Week 12 of the NFL Season comes to a close tonight as the San Francisco 49ers host the Carolina Panthers. Both teams have had a solid season and both teams are fighting for the playoffs. So, who will win Monday night? I’ll have a preview of the game below, but first let’s consider what else we saw in Week 12.

Buffalo we have a problem

The Bills were a trendy early season favorite, but it’s been a wildly uneven season. The Bills have come up with signature wins against contenders. They’ve also fallen short in some brutal games. Thursday’s loss to the Texans was a bad turn for the Bills. Josh Allen was sacked eight times and the lack of a marquee receiver is taking a toll. The Bills are now well back of the Patriots and could well have a tough road to the Super Bowl.

The Patriots are out in front

The New England Patriots were one of the worst teams in the league in 2024. Now, they became the first 10-win team in the league Sunday. The Patriots lead the AFC and show no signs of slowing down against a middling schedule. They’ve also passed some tough tests, including wins over the Buccaneers and Bills. With a 2.5 game lead in the AFC East, they look like the real deal as we turn toward December football.

The Chiefs have a pulse

It wasn’t pretty, but the Chiefs won on Sunday, at home, against the Colts in overtime in a game they had to have. The Chiefs got their first one-score win of the season, improving to 6-5. If the playoffs started today the Chiefs would still be on the outside looking in. But it’s a promising sign for a team that has long been the class of the AFC.

And now, on to Monday’s game.

Carolina Panthers (6-5) at San Francisco 49ers (7-4)

Both the Panthers and 49ers have had a winning season. Both are on the cusp of a playoff berth. But both teams still have plenty of work left to do. That continues Monday night with a battle in Prime Time.

For the Panthers, Bryce Young has been all over the map. But he was great in Week 11, and the 49ers’ defense has been fantasy friendly. I’m cautiously optimistic, putting him in QB2 range. In the backfield, Rico Dowdle has been solid. He’s an RB2. In the passing game, it’s mostly about Tet McMillan. He’s a WR3 with upside for me.

For the 49ers, Brock Purdy looked good in his first game back. He’s a QB2 for me this week. In the backfield, Christian McCaffrey has been the man. I think that continues. He’s an RB1. I like George Kittle in the passing game as a TE1. Among receivers, Jauan Jennings is the one I like the best. He’s a flex option, while Ricky Pearsall is a deep league flex option.

I’m taking the 49ers at home.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.