It’s Week 12! A few teams have placed themselves firmly in the playoff picture, while a few players are separating themselves in the MVP race. One player we won’t see this week is Ja’Marr Chase (though Conor Orr says players shouldn’t be suspended for spitting).
One of the biggest games of the week is in the early window Sunday, when the 8–2 Colts visit the 5–5 Chiefs. Could Kansas City really be under .500 after 11 games? Half of our writers and editors say yes. Over in the NFC, the Rams have staked their claim as perhaps the conference’s best team, and on Sunday Night Football they’ll host a Buccaneers team that leads the NFC South but has lost three out of four. On Monday night, two NFC playoff hopefuls will square off when Christian McCaffrey and the 49ers face the team that drafted him, the Panthers.
Here’s who we have making picks this week:
Conor Orr, senior writer
Gilberto Manzano, staff writer
Matt Verderame, staff writer
John Pluym, managing editor
Mitch Goldich, senior editor
Clare Brennan, associate editor
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Green squares denote upsets.
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