Hey, everybody! Well, it's finally here, Thanksgiving. The time to spend precious moments with that family you hardly speak with, watching parades that is just basically there to commemorate the start of the holiday shopping season, and watching the Detroit Lions get dominated by the opposing team in some way or another. It's also great for football lovers, as you have three games on Thursday, an extra twelve on Sunday with a bunch of college games on Saturday. There's also a lot of great tournaments to watch for college basketball fans as well. If this isn't one of the best times to be an American citizen or resident, I don't know what is.
Anyways, on to the picks! Last week, for the first time in a while, I actually had a good time with my picks, going 11-5, four more games better than my old man. Hopefully, this can hopefully continue for me again this week. As for righht now, it's basically just the usual for week 12 games. Ya got Detroit, Dallas and some random primetime game on Thursday, with a bunch of divisional matchups on Sunday.
Let's begin (note: all game times are based on the Central time zone):
Green Bay Packers (-11) vs. Detroit Lions: Thanksgiving (Thursday)- 11:30 a.m.
mj15's pick: Green Bay
I know I mentioned this earlier in the week, but it's really a shame that last week's Browns-Lions game was on Sunday, and not on Thanksgiving when way more people will be watching inside and outside Ford Field. Becuase, as every football who has watched the last five Detroit Thanksgiving game knows, this game will most likely resutl in a Green Bay victory. After all, if Brady Quinn can look like Otto Graham against that terrible Lions defense, then I'm pretty sure it will make Aaron Rodgers look like Brett Favre and Brett Starr rolled into one and single-handily defeat the Lions. Also, Dante Culpepper might be playing, so that makes this game more easier to pick. However, do not expect it to be a blowout as these two teams have had a history in the past fifteen years of playing close Thanksgiving games.
mj50's pick: Green Bay
Oakland Raiders vs. Dallas Cowboys (-14): Thanksgiving (Thursday)- 3:15 p.m.
mj15's pick: Dallas
First of all, I'd just like to once again apologize to the Raiders and their fanbase for picking them to lose as my "Lock of the Week" last week, this time to the Bengals. If there's one thing that I've learned the past few weeks, is to never put the Raiders as the losing team as my lock of the week becuase it could come back to bite you. Anyways, on to the game! All right, so the Cowboys have averaged 7 points a game the last two weeks. However, do you really expect that to happen against the Raiders, who have the NFL's 22nd ranked defense? I don't think so. So, while I won't pick this as a big lock (beware Bruce Gradkowski!) , I am picking the Cowboys, and their three game Thanksgiving win streak, to finally get a decent victory this month against the men in black.
mj50's pick: Dallas
New York Giants (-6.5) vs. Denver Broncos: Thanksgiving (Thursday)- 7:20 p.m.
mj15's pick: Denver
The Broncos surprising losing streak has to end at some point. I mean, you just don't start the season 6-0 and then lose the other 10. You have to win at some point or another! And, in my opinion, it will come on Thursday. After all, Kyle Orton is going to play. Also, they're playing at home, which is big becuase in the short history of primetime Thanksgiving football, the home team so far have a record of 2-1 (but the only home team that lost was the terrible '07 Falcons, so it doesn't really count).
mj50's pick: Denver
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Atlanta Falcons (-12): Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: Atlanta
All right, so at this point we've moved on from the special Thanksgiving games to just a typical NFL Sunday of action, including a hefty amount of noon games to start the day. One of them is this matchup I've announced a few spaces up between the Bucs and the Falcons. Look, Atlanta is basically unstoppable at home since Matt Ryan came to the team and when you're the Bucs, who are in the bottom five for offense and defense, I don't think you should expect a big victory on the road againt a team who were a coin flip away from being 6-4. To make it more simpler, Atlanta will win... BIG.
mj50's pick: Atlanta
Miami Dolphins (-3) vs. Buffalo Bills: Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: Miami
The question of who will win this game all comes down to one simple question: Will the Bills stop the Wildcat? The answer: no. I've made the mistake last week picking Carolina thinking that the loss of Ronnie Brown will hurt the Dolphins ,and with that, give Carolina the victory . Apparently, I forgot that Ricky Williams was actually still good. I will NOT make that same mistake again. Therefore, I'm taking the Dolphins.
mj50's pick: Buffalo
Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals (-14): Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: Cincinnati
Another blowout coming. Cincinnati will head to the game with homefield advantage and anger from inexcusably losing to Oakland, while the '09 Browns are still the '09 Browns. Any questions?
mj50's pick: Cincinnati
Seattle Seahawks (-3) vs. St. Louis Rams: Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: Seattle
Boy, do both teams wish it was 2006, then the game would be 70% interesting. Unfortunately, it is what it is: two games between two below average NFC West teams. Overall, if you look at the basics, you see that the Seahawks are better than the Rams in many ways (offense, defense, head-to-head the last few years). Also, the Seahawks have owned the Rams the last few years, and I expcect that to continue, even with the fact that they're traveling to the mindwest for a noon game.
mj50's pick: St. Louis
Carolina Panthers (-3) vs. New York Jets: Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: Carolina
This one was a really tough one for me to pick. Both have quarterbacks playing mediocre this season, a great running back (yes, I still believe that Thomas Jones is still good), one good wide receiver and defenses that aren't playing to their full potential. I ended up picking Carolina because I believe that Delholmme will make less mistakes than Sanchez and that the combo of Williams/ Stewart will be too much for the Jets front seven. So, there.
mj50's pick: New York
Washington Redskins vs. Philadelphia Eagles (-9): Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: Philadelphia
It's that time of the season again! Yes, it's the point of the season where ,after a few weeks of struggling, the Eagles start going on a big win streak in which they lose only 1 of their 6 remaining games and start looking like the best team in the league (at least until they lose in the divisional playoffs). If I were a Redskins fan, I wouldn't even think of watching this game because I know that they won't stand a chance.
mj50's pick: Philadelphia
Indianapolis Colts (-3.5) vs. Houston Texans: Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: Indianapolis
At this point of the season, I just don't know when the Colts will lose anymore. Like, I know they won't go 16-0 the remainder of the season, yet I've picked against them for weeks to lose and they're still 10-0. So, at this point of the year, I'm just going to pick the Colts until the playoffs. That includes this week. As for the Texans, what's up with them? They're heading from playoff-bound to a team with no chance very quickly. Ans as someone who have supported them since the beginning of the year, that makes me very unhappy.
mj50's pick: Houston
Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Diego Chargers (-13.5): Sunday- 3:05 p.m.
mj15's pick: San Diego
I'm just wrapping up this column and I've got to say: man, do this week's games suck! I see a blowout in pretty much the majority of all the games this week. Including this one. After all, when the Chargers are on a hot streak, almost no team can stop them, including the Chiefs.
mj50's pick: Kansas City
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. San Fransisco 49ers (-3): Sunday- 3:05 p.m.
mj15's pick: Jacksonville
This game was even more tougher to pick then the Panthers- Jets matchup. Both teams are equal in every way. The one difference, though, that I think will ultimately decide the game is the QB matchup. And overall, David Garrard is better than Alex smith in many ways. Therefore, I'm going with the Jax.
mj50's pick: Jacksonville
Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings (-10.5): Sunday- 3:15 p.m.
mj15's pick: Minnesota
Since Adrian Peterson has arrived in the league, he has basically dominated the Bears, usually rushing for about 100 plus yards and one or two touchdowns. Now, add MVP nominee Brett Favre, the Metrodome and the sorry Bears defense in the mix and you have yourself the recipe for a beatdown. In short, Vikings will win... BIG.
mj50's pick: Minnesota
Arizona Cardinals vs. Tennessee Titans (-2): Sunday- 3:15 p.m.
mj15's pick: Tennessee
Is it really possible? Can the Tennessee Titans, who started the season 0-6, actually run the table the rest of thew season and make the playoffs? Can the impossible be done? Well, folks, the way things are going right now it looks like it could happen. Chris Johnson is unstoppable, Vince Young is being, well, Vince Young and Rob Bironas has his gunfingaz going. As for this game, I believe that this win streak will continue this week. Kurt Warner might not be playing, and if the Titans can limit the Texans to 17 points, I'm sure they can hold off the Cardinals.
mj50's pick: Tennessee
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens (-2.5): Sunday- 7:20 p.m.
mj15's pick: Baltimore
First of all, I'd just like to take this moment to remember last year's AFC Championship game between the two teams. I have never seen a game played so tough and hard-hitting between two great defenses in all my life. I mean, remember Ryan Clark's hit on Willis McGahee? Incredible.
Now, onto this season's week 12 matchup between the two teams. As it was the case last season, the better defense will decide the game. In my opinion, it will be that of the Ravens. After all, if the Steelers can give up 27 points to the Chiefs, I'm pretty sure hte Ravens will have no problem. Especially with Troy Polamlu no tplaying again for Pittsburgh. Also, Baltimore has the home-field advantage, which will be big. In conclusion, I believe that the Ravens will come out on top in this game.
mj50's pick: Pittsburgh
New England Patriots vs. New Orleans Saints (-3): Monday- 7:30 p.m.
mj15's pick: New England
Truly, the best game for this week was saved for last. The Patriots vs. the Saints, one on one in a showdown between two of the league's best teams in the "Big Easy." Personally, I don't see how you can be confident in either team to win. I mean, I picked the Patriots to win becuase they were a 4th and 2 completion away from beating the Colts, so I see them winning this one. Then again, I'm not sure, because the Saints will be fueled up by the crowd and I believe that they have the better defense. I'm just not sure.
mj50's pick: New Orleans
RECAP
The Undertaker at WrestleMania "Lock of the Week":
San Diego over Kansas City
The "Miracle on Ice" "Upset of the Week":
Denver over New York Giants
The 2006 Rose Bowl vs. The 2007 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl "I'm Not Sure" Pick:
New England over New Orleans
Week 12 recap and week 13 predictions coming at ya next Wednesday. Hope you're enjoying Thanksgiving Eve pretty well!
Sincerely,
Your pal: mj15
If you have any opinions on the week ten predictions or anything else on this post, or if you have any suggestions to mj15 on his next blog entry, e-mail him at: mj1599@aol.com. Your e-mail might be addressed on a future post.
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