2022 NFL picks, score predictions for Week 12

NFL Picks: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates with teammate Dak Prescott #4 after rushing for a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings during the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /

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NFL Picks – Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) waives to fans after defeating the Cleveland Browns 39-17 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Nov. 13, 2022.Photos Cleveland Browns V Miami Dolphins 39 /

Houston Texans (1-8-1) at Miami Dolphins (7-3)

Sunday, November 27, 1:00 ET

Through the first 10 games of the 2022 NFL season, the Houston Texans have pretty much been as-advertised, at least in terms of how a lot of people saw them coming into this season. Houston was obviously taking on a lot of change in the offseason and rolling with Davis Mills at the quarterback position, rightfully giving the young QB a shot after he showed pretty well in the team’s second half of 2021.

So far this season, the evaluation on Mills has clearly proven that Houston needs to go a new (better) direction at the QB position. They are now well-equipped with draft picks thanks to a blockbuster trade with the Cleveland Browns involving quarterback Deshaun Watson. For the longest time, many people thought it would be the Miami Dolphins getting Watson, sending Tua Tagovailoa back to the Texans.

Instead, the Dolphins stuck with Tua, even to the point that they fired Brian Flores to stick with that decision, and the former top pick out of Alabama has responded by playing legitimate MVP-caliber ball through the first 10 games of 2022.

Tua’s progression along with the progression of Jaylen Waddle and the addition of Tyreek Hill have made this offense — led by head coach Mike McDaniel — an overnight success. The Dolphins have legitimately one of the best overall operations in the NFL right now and they are torching teams, ranking:

6th in points per game
3rd in total yards
2nd in passing
10th in 3rd down efficiency
6th in red zone efficiency

The Dolphins need only to show up in this game, right?

Prediction: Dolphins win 32-17

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