This Thanksgiving we have three games going on. So while you're stuffing your face with turkey legs and enjoying all of that family time you're going to be getting in, make sure you check some of the NFL's Turkey Day games on all day long. This is going to be a little preview of what to expect out of all three games scheduled for Thanksgiving. The morning starts with the (5-5-1)Green Bay Packers traveling to the motor city to take on NFC North division rival (6-5)Detroit Lions at 9:30 am PST(12:30 ET) an early start for all of us west coast fans. Following that game we will have the (4-7)Oakland Raiders traveling to JerryWorld to take on the (6-5)Dallas Cowboys, that game will be at 1:30 PST(4:30 ET). The final game of the holiday will be a classic AFC North rivalry when the (5-6)Pittsburgh Steelers travel into hostile territory to take on the (5-6)Baltimore Ravens, that game starting at 5:30 PST(8:30 ET).
Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions:
Both of these teams are coming off of
disappointing games. The Packers got caught up in a Tie with the (2-8-1) Minnesota Vikings while the Detroit Lions were laying a goose egg at home against the (3-8) Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Green Bay is now 0-3-1 since QB Aaron Rodgers went down with a collarbone injury against the Chicago Bears back in Week 9 and have had 2 different starting QB's since. That number may go up this Thursday with the way newly acquired/former backup QB Matt Flynn helped bring the team back from a 16 point deficit last week although he could not come thru in overtime and the game ended with a tie. The Lions are on a 2 game losing streak, with both losses coming to teams with a combined record of 8-14 (Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay), not to mention the Lions are on a 9-game losing streak on Thanksgiving Day. This game will be a pretty good one as long as the Packers QB, whoever that may be, doesn't cause too many mistakes.
Prediction:
DET over GB 25-21
Oakland Raiders @ Dallas Cowboys:
The Dallas Cowboys have had a regular season in their standards, with no winning or losing streak lasting longer than 2 games all season. The Oakland Raiders have also had a pretty regular season for their standards as well, losing up to 2 games after every win this season. The Raiders have struggled on the road all season, 1-4 on the road, and the Dallas Cowboys are coming off a great win over NFC East division rival New York Giants and will be looking to keep momentum in their favor. Surprisingly, the Raiders actually average more yards a game than the Cowboys (OAK avg - 334, DAL avg - 326) but only a little over half of the points the Cowboys are averaging per game (OAK avg - 19.4 pts, DAL avg - 27.1 pts). To me that stat says that the Raiders can not capitalize on any momentum they get during their games. Rookie QB Matt McGloin will make his 3rd straight start of the season for an injured Terrelle Pryor, and has started fairly well for his circumstances, throwing for 4 TD's to only 1 INT. The last time these two teams met was on Thanksgiving 2009 with Dallas coming up victorious 24-7 with QB Tony Romo throwing for 309 yards and 2 TD's. This game should follow suit to that one and I believe the reason is because the Raiders have too many factors working against them, unless of course Romo does his usual thing at the end of games where he gives his opponents a great opportunity to take a win away from him. I'm predicting against that from happening but it is always a possibility with Romo.
Prediction:
DAL over OAK 27-19
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens:
Alright, here we go! The Pittsburgh Steelers seem to be making a claim for comeback team of the year, going 5-2 in their last seven after starting the season 0-4 and the entire nation thinking it was time for some personnel changes. As for the Baltimore Ravens, they have went 3-4 in their last seven after starting the season 2-2 and have not looked anything close to the Super Bowl Champion team they were less than 11 months ago.These two teams along with the Titans, Chargers, Jets and Dolphins are all competing for the 6th and final wild card spot in the playoffs, the Titans currently hold the advantage over all of the others. Pittsburgh is currently on a winning streak of 3 games in a row, and in that time Big Ben has thrown for 7 TD's to only 1 INT, which should scare AFC North division rival Baltimore Ravens who lost to the Steelers before they were even on the roll they seem to be on now (Loss in Week 7, 19-16 in Pittsburgh). Baltimore is 4-1 at home this season but have not looked like a playoff contender all year, and now with Joe Flacco questioning the play calling who knows what's going to happen with last season's Super Bowl champs. Flacco, when asked if he likes the Wildcat offense that the Ravens deployed against the Jets last week, said this, "I don't like that stuff. ... I'm the quarterback... I want to be behind the line of scrimmage, I want to be taking the snaps." So I would be surprised to see them run it again but since Flacco is paid so handsomely I would expect a little more effort if they were to try it again.
Prediction:
PIT over BAL 17-14
Well I hope you enjoy all your Thanksgiving festivities and hopefully you get to enjoy a couple of these games during your day. It should be a great day and with Football on it can only get better, right?
Thank you for reading and come back for more Sports News & Analysis as well as Fantasy Football advice throughout the week.
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