NFL picks 2015, Week 12: Experts split on Panthers-Cowboys, Seahawks-Steelers

This week features the annual Thanksgiving games, with the most intriguing one being a matchup between the Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys remain in last place at 3-7, but seem rejuvenated by the return of Tony Romo. They'll look to be the first team to take down the undefeated Panthers, and it might be more plausible than people think. Our panel is actually split even in this one, with four picking Carolina and four taking Dallas.

Sunday's 1 p.m. slate has a handful of games with significant playoff implications, and one of the most critical matchups takes place in the Georgia Dome when the Atlanta Falcons (6-4) host the Minnesota Vikings (7-3). The Falcons are reeling after a 5-0 start, having lost four of their last five games and letting the rest of the field catch up in the NFC Wild Card race. The Vikings lost first place in their division after dropping a road game to the Green Bay Packers, but they remain major players in the NFC. Our experts predict Atlanta's tailspin to continue, picking Minnesota by a 6-2 margin.

The NFC East is as big a crapshoot as ever, but an important division game takes place at FedEx Field when Washington (4-6) hosts the New York Giants (5-5). The Giants are coming off a bye after a hard-fought loss to the New England Patriots in Week 10, while Washington's momentum was halted by a beatdown from the Panthers. As befitting the division, there's no real consensus on a panel, with a slight 5-3 edge to the Giants.

In the late afternoon slot, the Seattle Seahawks host the Pittsburgh Steelers in a rematch of the infamous Super Bowl 40. Seattle is back at .500 after a comfortable win over the San Francisco 49ers, but Marshawn Lynch is expected to be out with a possible sports hernia. Fortunately, the Seahawks have enjoyed the emergence of undrafted rookie Thomas Rawls, who carved up the 49ers for 255 total yards and two touchdowns. The 5-5 Seahawks still have ground to make up in the playoff race, particularly after losing a home game to the Arizona Cardinals.

The Steelers are coming off their bye after getting Ben Roethlisberger back sooner than expected. Roethlisberger started Week 10 on the bench, but was pressed into duty when Landry Jones got hurt. He proceeded to shred the Cleveland Browns for 379 passing yards and three touchdowns, and now had an extra week to heal up. At 6-4, the Steelers are turning into one of those teams nobody wants to play down the stretch. Our experts favor Pittsburgh 4-3, with noted Seahawks fan Matt Ufford choosing "whiskey" as his option.

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