By Kyle Soppe
My o my. What did we do to deserve such a great slate of turkey day games? We’ve got 5 potential playoff teams and a hot Dolphins team all in action through out Thursday. I realize that the holiday is about the 3 F’s (family, food, and football) but with a schedule like this, the order of those three is likely to change. As for week 12, all the NFL teams are in action, as we attempt to clarify playoff positioning. We get our first look at how a pair of playoff contenders (Bears and Texans) perform without their signal caller. Looking at the path to perfection and imperfection, both teams face potential stumbling blocks. The Packers travel to Detroit on a very short week in which anything can happen. The Colts had last week off, although most NFL fans would argue that they took the first 10 weeks off any way, and face a 2-8 Panthers team. The week of strong football action is concluded with a clash of NFC powers in a game that figures to be an entertaining one.
Thanksgiving Day
Green Bay (-6) @ Detroit – Packers 31-24
Miami @ Dallas (-7) – Cowboys 31-17
San Francisco @ Baltimore (-3) – Ravens 20-14
*Fun Fact Alert* Last time the 49ers started this hot (1997) the Packers beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl
Sunday
Arizona @ St. Louis (-3) – Rams 24-21 (yea, I’m calling a push)
Buffalo (+8) @ New York – Jets 24-17
Cleveland @ Cincinnati (-7) – Bengals 28-17
Houston (-3) @ Jacksonville – Texans 24-13
Carolina @ Indianapolis (+3) – Colts 24-21 (listen to the podcast if you’d like this sung to you)
Tampa Bay (+3) @ Tennessee – Bucs 23-20
Minnesota @ Atlanta (-9.5) – Falcons 31-13
Chicago (+5.5) @ Oakland – Raiders 24-21
Washington @ Seattle (-4) – Seahawks 20-14
New England @ Philadelphia (+4) – Patriots 34-31 (If Vick is inactive, Pats 34-20)
Denver @ San Diego (-6.5) – Chargers 24-17
Pittsburgh (-10) @ Kansas City – Steelers 34-17
Monday Night Football
New York @ New Orleans (-7) – Saints 38-27
There’s actually one person in the NFL I prefer to get tebowed and that’s Philip Rivers. Go Broncos!
I don’t know about the Indy game. I’m stuck watching Carolina every week and they are a decent team with very close losses. I think they’ll blow up against the Colts and make it a laugher.
Will Baltimore score the first rushing TD against the Niners this year?
I am predicting a Lion’s win today. That crowd will be fired up and this is a statement game for a young Lions team.
Can anyone remember a Thanksgiving that offered 3 good games?
Hopefully this Packers team will go for the undefeated season unlike that idiot Colts team a few years ago when they were into the last regular season game and sat everyone and caused strife in an otherwise happy locker room.
CJ Spiller looked like a JV running back avoiding any attempt to hit a hole hard. He just keeps bouncing it outside and when he does try, he just crumbles.
Watching what the Saints are doing to the Giants in the first half – am I the only one curious about watching a Saints/Packers playoff game?
I’m with ya Smitty. And as a Packer fan, I can’t decide who I want in the playoffs. The Saints, who would try to run with us, or the 49ers who would stall and keep Rodgers on the sidelines.
I think I’d rather have the 49ers, just because they don’t score a whole lot, and I’m confident Rodgers can put points on the board regardless. If any body scores less than 21 points (which it seems San Fran) they aren’t beating the Packers