NFL Week 12 teasers: Proven NFL expert ranks top teaser plays, and the Patriots don't make the cut

It was a great week for the column. Not only did we get our fourth straight Teaser of the Week cover with our 49ers-Raiders pairing, but our third option (Bills) and all three of our alternates (Bears, Eagles, Ravens) all came through, with all four needing the teaser number to get there. We avoided the Chiefs, but even they got it done on the teaser number at the end of the day in a back-and-forth matchup.

This week, we're looking at four teams we can take through Teaser Alley to get the 3 and the 7, but one of those four I have no interest in teasing is the Patriots up to +8.5. Yes, their defense has looked awesome the last few games, but those have come against Zach Wilson twice and Sam Ehlinger. They were also decimated in Justin Fields' coming out party prior to that run, and they haven't been tested by a good, healthy offense for much of the season. Maybe the injury to Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw gives them an opening to put together a good defensive effort, but I don't see them shutting down Minnesota like the Cowboys did last week.

I also don't see how you can have any confidence in the New England offense after they managed just one touchdown in each of the last three games. You can point to matchups with good Jets and Colts defenses as an excuse just like you can when discounting how their defense has played, but aside from rolling all over the Browns defense, the New England unit hasn't impressed offensively for much of the year. The Vikings' defense isn't exactly tough to pass on, so maybe Mac Jones and Co. can finally put together a good game, but I also think there's potential for the Vikings to win by two scores and ruin a Patriots teaser.

So who is in our Teaser of the Week? Do we go back to the well with what looks like a dominant 49ers team? Are the Eagles trustworthy at home against the Packers? Let's get into the picks right now.

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