Projo Pats Blog

Although it's long been a popular idea with fans outside of Michigan, I've never been a big proponent of taking the annual Thanksgiving Day football games out of Detroit and Dallas. When I was a kid, back in the days before the NFL Network and Sunday ticket (and before I ever set foot in a sports bar), Thanksgiving was the only chance all season to see certain teams, particularly the Lions. And even if they were mediocre most of the time, they usually put up a fight on Thanksgiving, and besides, did I really need to see another Giants game?

But yesterday's brutal day of football has made me reconsider, and I wonder if it will be a watershed day in terms of making the NFL seriously consider breaking tradition in the future. Three games in front of national TV audiences, and the closest of them was Dallas' 34-9 spanking of Seattle. The worst game, of course, was the Titans' 47-10 thumping of the Lions, which no audience outside of Appalachia should have been made to see.

Of course, you never do know how these things will turn out. I wasn't surprised that the late game was a blowout, but I would have predicted Arizona taking care of slip-sliding Philadelphia, and not for the Eagles to rise from the ashes and destroy a lethargic Cardinals team. The Cowboys-Seahawks game must have looked like a great one before the season started, and half the Seattle offense landed on I.R. Still, look at the schedule of games this week, and consider what we might have been able to watch on Thanksgiving. Giants-Redskins? Vikings-Bears? Steelers-Patriots? All three of them could have been flexed to Thanksgiving and the league still would have some good ones left on Sunday.

And would anyone necessarily feel bad for the struggling city of Detroit to lose its annual place on America's TV screens? They shouldn't, because Lions fans have apparently had enough themselves: "It's just hard, with all the things going on in life, to watch the Lions be so pitiful," one woman told the Washington Post. "I'm a season ticket holder and I can't even give away my tickets. You need tickets to the game?"

ONLY IN DETROIT: Would you be able to buy a T-shirt like this. I'm not a Lions fan, but I might buy one myself.

IS WILT CHAMBERLAIN IN THE HOUSE? It didn't seem to me like they were "calling off the dogs," (how would people have felt if it was Bill Belichick, and not Jeff Fisher, throwing a challenge flag late in the fourth quarter of a 47-10 game?) but apparently there is a feeling among some Titans players that they could have scored 100 points yesterday (ProFootballTalk).

QUITE A STATEMENT, INDEED: Seahawks running back Julius Jones, who was benched by the Cowboys last season, said earlier in the week that he had been waiting all season to take the field in Dallas and make a statement on Thanksgiving. His statement: 11 carries, 37 yards and two fumbles. The Cowboys must really be regretting their decision now.

NOT WITHOUT COST: It's a good thing for the Cowboys that they'll have nine full days of rest before they take on the Steelers next week, because Marion Barber suffered a toe injury of unknown severity (Dallas will want to be at full strength against the Steeler D), and NFL sack leader DeMarcus Ware hyperextended a knee. Ware, though, told the Dallas Morning News that he'll be fine to play in Pittsburgh.

COOL FEATURES: I had to go into work last night, and when I came home about an hour into the Eagles-Cardinals contest (it was still kind of a game), I was horrified to see my wife 15 minutes into a romantic comedy on our only digital TV. So I went to my computer and gave NFL.com's free live game coverage a try. It features live video with studio commentary so insightful that you miss bits and pieces of the action (hey, they do want you to subscribe to the network, after all). Still, it's a nice complement to the action if you are watching on TV, and an acceptable substitute if you're banished to the computer room -- you can even pick your camera angle. You might want to check it out on Thursday next week, when the Raiders play the Chargers; be advised, though, that you'll have to watch the Raiders play the Chargers.

WILLIE A GO-GO? Willie Parker was back at practice for the Steelers yesterday, so Pittsburgh might have its number-one back in pads after all come Sunday. Pittsburgh also re-signed Najeh Davenport as an insurance policy (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review).

A SLIGHT NOD OUR WAY: The Globe's roundup of Steelers-Patriots predictions from pundits around the country shows the experts giving a slight edge to New England.

THIS WEEK'S PICKS: Well, I took Thanksgiving off and didn't announce my Thursday picks ahead of time; you'll have to take my word for it that I picked the Titans, the Cowboys and the Cardinals, which puts me at 2-1 so far. Last week was an 11-5 week. Now to the Sunday and Monday games, with the home teams listed in caps:

BILLS over 49ers: The Cardinals' loss last night in Philly means teams that play their home games in the Pacific time zone are 0-16 when playing in Eastern Standard Time. Arizona was so sloppy last night that you would almost think there might be some kind of body-clock explanation. But Buffalo should beat San Francisco because of the more simple explanation: the Niners aren't good enough to beat anyone in the East on the road.

Ravens over BENGALS: Baltimore's defense rebounded nicely from its pounding two weeks ago at the hands of the Giants, and the Ravens have now won six of seven games. Their schedule gets tough after their visit to Cincinnati, so the Ravens can't afford to trip up. Shouldn't be a problem.

BUCS over Saints: This is an intriguing matchup of strength versus strength, as the NFL's number-one passing offense (New Orleans) faces the league's number-two pass defense (Tampa Bay). For the Bucs, who are tied with Carolina for first place in the AFC South, it is the first of three straight games against their division foes -- each of which has a winning record and is in playoff contention. The Saints welcome back Reggie Bush, which should give them a lift, but they have not been nearly as effective on the road this season, as they're 1-4 with Drew Brees throwing more interceptions than touchdowns away from the Superdome. Conventional wisdom says Bucs.

Giants over REDSKINS: New York keeps winning marquee games -- its last five games were all victories over teams with winning records. Now they travel to Washington, a team the Giants humiliated on opening night in New Jersey. Washington should play much better football in this game, and they'll be riding the emotion (perhaps) of a pregame ceremony to honor the late Sean Taylor. The Giants may or may not have Brandon Jacobs and Plaxico Burress on the field, but Washington's excellent defense is banged-up as well, and it's been about two months since the Redskins really impressed me (when they won after falling behind early at Philadelphia). Can't pick against the Giants.

Dolphins over RAMS: This one looks a lot like yesterday's Tennessee-Detroit debacle. Miami will be focused and ready after a disappointing loss that included some mental lapses, and St. Louis is a helpless foil. The Rams have lost their last four by an average score of 36-9, and the average game hasn't been that close. Marc Bulger is expected to start after suffering a concussion during last week's game; someone should advise him to sit this one out.

Colts over BROWNS: The Browns still have a home game left against Cincinnati, but I don't see any other games on their schedule that they can win. And the Colts have a realistic shot of running the table. When a team that is gaining confidence every week faces one that suffers another depressing setback every week, it spells an easy pick.

PACKERS over Panthers: A tough game to call, because both of these teams have been so inconsistent in their performances (despite Carolina's excellent 8-3 record), and because each is coming off a lopsided road loss. Green Bay's pass defense should rebound from the humiliation inflicted upon it by the Saints, since the Panthers are not a very good passing team. While the Panthers should be able to move the ball on the ground, the Packers should beat them with a balanced attack.

CHARGERS over Falcons: Incredibly, the door is open for the 4-7 Chargers to slip into the playoffs. What they have to do first, though, is win this game. Which will be no easy task, since Atlanta continues to show that it is a legitimate playoff contender. Michael Turner might make some big plays for San Diego, twisting the knife a little bit on his old team (which might wish they hadn't let him go), but the Chargers passing game has a chance to do some big-time damage against a Falcons pass defense that ranks 23rd in the league.

JETS over Broncos: Last week I predicted that they would beat Tennessee -- but I kind of want to shout it to the world: The Jets aren't as good as you all think they are. Still, they won't lose to Denver; I'd expect the Jets big front line to brutalize Denver's weak defensive front much the same way the Patriots did a few Monday nights back. Looking at their schedule, the Jets may not lose again all season, which would make them 13-3. But remember come January: They aren't as good as you think they are.

Steelers over PATRIOTS: Kudos to Matt Cassel not only for putting up back-to-back 400-yard passing games, but for doing it against two good, aggressive defenses. Now comes his biggest test yet: A Pittsburgh team that is allowing 235.4 yards per game. If the Steelers continue on that pace, it would be the best showing by a defense in terms of yards allowed since 1991, when the Philadelphia Eagles gave up a paltry 221.8 yards per game and still failed to make the playoffs. Pittsburgh is far too offensively challenged to win a championship, but I look for Ben Roethlisberger to make enough plays to get the win in Foxboro.

RAIDERS over Chiefs: Kansas City has had the upper hand in this once-great rivalry in recent years, in large part because the Chiefs have limited the Raiders on the ground. That won't happen here. Oakland's 10th-ranked rushing attack should be effective enough against the Chiefs' 31st-ranked run defense (no one could possibly be worse than the Lions in this category) to keep the pressure off JaMarcus Russell (who threw just 11 passes a week ago at Denver). The Raiders pick up their first home win over Kansas City since 2002.

VIKINGS over Bears: This game may well decide the NFC North, particularly if Chicago picks up a victory, since that would give the Bears a one-game lead over the Vikings plus a season sweep. I expect a matchup of contrasting styles on Sunday night, as Minnesota runs Adrian Peterson early and often against a team that he has had very good success against in the pass, while Chicago airs it out with Kyle Orton against a Vikings defense that is much stronger against the run. It could be a very good game, but I think Peterson is more the sure thing than Orton.

TEXANS over Jaguars: Wow. This battle for the AFC South basement makes the Monday night blooper fest between the Browns and the Bills look like a barnburner by comparison. I pick the hometown Texans over the sinking Jags (who have been outscored 51-12 over the last seven quarters), but with no great enthusiasm.

 Tags  Detroit Lions Football Today Thanksgiving

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