NFL Week 12 expert picks, score predictions: Lions at Colts

Our staff makes their expert picks for the NFL Week 12 battle between the Detroit Lions and Indianapolis Colts.

The Detroit Lions (9-1) will take on the Indianapolis Colts (5-6) in Week 12, wrapping up the Lions battles with AFC South opponents. The Lions are 3-0 in their matchups with the other AFC South teams this season, are riding an eight-game win streak, and are 9-1 for the first time since 1934.

The Lions are setting franchise and NFL records by the boatload on a weekly basis. They are leading the NFL in points scored per game (33.6), and quarterback Jared Goff is coming off a game in which he had a perfect passer rating and produced a completion percentage over 80%—the fifth time this season, an NFL record. The running back duo of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs have now scored a rushing touchdown in 24 consecutive games (including the postseason, also an NFL record), and are the only pair of backs in NFL history to each have 800+ scrimmage yards and 9+ touchdowns through the first 10 games of a season. Amon-Ra. St. Brown is also getting on the fun and has caught a touchdown pass in eight consecutive games, tied for the third-longest streak in the NFL since 1970.

“I think we have that ability, I really do,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said when asked if they can be amongst the best offenses in NFL history. “I think we have that ability. To me, we have everything that we need to be potent. And like I said, I feel like we’re well-rounded. When you’re able to run the ball with the big boys up front, you’ve got a hammer like David [Montgomery], and you’ve got electric, this electricity with Gibbs, and you’ve got [Jameson Williams] Jamo on the perimeter, and then you’ve got our rock St. Brown who just continues to make plays—you put him anywhere you want to put him, and you need it, he’s got it. And then running the whole show is Goff. I think we can be dangerous. We have that ability because, really, we can play the game any way we need to, as long as we’re on our stuff, we’re on our game, and we’re locked in, and we’re finishing. We can do that.”

Here’s a look at our Pride of Detroit staff picks for the Lions in Week 12:

• Hamza Baccouche (9-1): 34-17 Lions
• Morgan Cannon (9-1): 34-20 Lions (Video: Scout the Opponent)
• Brandon Knapp (9-1): 31-17 Lions (Scouting report, X factor)
• Jeremy Reisman (9-1): 34-20 Lions (On Paper)
• Kellie Rowe (9-1): 34-14 Lions
• Erik Schlitt (9-1): 31-13 Lions (Scheme breakdowns, Honolulu Blueprint)
• Meko Scott (9-1): 34-20 Lions (Video: Scout the Opponent)
• Max Gerber (8-2): 54-13 Lions
• Al Karsten (8-2): 31-20 Lions
• Jerry Mallory (8-2): 31-23 Lions
• Ryan Mathews (8-2): 24-14 Lions (5 Questions)
• Alex Reno (8-2): 31-13 Lions
• Ty Schalter (8-2): 34-17 Lions
• John Whiticar (8-2): 32-23 Lions
• Zac Snyder (6-4): 27-20 Lions
• Chris Perfett (0-9): 32-32 Tie

For the rest of our staff NFL picks, be sure to check out our previously posted Week 12 predictions: Moneyline, spread, and over/under.

Now let’s hear your picks. Vote in the poll below and share your score predictions in the comment section at the bottom of the page.