The 2024 NFL regular season is about to roll into its final act, as the completion of Week 12 will mark the point at which this year’s campaign is two-thirds complete.
The weekend will also mark the final pitstop for franchises, with six teams on byes before everyone is in action the rest of the way. And while the thinned-out schedule might not be replete with big games, there are several intriguing matchups, including an afternoon tilt between the San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers, the Sunday night showdown between the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams, and the Monday capper between the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers – better known as the Harbaugh Bowl.
Here are bold predictions for Week 12 from USA TODAY Sports’ NFL writers:
Kyler Murray will sting the Seahawks for a long touchdown run
There’s long…and there’s Kyler Murray long. The fleet-footed Arizona Cardinals quarterback has two TD runs of at least 44 yards this season, including the 50-yard jaunt at San Francisco that is the longest by any NFL quarterback since the start of the 2023 season. With Arizona (6-4) holding first place in the NFC West as it takes a four-game winning streak to Seattle, the Seahawks (5-5) should be plenty wary. I’m guessing that Murray – who has five runs of at least 20 yards this season – will exploit Seattle’s 27th-ranked run defense for a big play or two from his legs. Ask the Chiefs about the impact of a running quarterback, given Josh Allen’s game-sealing, 26-yard run for the Bills last weekend. Then again, Murray can be just as much of a threat with his arm. He will carry a franchise-record streak of 17 consecutive completions into Sunday’s game as he comes off his sixth career game with at least an 80% completion rate (22-of-24) in the Week 10 romp against the Jets. It’s worth noting that Allen is the only quarterback to pass for 17,000 yards and run for 2,500 in fewer games than Murray. It took Murray 73 games to hit those marks; Allen, 71 games. Other milestones may beckon. Consider that Murray has two of the three longest TD runs ever by a Cardinals quarterback, but Charley Trippi’s record (59 yards, vs. Chicago Bears) has stood since 1952.
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— Jarrett Bell
Tommy DeVito throws for 300 yards, 3 TDs against Buccaneers
Everybody’s favorite North Jersey Italian is back, and I’m not talking about Tony Soprano. Fire up the grill for those chicken cutlet sandwiches to pass out Sunday at MetLife Stadium. Practice that “chef’s kiss” emoji. Tommy DeVito is back, and he’s here to play the Giants out of top-five draft position in an already-lost season for the second straight year.
Which means DeVito will waste no time stuffing the stat sheet and potentially put up the best single-game numbers by a New York quarterback in 2024 – including the Jets’ Aaron Rodgers.
Daniel Jones, benched after the team’s bye, threw for more than 250 yards twice prior to his demotion, but never eclipsed the 300-yard mark. The Buccaneers are the opponent to do it against – the team’s pass defense ranks 30th in yards allowed per game.
DeVito, 26, went 3-3 in six starts last season. However many games he wins over the next six weeks may actually help keep the Giants in quarterback limbo, but the memories built along the way are what matters, right?
— Chris Bumbaca
Saquon Barkley’s big night leads to scrimmage yards milestone
I wrote that Saquon Barkley is an NFL Offensive Player of the Year front-runner this week. The Eagles running back leads the NFL with 1,347 yards from scrimmage. Barkley is only 153 total yards from becoming the fourth player in NFL history with at least 1,500 yards from scrimmage in his first 11 games with a team. I predict Barkley will rush for 150 yards and have 50 receiving yards against a Los Angeles Rams defense that gives up 127 rushing yards per game and allows over 4 yards per carry. The Rams’ front seven is young and talented, but the Eagles’ stout offensive line and Barkley will have a big advantage on Sunday night.
Barkley’s performance will help the Eagles win their seventh-consecutive game as Philadelphia takes control of the NFC East. Maybe the New York Giants, especially after Daniel Jones was benched, regret letting Barkley walk.
— Tyler Dragon
Justin Jefferson passes Ja’Marr Chase for NFL receiving yards lead
Jefferson is 144 yards back of his friend and former LSU teammate for the No. 1 spot. With the Cincinnati Bengals on a bye, the Minnesota Vikings star has a chance to pull out in front. To do so, however, he’d need a season-best performance.
Defenses have geared up to stop Jefferson, with coach Kevin O’Connell saying this week that the coverages thrown his way are unlike anything that other receivers are facing. The Chicago Bears aren’t likely to let up, as a unit that ranks ninth in passing yards allowed per game can throw Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson and plenty of additional help at him. Still, Jefferson has been held under 80 yards just once since Week 2, and a big play – like the one Chicago surrendered last week when Johnson got tangled up with Christian Watson on a 60-yard gain – could put him over the top.
— Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz