Tony Romo: Victor or Thanksgiving Turkey?
Week 12 begins with the most traditional Thanksgiving game possible, the Detroit Lions hosting the Green Bay Packers. Some of us remember this as the matchup for Thanksgiving as these two teams met in Detroit from 1951 through 1963. How many Baltimore fans remember the Colts played in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day in 1965 playing to a 24-24 tie?
Controversy has more recently arisen why Detroit maintains the hosting privileges for the early game since they’ve been so atrocious in recent years (and when were they ever that good short of being able to marvel at Barry Saunders running ability?). Then is it okay that the publicity happy Dallas Cowboys likewise get the nod since they are the self-anointed America’s team? Surely if someone took a poll, would the Cowboys truly be “America’s” team? Well, don’t get your hopes up Mid-Atlantic fans. It sure wouldn’t be the Ravens or Redskins – hmm, but wouldn’t that be cool? How about those teams meeting alternating hosts each Thanksgiving?
Now the NFL has its own network to promote, thus there’s a third game that can be played anywhere, preferably with an AFC team hosting so there’s wall-to-wall football.
So order up the Turkey subs, get the guys together, fire up the big HDTV, and enjoy a full day of football twice in one week. Isn’t being an American grand? Stay home on Friday and Saturday. Who needs that Black Friday madness? There’s good college action too.
We’ve almost established 2009 as the year of the turkey with so many lack luster teams, but now is time to start looking at the playoffs. We see ten teams in contention in the AFC and 8 in the NFC.
In the AFC, first the division leaders and for once all four of them have better records that the wild card possibilities with six games remaining.
Division Leaders:
Indianapolis 10-0
Cincinnati 7-3
New England 7-3
San Diego 7-3
Possible Wild Cards:
Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, Denver 6-4
Baltimore, Houston, Miami 5-5
The NFC division leaders also exceed the wild card teams’ records. There are fewer contenders.
Division Leaders
New Orleans 10-0
Minnesota 9-1
Dallas 7-3
Arizona 7-3
Possible Wild Cards:
Philadelphia, Green Bay, New York Giants 6-4
Atlanta 5-5
This week’s action features potential playoff teams doing battle including Indianapolis at Houston, New England at New Orleans, Pittsburgh at Baltimore, Denver at the New York and Giants. At the risk of offending Indy fans, how much hype could there be that the New England/New Orleans game could be a Super Bowl preview? See the teams listed above as sixteen reasons why not!
Let’s look this week’s matches and picks:
On Thanksgiving Day:
Green Bay (-10 ½) at Detroit
Green Bay will knock the stuffing out of the Detroit Lions.
Oakland at Dallas (-13 ½)
The Cowboys will yank the drumsticks off the Oakland Raiders.
New York Giants (-6 ½) at Denver
Yikes, here are two teams that started off brilliantly. The Giants won their first four games while Denver won its first six. Both teams have struggled since with Denver losing four straight tumbling to second place. With a sore QB and a general loss of confidence it looks like the Giants pull the wishbone.
Sunday
Washington at Philadelphia (-9 ½)
Unless Washington’s defense is perfect, Philadelphia should put this game away with ease.
Tampa Bay at Atlanta (-12)
Atlanta needs this game to help restore a lack of confidence and help Matt Ryan find his groove. This game should be no problem for the Falcons.
Miami (-3) at Buffalo
As long as Miami doesn’t take their opponent too lightly, they’ll win in Buffalo.
Cleveland at Cincinnati (-14)
Cincinnati must show that last week’s dreadful performance in Oakland was a fluke. Cleveland must be able to show they can even walk on the field. The best NFL team in Ohio is way down on the southern border.
Indianapolis (-3 ½) at Houston
Indy showed some weakness against Baltimore. If they sure up their game, they’ll beat Houston.
Chicago at Minnesota (-11)
Brett Favre will go Bear hunting in doors and the Bears will slip even further.
Carolina at the New York Jets (-3)
Oh, here are two teams that can break your heart. The Jets should have enough juice to hold off the Panthers.
Seattle (-3) at St. Louis
Unless Kyle Boller can play the hero, Seattle clobbers the Rams.
Arizona (-2) at Tennessee
Tennessee sure looks different from the team that lost its first six games. Vince Young is getting better each week, but Arizona’s the proven winner here.
Kansas City at San Diego (13 ½)
Kansas City upset the Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime last week. Can they beat another mighty team? Probably not, San Diego has work to do.
Jacksonville at San Francisco (-3)
Jacksonville might be the second biggest playoff contender surprise besides the Cincinnati Bengals. Poo on Las Vegas. Jacksonville wins.
Pittsburgh at Baltimore (-2 ½)
Between playing at home for the Ravens and the Steelers being pretty beat up, the Ravens should finally prevail against their hated rivals. Watch for the Ravens’ defense to be ready to clobber Big Ben early and often in the Sunday night thriller.
New England at New Orleans (-3)
Two years ago the buzz was about New England running the table, but this year they can stop another team from going undefeated. However, New Orleans looks to have everything working right now while New England is not 100%. Give New Orleans the slight edge.
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