NFL picks: Thanksgiving week the best week of football
Nov. 21—I've always loved the trio of NFL games that are played on Thanksgiving. It's a day full of football and family.
When I think about it today, I get to reminisce about all of the "Turkey Bowls" we played in my grandparents' backyard. Me, my brother and all of our cousins would partake in a huge family football game every year. My little sister would even join in until the bigger boys got a little too rough for her.
Altogether, you're probably talking about 16 grandkids and great-grandkids — both boys and girls — playing football with some uncles coming out to join in the games at times.
We would play football, go inside to eat lunch and watch football and then head back outside for more football until we were tired of playing. Then it was time for dessert and more time watching football and hanging out in the living room as a family.
There was plenty of bickering and fighting at those backyard football games. Only God knows how many times we had to have an adult come out and referee or just police the field to make sure all arguments were kept civil.
But each memory is special and brings a smile to my face as I recall those days of tossing the ball around with my family.
Those days have been left in the rearview as a lot of us grandkids have grown up and created families of our own with our spouses and some have moved farther away from Grandma and Grandpa's house.
But that home in the middle of little ol' Elk City, Kansas, is one that has had many Turkey Bowls, Wiffle ball games, shenanigans in the swimming pool, grade-A firework shows on the Fourth of July and so, so many other things.
To celebrate the holiday a bit, let's make some Thanksgiving-themed picks:
THURSDAY
Green Bay Packers (4-6) vs. Detroit Lions (8-2): This 11:30 a.m. game will be about as bad as that cranberry sauce that gets served at a Thanksgiving lunch. Lions should take care of the Packers pretty easily. LIONS 31-17.
Washington Commanders (4-7) vs. Dallas Cowboys (7-3): No need to keep your eyes locked on the screen for this one. And perfect timing with a 3:30 p.m. start to go out and play your family Turkey Bowl. COWBOYS 35-20. San Francisco 49ers (7-3) vs. Seattle Seahawks (6-4): If you have someone like Uncle Rico who always brags about how far he can throw the ball, compare him with the quarterbacks in this contest. This is the NFL's biggest game on Thursday. It's the league's "Turkey Bowl," if you will. 49ERS 30-24.
FRIDAY
Miami Dolphins (7-3) vs. New York Jets (4-6): Break out the leftovers Friday afternoon. The NFL just couldn't wait until Sunday. Even if you aren't a fan of leftover turkey or ham, you'll need something to munch on for this upset. The Jets have a new quarterback under center and will come out and shock the Dolphins. JETS 28-27. UPSET ALERT.
SUNDAY
Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (5-5): This will be a big game. If the Bengals lose, their playoff chances are practically gone. If the Steelers lose, they'll be holding on to a slim hope for the wild card. STEELERS 17-10.
Jacksonville Jaguars (7-3) vs. Houston Texans (6-4): This is like that perfect pecan pie that the baking maestro in your family makes. This game will be a must-watch on Sunday at noon. For the division lead, the Jaguars will prove to be the big cats of the AFC South. JAGUARS 41-28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6) vs. Indianapolis Colts (5-5): All is not lost for Tampa Bay. With the New Orleans Saints leading the NFC South at 5-5, there is still plenty of hope. But the Bucs will really need this one. BUCCANEERS 27-24. Saints (5-5) vs. Atlanta Falcons (4-6): Saints must win to keep its possession of the division title here. And they will do so inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. SAINTS 22-21. New England Patriots (2-8) vs. New York Giants (3-8): What is the one thing that always shows up on the dinner table for Thanksgiving but no one eats at your family gathering? That's what this game is. A game no one should be watching. GIANTS 21-13. Carolina Panthers (1-9) vs. Tennessee Titans (3-7): Here's another ugly one. Don't bother to tune in unless you're just watching for Derrick Henry's fantasy performance. PANTHERS 18-12.
Cleveland Browns (7-3) vs. Denver Broncos (5-5): The Broncos have been hard to beat because of their defense lately. Good luck to Dorian Thompson-Robinson who barely escaped Pittsburgh's defense last week. Call it a lucky draw if you want, but the Broncos win their fifth in a row. BRONCOS 20-10. Los Angeles Rams (4-6) vs. Arizona Cardinals (2-9): The Cardinals just missed the upset last week over the Texans. This won't be an upset, but I think it's a winnable game for Kyler Murray and the offense. CARDINALS 33-24. Kansas City Chiefs (7-3) vs. Las Vegas Raiders (5-6): The Raiders know how to compete week in and week out. The last thing the Chiefs need to face is a competitive team with a reeling offense. But they'll escape the gambling city. CHIEFS 27-23.
Buffalo Bills (6-5) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (9-1): The Chiefs just missed the big win at home. Now the Eagles have to try and beat the Bills at home. Buffalo gets a statement win to catapult the team late in the season. BILLS 30-23.
Baltimore Ravens (8-3) vs. Los Angeles Chargers (4-6): The Ravens are not on upset alert here. Lamar Jackson and company should roll even without Mark Andrews. Look for a huge game from wide receiver Zay Flowers against a weak Chargers' defense. RAVENS 42-20.
MONDAY
Chicago Bears (3-8) vs. Minnesota Vikings (6-5): All good things must come to an end. Last week, that was a five-game winning streak for the Vikings. This week, they get to end Thanksgiving week with a blowout of a division rival. VIKINGS 31-13.
RECORDS
Overall: 102-62; Last week: 11-3; Upset alert 3-8.
