Gobble, gobble.\u00a0 Another year to give thanks for, well, for football…oh and family and stuff like that.\u00a0 But, really, Thanksgiving is a great signpost in the NFL season.\u00a0 And, we’ve made it.<\/p>\n
Houston (7-3) at DETROIT (5-5)<\/span> – Vegas: Lions -2.5 Washington (3-7) at DALLAS (5-5)<\/span> – Vegas: Cowboys -6 New England (9-1) at N.Y. JETS (4-6)<\/span> – Vegas: Patriots -5 Minnesota (4-6) at CHICAGO (6-4)<\/span> -Vegas: Bears -7.5 Oakland (1-9) at CINCINNATI (7-3)<\/span> – Vegas: <\/strong>Bengals -4.5 Pittsburgh (7-3) at CLEVELAND (1-9)<\/span> – Vegas: Steelers -5 Buffalo (5-5) at INDIANAPOLIS (2-8)<\/span> – Vegas: Bills -1 Denver (5-5) at KANSAS CITY (4-6)<\/span> -Vegas: Chiefs -1 Seattle (3-7) at MIAMI (5-5)<\/span> – Vegas: Dolphins -3 Atlanta (6-4) at TAMPA BAY (4-6)<\/span> -Vegas: Falcons -3 Tennessee (4-6) at JACKSONVILLE (4-6)<\/span> -Vegas: Titans -1 Baltimore (6-4) at SAN DIEGO (5-5)<\/span> -Vegas: Chargers -1.5 St. Louis (3-7) at ARIZONA (3-7)<\/span> -Vegas: Cardinals -3.5 San Francisco (8-2) at NEW ORLEANS (7-3)<\/span> – Vegas: Saints -3 Green Bay (10-0) at N.Y. GIANTS (6-4)<\/span> -Vegas: Packers -3 Carolina (4-6) at PHILADELPHIA (7-3)<\/span> -Vegas: Eagles -7 NFC EAST: NFC NORTH: NFC SOUTH: NFC WEST: AFC EAST: AFC NORTH: AFC SOUTH: AFC WEST: 1 \u2013 Packers (10-1) 1 -Patriots (9-2) Gobble, gobble.\u00a0 Another year to give thanks for, well, for football…oh and family and stuff like that.\u00a0 But, really, Thanksgiving is a great signpost in the NFL season.\u00a0 And, we’ve made it. Thanksgiving Day Houston (7-3) at DETROIT (5-5) – … Continue reading
\nRemember when there was talk that the Lions should be taken off of Thanksgiving because they “weren’t good enough?”\u00a0 That was really dumb.\u00a0 First of all, tradition is a good thing, and, second of all, it’s the NFL – no one stays terrible forever.\u00a0 Now, the Lions are a big draw, and this should be a great before-dinner game.\u00a0 Short week – take the home team, right?\u00a0 Lions (close)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nThe better team is at home here, so it’s not hard, though if RG3 develops the way he could by this point, it could be exciting.\u00a0 Cowboys (moderate)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nCall me crazy, but can’t you see Rex getting his boys fired up for this one and stealing it?\u00a0 Jets (close)<\/strong><\/p>\nSunday, Early Afternoon<\/h1>\n
\nFirst of all, if you really look at the schedule, you will definitely take the Vikes and the points in this one.\u00a0 Minnesota is coming off of a bye, while the Bears played on Monday Night in San Francisco.\u00a0 This game is essentially a toss-up, but I just think the Bears are a good bit more talented, so should hold on.\u00a0 But, honestly, this is a dream time for the Vikes to hit Soldier Field.\u00a0 Bears (close)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nCincinnati’s the better team at home at 1:00.\u00a0 I’ll lay the points with no hesitation here.\u00a0 Bengals (easy)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nThe Steelers are coming off of a tough, physical game with the Ravens on Sunday Night.\u00a0 This isn’t a great spot, but I don’t see the Browns doing anything on offense here.\u00a0 Expect 13-3 or something like that.\u00a0 Steelers (moderate)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nThis might be a tougher spot for the Bills if they didn’t have the 3 extra days to rest and prepare for this one – coming off the Thursday Night game against Miami.\u00a0 Bills (moderate)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nRight after a huge game with the Chargers, Peyton and the Broncs have to travel to KC.\u00a0 A real tough place to play, and they will probably give one right back here to a Chiefs team with their second straight home game.\u00a0 Chiefs (moderate)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nThe Seahawks are coming off of the bye, but the Dolphins have 10 days of their own to get ready.\u00a0 At 1:00 in Miami, this one is basically a toss-up, but I’ll favor the Dolphins, as this Seattle schedule is just really tough.\u00a0 Dolphins (close)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nThe Bucs are tough and could really cause some problems here, but I am a tepid believer in this Falcons team this year.\u00a0 Falcons (close)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nThe Titans are the better team and are coming off of the bye.\u00a0 Though the Jags could be better than people think, they probably won’t get this one.\u00a0 Titans (close)<\/strong><\/p>\nSunday, Late Afternoon<\/h1>\n
\nBoth teams are coming off really tough games – the Ravens in Pittsburgh and the Chargers in Denver.\u00a0 I have gone back and forth several times on this one, but with the teams 3,000 miles apart, the home team is probably the better pick.\u00a0 Add to the equation that the Ravens have a huge game with the Steelers coming up, and it’s a little clearer.\u00a0 Chargers (close)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nTwo teams that will probably be fading by this point.\u00a0 I’ll take the better defense at home.\u00a0 Cardinals (close)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nTough spot for the Niners, having to go on the road to New Orleans just 6 days after a Monday Nighter against a physical Bears team.\u00a0 This should be a fascinatingly interesting rematch of the playoff game last year, but I’ll take the home team here.\u00a0 Saints (close)<\/strong><\/p>\nSunday Night<\/h1>\n
\nIf the Packers do get here at 10-0, who better to knock them off than the Giants, fired up at home, with 2 weeks to prepare?\u00a0 Giants (close)<\/strong><\/p>\nMonday Night<\/h1>\n
\nComing off a brutal stretch of Atlanta, New Orleans, Dallas, and Washington, the Eagles, in prime time, should be out for blood at home against the Panthers.\u00a0 Eagles (easy)<\/strong><\/p>\nStandings After Week Twelve<\/h1>\n
\nThe top three all win here, showing that the NFC East may not be as “down” as people think<\/em>
\n8-3 Eagles
\n7-4 Giants
\n6-5 Cowboys
\n3-8 Redskins<\/p>\n
\nWith the Pack losing, the undefeated talk can stop, but this division is strong at the top once again
\n<\/em>10-1 Packers
\n7-4 Bears
\n6-5 Lions
\n4-7 Vikings<\/p>\n
\nThe cream continues to rise to the top all around the league, as NO and ATL separate themselves
\n<\/em>8-3 Saints
\n7-4 Falcons
\n4-7 Panthers
\n4-7 Bucs<\/p>\n
\nA loss for the Niners hurts their chances at a bye, but they are still pretty solid to win this division
\n<\/em>8-3 49ers
\n4-7 Cardinals
\n3-8 Rams
\n3-8 Seahawks<\/p>\n
\nThe Pats lose a game on the entire rest of the division thanks to their loss in the Meadowlands; the Jets stay in the mix with the W
\n<\/em>9-2 Patriots
\n6-5 Bills
\n6-5 Dolphins
\n5-6 Jets<\/p>\n
\nA week after gaining ground on both leaders, the Ravens give the game right back with a loss in SD; the Browns are one of the first two teams to reach double-digits Ls
\n<\/em>8-3 Steelers
\n8-3 Bengals
\n6-5 Ravens
\n1-10 Browns<\/p>\n
\nA tough loss for Houston in trying to secure a bye; the Titans beat the Jags in, essentially, an elimination game
\n<\/em>7-4 Texans
\n5-6 Titans
\n4-7 Jaguars
\n2-9 Colts<\/p>\n
\nThe Chargers go back up a game, but this is still anyone’s division…except for the 10-loss Raiders
\n<\/em>6-5 Chargers
\n5-6 Broncos
\n5-6 Chiefs
\n1-10 Raiders<\/p>\nNFC Playoff Picture<\/h1>\n
\n2\/3 \u2013 Eagles\/49ers (8-3)
\n4 \u2013 Saints (8-3)
\n5\/6\/OUT \u2013 Giants\/Bears\/Falcons (7-4)
\nIN THE MIX \u2013 Cowboys\/Lions (6-5)<\/p>\nAFC Playoff Picture<\/h1>\n
\n2 \u2013 Steelers (8-3)
\n3 – Texans (7-4)
\n4 \u2013 Chargers\u00a0(6-5)
\n5 \u2013 Bengals (8-3)
\n6\/OUT \u2013 Bills\/Dolphins\/Ravens (6-5)
\nIN THE MIX \u2013 Jets\/Titans\/Broncos\/Chiefs (5-6)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"