Section 400’s Week 12 Thursday Night Football Roundtable

Week 12 of the 2024 NFL season kicks off Thursday night with a battle of AFC North squads moving in different directions. With plenty of headlines to discuss entering this battle, the guys are back again to bring you their weekly Thursday Night Football roundtable.

In this week’s roundtable, Brian and Jack talk the Steelers playoff hopes, the direction of the Browns, and best bets for tonight’s game, before ending with their prediction of which squad starts off the week with a win. Make sure to check back every Thursday and Monday throughout the season for our takes on each primetime NFL contest!

Pursuit of Happiness

We’ve been huge Jameis Winston guys ever since episode one of the podcast. After spending the past few seasons as a backup, the Florida State product is finally getting his opportunity to start in the league again. Will he be a starter in the NFL when next season kicks off? If so, where?

BH: I want Jameis Winston to be the starting quarterback for the New York Football Giants in 2025. Now that Tommy DeVito is the QB1 in New York I fully expect my Giants to win two or three games they have no business winning. They’ll lose out on a top five pick because of that, and unless Cam Ward magically falls to six or seven, the organization should wait until Arch Manning becomes available in 2026. It is the Giants we are talking about however, so they’ll probably end up drafting Travis Hunter.

JA: It’s a bit too early to declare, but if I had to put my money on something, he’ll return as a backup for another, more competitive team. He’s not exactly showing off with his current team like a Baker Mayfield or Sam Darnold.

Knock Knock

Russell Wilson has experienced a renaissance of sorts this season with the Steelers. Pittsburgh now sits a top the AFC North with less than half the season to go after a massive win over the Ravens last week. Our guy Matt has the Steelers locked in to make a run to the AFC Championship, but how far do you think this team can go in 2024?

BH: As much as I want to say the Cincinnati Bengals are going to win the division and knock the Steelers out of the postseason, I think that dream, and my future bet, is dead. I still don’t trust Russell Wilson as far as I can “high knee”, so I can’t commit to picking Pittsburgh going past the Divisional Round.

JA: An AFC Championship loss is as far as Pittsburgh can go. Depending on the matchup, they might lose their opening playoff game. I’m still not bought in to this Russel Wilson and Najee Harris led team.

Good News

While we know it won’t be Cleveland (and likely Cincinnati), the AFC North is still very much up for grabs. Who do you believe is winning this division, and by how many games?

BH: I honestly have no idea. If the Bengals completed the comeback victory of the Chargers last week I would be all in on Joe Burrow and company because of the soft schedule moving forward. Pittsburgh and Baltimore both have grueling stretches to finish the season, but I’ll lean Mike Tomlin’s Steelers because of the slight lead in the standings entering this week.

JA: I’ll take the Ravens by a game. Baltimore will finish 12-5, while the Steelers will finish 11-6.

Up, Up & Away

Let’s sweep the board tonight boys. Give me your best bet(s) tonight!

BH: If there was ever a time for Nick Chubb to return to form, it’s this week in a divisional game against a great defense. Chubb is itching to prove he still has plenty left in the tank, and he’ll do just that by rushing for OVER 52.5 yards (-120) in this game.

JA: Give me ‘The Bozzz’, Chris Boswell, OVER 6.5 kicking points (-110). He’s been automatic this year and Tomlin has no issues winning a game strictly with field goals.

Prediction Time

Which of these teams is winning tonight, and will be the score?

BH: I may have taken the Steelers in our Week 12 Confidence Pick Poll, but I’m giving out the Browns to pull off the upset in this roundtable. Cleveland gets the upset win behind a monster game from Nick Chubb, 23-15.

JA: 23-17, Steelers win in Cleveland tonight. Sorry Jameis.