2018 NFL Picks, score predictions for Week 12

Cleveland Browns (3-6-1) at Cincinnati Bengals (5-5)

Sunday, November 25, 1PM ET

To start the year, the Cincinnati Bengals looked like a potential surprise contender. Their 3-1 start caught many NFL fans off guard, but they quickly became a team worth taking seriously. Just as quickly, they fell back down to Earth, having lost four of their last five games.

Luckily for them, a date with the Cleveland Browns could get them back on track.

Now I will say that beating the Browns won’t be a cakewalk. Not only have the Bengals been a slump recently, but Baker Mayfield has kept Cleveland interesting since he took over as the starter. Especially with their slew of offensive weapons and a defense that excels at creating turnovers, it’ll be imperative for Cincinnati to play smart, mistake-free football.

Is Andy Dalton up to the task? Maybe. Maybe not. Honestly, it all depends on which version of Dalton shows up on Sunday. Sometimes, we see a franchise quarterback capable of beating most defenses. Other times, we see a guy who hinders his offense more than driving it.

Can the Bengals stay alive as the season winds down? Or will the Browns play spoiler? I’m predicting it’ll be the former, but anything is possible in this AFC South matchup.

Prediction: Bengals win 17-14