Popular Bob's Week 12 NFL Forecast: Can the league's powerhouses stage comebacks?

Four defending division champions will be fighting for their playoff lives this week as the NFL season reaches Week 12.

If the postseason commenced this week, Baltimore, Houston, Kansas City and Detroit wouldn't be part of the festivities. Yet the Ravens, Chiefs and Lions have the shortest Super Bowl odds in their division.

On the weather front, there are still no games in frosty conditions in the forecast. And there's little chance of rain.

Here's a look at the weekend games:

THURSDAY

---> Buffalo Bills (7-3) at Houston Texans (5-5), 6:15 p.m.

Bills -6 (43.5 O/U)

Forecast: Bills 23, Texans 20

The Texans' defense should help keep the game close. That unit ranks first in the league, spearheaded by a secondary that has held enemy passers to a startling low 72.7 rating. Last season Buffalo QB Josh Allen had his worst game of the season vs. Houston, going 9-for-30. And despite Houston going with backup QB Davis Mills again it should be productive facing Buffalo's 31st-ranked rush defense.

SUNDAY

---> Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4) at Chicago Bears (7-3), 11 a.m.

Bears -2.5 (45 O/U)

Forecast: Bears 24, Steelers 14

Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said the status of QB Aaron Rodgers (fractured left wrist) won't be determined until late in the week. Rodgers, who "owns" the Bears, has an eight-game winning streak against them (8-0 ATS, too), all with Green Bay. He'll probably play Sunday, but turnovers could be an issue against a squad that has an NFL-high plus-16 differential.

---> New England Patriots (9-2) at Cincinnati Bengals (3-7), 11 a.m.

Patriots -7 (49.5 O/U)

Forecast: Patriots 41, Bengals 20

It's hard to believe Cincinnati was a 5.5-point favorite for this meeting in the preseason. And maybe the current spread should be higher since the Bengals' worst-ranked defense will be facing the NFL's most accurate passer, Drake Maye.

---> NY Giants (2-9) at Detroit Lions (6-4), 11 a.m.

Lions -10.5 (50 O/U)

Forecast: Lions 30, Giants 16

The Lions have a depleted secondary but held Eagles QB Jalen Hurts to 4.3 yards per dropback Sunday. Detroit should do better against Giants third-stringer Jameis Winston.

---> Minnesota Vikings (4-6) at Green Bay Packers (6-3-1), 11 a.m.

Packers -6.5 (40.5 O/U)

Forecast: Packers 21, Vikings 17

Packers DE Micah Parsons surely will have Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy reaching for the panic button. But on offense, Green Bay is hurting without star TE Tucker Kraft (IR) and with RB Josh Jacobs day-to-day (knee).

---> Seattle Seahawks (7-3) at Tennessee Titans (1-9), 11 a.m.

Seahawks -13.5 (44 O/U)

Forecast: Seahawks 19, Titans 14

Seattle is the heaviest road favorite of the year. It also leads the league in turnovers with 20.

---> Indianapolis Colts (8-2) at Kansas City Chiefs (5-5), 11 a.m.

Chiefs 3.5 (49.5 O/U)

Forecast: Colts 28, Chiefs 26

Coming off a deflating loss at Denver, KC will play host to a Colts squad that has the NFL's most potent offense, led by rushing leader Jonathan Taylor, and coming off a bye.

---> NY Jets (2-8) at Baltimore Ravens (5-5), 11 a.m.

Ravens -13.5 (44.5 O/U)

Forecast: Ravens 28, Jets 10

In case anyone cares: Tyrod Taylor replaces Justin Fields at QB for NYJ.

---> Cleveland Browns (2-8) at Las Vegas Raiders (2-8), 2:05 p.m.

Raiders -4 (36 O/U)

Forecast: Raiders 20, Browns 10

Cleveland rookie QB Shedeur Sanders gets to make his first start. In relief duty last week his passer rating of 13.5 was the worst in a game this year for any quarterback with at least 10 throws.

---> Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4) at Arizona Cardinals (3-7), 2:05 p.m.

Jaguars -3 (47.5 O/U)

Forecast: Jaguars 27, Cardinals 20

---> Philadelphia Eagles (8-2) at Dallas Cowboys (4-5-1), 2:25 p.m.

Eagles -3.5 (47.5 O/U)

Forecast: Eagles 27, Cowboys 21

The Cowboys will be working on short rest after winning big in Vegas on Monday night. But don't expect Dallas to prevail. Its four victories have come against teams with a cumulative 9-35 record.

---> Atlanta Falcons (3-7) at New Orleans Saints (2-8), 2:25 p.m.

Saints -2 (39.5 O/U)

Forecast: Saints 23, Falcons 17

---> Tampa Bay Bucs (6-4) at LA Rams (8-2), 6:15 p.m.

Rams -6.5 (49.5 O/U)

Forecast: Rams 27, Bucs 17

Way too much traveling for short-handed Tampa Bay, which lost at Buffalo last week.

MONDAY

---> Carolina Panthers (6-5) at San Francisco 49ers (7-4), 6:15 p.m.

49ers -7 (48.5 O/U)

Forecast: Panthers 26, 49ers 21

San Francisco, with QB Brock Purdy back, mauled Arizona last week 41-22 despite not getting a sack on 57 dropbacks. SF won in part because of 17 penalties marched off against Arizona. Carolina will obey the rules.

RECORDS

Last week's forecast: 7-5-3 ATS/11-4 straight up

Season total: 77-80-5 ATS/102-55-1 SU