddenly the Dolphins are squarely in the playoff conversation.
But it's been a couple weeks since Ajayi cracked 100-plus yards. Against the 49ers, the league's worst against the run by a wide, nearly historical margin, there's no better time to again get familiar with the NFL's top runners. Powered by a zone scheme we broke down in this Next Gen Stats piece, Ajayi uses his bullish, one-cut running style to slice through the Niners' defense, gaining 150 yards through three quarters. A big run in the fourth breaks 200 yards and ices another win for the Dolphins, who continue their charge toward the postseason.
-- Nick Shook
