Thanksgiving means two things, food and football. Get out the leftovers and prepare for another Sunday of gridiron action.
Monday Night’s Results: DEN 14, SD 35
The Chargers notched another victory on their late season push toward the playoffs. San Diego is now 5-5 after a shaky 2-5 start. The Broncos continued to disappoint fans in Denver, and fell to 3-7. MVP candidate Philip Rivers threw for 233 yards and four touchdowns, even without tight end Antonio Gates. Rookie running back Ryan Mathews sat out on Monday, and Mike Tolbert ran for 111 yards and a touchdown. The Chargers recorded five sacks. Denver QB Kyle Orton threw for 217 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Knowshon Moreno had 120 total yards and a rushing touchdown. The NFL’s leading receiver Brandon Lloyd had six catches for 78 yards and a touchdown. Denver converted only one third down all night.
Thanksgiving Football Scores
New England 45, Detroit 24
New Orleans 30, Dallas 27
Cincinnati 10, New York Jets 26
News & Notes
The Oakland Raiders will start Bruce Gradkowski at quarterback this week against the Dolphins. Jason Campbell was benched in the third quarter of last week’s loss to Pittsburgh.
The Redskins waived 17-year veteran receiver Joey Galloway. Practice squad receiver Terrence Austin was promoted to the active roster.
Saints’ defensive end Will Smith was arrested and charged with domestic abuse on Saturday. Smith got into an argument with his wife early Saturday morning, then police witnessed him grab her by the hair.
The Denver Broncos and Josh McDaniels were each fined $50,000 after the team’s video operations director filmed six minutes of the 49ers’ practice in London. Steve Scarnecchia filmed the San Francisco practice, then presented the tape to McDaniels, who did not watch the tape. Scarnecchia, who was with McDaniels in New England during the original “Spygate” scandal, was fired.
The New York Giants will start running back Brandon Jacobs Sunday against Jacksonville. Ahmad Bradshaw, who is fifth in the league with 867 rushing yards, has fumbled six times this season.
Injury Report
The Miami Dolphins ruled receiver Brandon Marshall out for this weekend’s game against Oakland. Marshall missed practice all week with a hamstring injury he suffered last week against the Bears.
Philadelphia Eagles’ corner Asante Samuel will not make the trip to Chicago while recovering from a knee injury. Samuel leads the NFL with seven interceptions.
The Buffalo Bills placed linebacker Shawne Merriman on injured reserve with an Achilles” tendon injury. Merriman was claimed off waivers earlier this month from San Diego.
Carolina rookie Jimmy Clausen has been cleared to play against the Browns after suffering from a concussion. The Browns will start former Panther Jake Delhomme in place on the injured Colt McCoy.
Game of the Week: San Diego at Indianapolis
The resurgent San Diego Chargers will travel to Indianapolis to face the struggling Colts. San Diego has won eight straight November games, while the Colts have won eight consecutive home games. However, Peyton Manning and his Colts have lost two of their last three.
San Diego has won three straight games, and are third in the AFC West. The Chargers’ offense is first in total yards per game (418.2) and first in passing yards (306.5). Quarterback Philip Rivers is second in the league with 3,177 yards. He is tied with Drew Brees and Tom Brady with a league leading 23 touchdown passes. Running back Mike Tolbert leads the team with 506 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Antonio Gates has a team high 40 receptions for 663 yards and nine touchdowns. San Diego’s defense leads the NFL in yards allowed (270.7) and sacks (32).
Indy is second in the AFC South behind the Jaguars. They are fourth in the league in yards per game (388.1). Manning has thrown for 3,059 yards with 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Joseph Addai leads the team with 406 yards and three touchdown on the ground. Reggie Wayne has 71 catches for 865 yards and four touchdowns. Infamous defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis have combined for 14.5 sacks and five forced fumbles.
Key Matchup: Rivers vs. Manning
This is another game with all eyes on the two quarterbacks. Former MVP Manning faces this season’s top candidate Rivers. The Chargers will get receiver Vincent Jackson back after his suspension for holding out. He should provide a well needed boost to a decimated receiving group, with Malcom Floyd and Antonio Gates nursing injuries. Last week, Manning threw three interceptions in the loss to New England. In Week 9, he threw two as the Colts lost to Philadelphia. Manning will need to get back on track to avoid another loss.
Prediction
The Chargers are the hottest team in the league right now. Rivers should be able to pick apart a weak Indianapolis defense if he can avoid the pass rush of Freeney and Mathis. Teams have also had success running the ball against the Colts. However, Manning is a competitor, and will not sit back and let this season slip away. He nearly lead another comeback against New England. But the Colts have suffered a lot of injuries. Joseph Addai and Austin Collie continue to miss time, with Dallas Clark already on injured reserve. San Diego will steal a victory from the Indy in a close battle.
Best of the Rest: (Home teams in italics)
Atlanta over Green Bay
Pittsburgh over Buffalo
Cleveland over Carolina
Houston over Tennessee
New York Giants over Jacksonville
Minnesota over Washington
Oakland over Miami
Kansas City over Seattle
Baltimore over Tampa Bay
Philadelphia over Chicago
Denver over St. Louis
Arizona over San Francisco
Last week’s results: 11-4
Have NFL Splinters? Share them here.
Chargers (+3) over COLTS
Because the “always take San Diego getting points against Indy” rule trumps the “never bet against Manning at night” rule … barely, but it does trump it.
RAIDERS (-3) over Dolphins
Because the Raiders were victimized by the “West Coast team playing at 1 p.m. ET” curse last week and because the only thing the banged-up Dolphins have going for them is The Law of Gus. (But because it’s a 3-point line, the game still can come down to the wire with Oakland covering. So there.)
Titans (+6.5) over TEXANS
Because even though your gut instinct is, “I can’t take Tennessee on the road, Rusty Smith is starting” … you’re telling me the all-time leading passer in Florida Atlantic history can’t handle Houston’s historically atrocious pass defense?
BILLS (+7) over Steelers
Because it’s a trap game. I don’t care how many different ways the Steelers claim that they can see it coming. Trap game. T-R-A-P G-A-M-E.
Jaguars (+7) over GIANTS
Because I don’t see any difference between the quality of New York’s six victories (Carolina, Chicago, Houston, Detroit, Dallas, Seattle) and Jacksonville’s six victories (Denver, Indy, Buffalo, Dallas, Houston, Cleveland). And aren’t the Giants banged-up? And have we seen any semblance of home-field advantage in the new Meadowlands with the Giants or Jets yet? And doesn’t Sunday feel extremely underdoggy in general?
Indy is in second place?
Bill S. is looking good right now. Bills are taking the Steelers to OT. Josh McDaniels says he didn’t look at the tape. I think I almost believe him only I don’t.
Hey T – well done with last week’s picks!
Rey – thanks for pointing out T’s success with the picks. T – you stick your neck out week after week. Well done. Helmet Sticker!
In case anyone is wondering, Stevie Johnson is NOT getting my POTW.
Da Bears!!!! (as opposed to duh Bares). Going in, I thought the Bears would struggle to stay in this game with Philly. It turned out that Philly was the team that struggled mightily to stay in the game. Da Bears suddenly look like a serious force in NFC. Today was the first time all season I think they looked like a sure fire playoff team. (The previous game vs Miami game was hard to tell because of Dolphins QB situation). But this game today showed a lot. It’s hard to believe … but we all saw it. Bears offense is showing maturity finally and Cutler is getting some time to throw. Rest of season will be interesting whereas a month ago I thought it’d be over by now.