Happy Thanksgiving; Week 12 Picks
Happy Thanksgiving!
It's my favorite holiday of the year and it's time once again to see what each team is thankful for this holiday season. Let's start in the NFC.
The Philadelphia Eagles are thankful the Browns passed on Carson Wentz and now own the best record in the NFL.
The Dallas Cowboys will thankful when Ezekiel Elliott's suspension is over. Why Elliott fought so long to try and win his appeal is beyond me. Instead of taking his suspension for the first six games of the season, he's out till Week 16 and the Cowboys need him now during a crucial stretch of the season. That's just selfish if you ask me. Anyway, I'm just glad it's over, I was so tired of hearing about his appeal every single week.
The Washington Redskins will be thankful if they can keep Kirk Cousins around next season. Cousins is playing terrific football and I bet he'll want to leave Washington after this season.
The New York Giants will be thankful when this season is over. It's been a disaster in New York and why head coach Ben McAdoo is still on the sidelines is baffling to me. The Giants didn't do themselves any favors by beating the Chiefs on Sunday either. It only hurt their draft position.
The Minnesota Vikings are thankful they have one of the best teams in the NFL even with a backup quarterback. Case Keenum hasn't been playing like a backup though. Since Keenum took over for Sam Bradford he's thrown for 1,439-yards and 9 TD during the Vikings six-game winning streak and Minnesota has averaged 27 points/game.
The Green Bay Packers will be thankful when Aaron Rodgers is back. That team is a shell of itself without Rodgers. Seeing them struggle only adds to Rodgers legacy.
The Detroit Lions are thankful once again for being relevant on Thanksgiving. This is the second year in a row that the Lions are 6-4 on Thanksgiving Day.
The Chicago Bears may finally have found their franchise quarterback in Mitchell Trubisky. It's still early, but Trubisky is improving each week and that's something Bears fans should certainly be thankful for.
Drew Brees is thankful that the New Orleans Saints finally have a defense and a running game. For the first time in what seems like his career in New Orleans, he doesn't have to carry his team on his back. The Saints are really good and really fun to watch.
The Carolina Panthers are thankful that looking awful on offense for a good part of the season, they're still 7-3. They should also be thankful for RB Christian McCaffrey who leads the team with 57 receptions.
The Atlanta Falcons will be thankful when they finally start playing like they did last year. And they better figure it out fast because they still have the Vikings, Saints twice and the Panthers left on the schedule.
Can't think of anything the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have to be thankful for. It's been a disappointing season down in Tampa.
The Los Angeles Rams are thankful for finally being relevant again. The number two scoring team in the league has looked really good this season and they face another tough test this week as the 8-2 Saints come to L.A.
The San Francisco 49ers are thankful for Jimmy Garoppolo. We could see him this Sunday against the Seahawks.
Speaking of the Seahawks they're thankful that as poorly as they've played at times this season and with Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor out for the year, they're still in the playoff race.
The New England Patriots are once again thankful for the ageless Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. At 40 years old Brady leads the league in passing (3,146) and passer rating (110.9) and is second in touchdown passes (22). Incredible.
The Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills and New York Jets will be thankful when Tom Brady and Bill Belichick retire. The Patriots are on pace to win the AFC East for the ninth straight time.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are thankful for once again dominating the AFC North. It's looking like a Steelers vs. Patriots AFC Championship game this January.
At 5-5, the Baltimore Ravens miraculously hold the sixth and final Wild Card spot. For as bad as they've looked, especially QB Joe Flacco, that's something to be thankful for. I still don't see them making the playoffs though.
I'll be thankful when the Bengals have a good offense line. Losing left tackle Andrew Whitworth (Rams) and guard Kevin Zeitler (Browns) have really hurt the Bengals offense this season. Cincinnati is dead last in total offense (265.6 yards/game) and in rushing (68.0 yards/game). It's arguably the worst in the league and the Bengals need to use the majority of their draft picks on offensive lineman.
Nothing to be thankful for football wise in Cleveland. When will the Browns get their first win of the season? Looking at their remaining schedule, at Bengals, at Chargers, Packers, Ravens, at Bears, at Steelers, I don't see them winning a game this season. Maybe Week 17 if the Steelers rest their starters with having their playoff position all wrapped up, but even that's a stretch.
It's pretty obvious for the Houston Texans, they're thankful for Deshaun Watson. I know he's out for the season, but in the seven games he played he threw for 1,699-yards and 19 TD. Once he and J.J. Watt are healthy next season the Texans will be a very dangerous football team.
The Indianapolis Colts will be thankful when Andrew Luck returns to his normal self. Although Jacoby Brissett has played well, the Colts are not the same without Luck.
The number one rushing attack and the number defense in the league. Pretty impressive and something to be thankful if you're the Jacksonville Jaguars. No one is going to want to play them in January.
The Tennessee Titans are thankful for an easy schedule the rest of the season. The Titans next four games are at Colts, home vs. Texans, at Cardinals and at 49ers. Then they get the Rams and Jaguars at home. At 6-4, the Titans should win at least four more games to get to 10 wins, which should be enough to get into the playoffs.
The Oakland Raiders will be thankful when they're out of the dump that is the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum and in a brand new stadium in Las Vegas. Other than that it has not been the kind of season the Raiders were hoping for. I know I missed on them. My AFC representative for the Super Bowl doesn't even look like they're going to make the playoffs.
Can't think of anything the Denver Broncos have to be thankful for. Denver has lost six-straight games, their longest skid in 27 years. General Manager John Elway already fired offensive coordinator Mike McCoy and they've made the switch at quarterback and will start Paxton Lynch Sunday against the Raiders. More changes could still be coming.
The San Diego Chargers, I mean the Los Angeles Chargers -- still not use to them being in L.A. -- will be thankful when their new stadium is finished. It has to be weird playing in front of a home crowd of 25,000 fans.
Finally, the Kansas City Chiefs were thankful for the first five weeks of the season. The Chiefs looked like the best team in football after five weeks beating both the Patriots and Eagles to open the season. Since then they've gone 1-4 including last week's lost to a terrible Giants team.
With that I'll leave you with my picks for Week 12, including the three games on Thanksgiving. I'll be eating two dinners on Thursday and will be watching a lot of football. It's going to be a good day.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Week 12 Picks (Home team in CAPS)
Minnesota (8-2) over DETROIT (6-4)
Thursday, 12:30 p.m. ET (Fox)
DALLAS (5-5) over L.A. Chargers (4-6)
Thursday, 4:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
WASHINGTON (4-6) over N.Y. Giants (2-8)
Thursday, 8:30 p.m. ET (NBC)
ATLANTA (6-4) over Tampa Bay (4-6)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET (Fox)
CINCINNATI (4-6) over Cleveland (0-10)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
Tennessee (6-4) over INDIANAPOLIS (3-7)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET (Fox)
KANSAS CITY (6-4) over Buffalo (5-5)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
NEW ENGLAND (8-2) over Miami (4-6)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
Carolina (7-3) over N.Y. JETS (4-6)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET (Fox)
PHILADELPHIA (9-1) over Chicago (3-7)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET (Fox)
Seattle (6-4) over SAN FRANCISCO (1-9)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET (Fox)
L.A. RAMS (7-3) over New Orleans (8-2)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
OAKLAND (4-6) over Denver (3-7)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
Jacksonville (7-3) over ARIZONA (4-6)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
PITTSBURGH (8-2) over Green Bay (5-5)
Sunday, 8:30 p.m. ET (NBC)
BALTIMORE (5-5) over Houston (4-6)
Monday, 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Last Week: 8-6
Overall: 100-60 (.625)
It's my favorite holiday of the year and it's time once again to see what each team is thankful for this holiday season. Let's start in the NFC.
The Philadelphia Eagles are thankful the Browns passed on Carson Wentz and now own the best record in the NFL.
The Dallas Cowboys will thankful when Ezekiel Elliott's suspension is over. Why Elliott fought so long to try and win his appeal is beyond me. Instead of taking his suspension for the first six games of the season, he's out till Week 16 and the Cowboys need him now during a crucial stretch of the season. That's just selfish if you ask me. Anyway, I'm just glad it's over, I was so tired of hearing about his appeal every single week.
The Washington Redskins will be thankful if they can keep Kirk Cousins around next season. Cousins is playing terrific football and I bet he'll want to leave Washington after this season.
The New York Giants will be thankful when this season is over. It's been a disaster in New York and why head coach Ben McAdoo is still on the sidelines is baffling to me. The Giants didn't do themselves any favors by beating the Chiefs on Sunday either. It only hurt their draft position.
The Minnesota Vikings are thankful they have one of the best teams in the NFL even with a backup quarterback. Case Keenum hasn't been playing like a backup though. Since Keenum took over for Sam Bradford he's thrown for 1,439-yards and 9 TD during the Vikings six-game winning streak and Minnesota has averaged 27 points/game.
The Green Bay Packers will be thankful when Aaron Rodgers is back. That team is a shell of itself without Rodgers. Seeing them struggle only adds to Rodgers legacy.
The Detroit Lions are thankful once again for being relevant on Thanksgiving. This is the second year in a row that the Lions are 6-4 on Thanksgiving Day.
The Chicago Bears may finally have found their franchise quarterback in Mitchell Trubisky. It's still early, but Trubisky is improving each week and that's something Bears fans should certainly be thankful for.
Drew Brees is thankful that the New Orleans Saints finally have a defense and a running game. For the first time in what seems like his career in New Orleans, he doesn't have to carry his team on his back. The Saints are really good and really fun to watch.
The Carolina Panthers are thankful that looking awful on offense for a good part of the season, they're still 7-3. They should also be thankful for RB Christian McCaffrey who leads the team with 57 receptions.
The Atlanta Falcons will be thankful when they finally start playing like they did last year. And they better figure it out fast because they still have the Vikings, Saints twice and the Panthers left on the schedule.
Can't think of anything the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have to be thankful for. It's been a disappointing season down in Tampa.
The Los Angeles Rams are thankful for finally being relevant again. The number two scoring team in the league has looked really good this season and they face another tough test this week as the 8-2 Saints come to L.A.
The San Francisco 49ers are thankful for Jimmy Garoppolo. We could see him this Sunday against the Seahawks.
Speaking of the Seahawks they're thankful that as poorly as they've played at times this season and with Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor out for the year, they're still in the playoff race.
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| Thanksgiving Schedule (Photo Courtesy of @NFL on Twitter) |
The New England Patriots are once again thankful for the ageless Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. At 40 years old Brady leads the league in passing (3,146) and passer rating (110.9) and is second in touchdown passes (22). Incredible.
The Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills and New York Jets will be thankful when Tom Brady and Bill Belichick retire. The Patriots are on pace to win the AFC East for the ninth straight time.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are thankful for once again dominating the AFC North. It's looking like a Steelers vs. Patriots AFC Championship game this January.
At 5-5, the Baltimore Ravens miraculously hold the sixth and final Wild Card spot. For as bad as they've looked, especially QB Joe Flacco, that's something to be thankful for. I still don't see them making the playoffs though.
I'll be thankful when the Bengals have a good offense line. Losing left tackle Andrew Whitworth (Rams) and guard Kevin Zeitler (Browns) have really hurt the Bengals offense this season. Cincinnati is dead last in total offense (265.6 yards/game) and in rushing (68.0 yards/game). It's arguably the worst in the league and the Bengals need to use the majority of their draft picks on offensive lineman.
Nothing to be thankful for football wise in Cleveland. When will the Browns get their first win of the season? Looking at their remaining schedule, at Bengals, at Chargers, Packers, Ravens, at Bears, at Steelers, I don't see them winning a game this season. Maybe Week 17 if the Steelers rest their starters with having their playoff position all wrapped up, but even that's a stretch.
It's pretty obvious for the Houston Texans, they're thankful for Deshaun Watson. I know he's out for the season, but in the seven games he played he threw for 1,699-yards and 19 TD. Once he and J.J. Watt are healthy next season the Texans will be a very dangerous football team.
The Indianapolis Colts will be thankful when Andrew Luck returns to his normal self. Although Jacoby Brissett has played well, the Colts are not the same without Luck.
The number one rushing attack and the number defense in the league. Pretty impressive and something to be thankful if you're the Jacksonville Jaguars. No one is going to want to play them in January.
The Tennessee Titans are thankful for an easy schedule the rest of the season. The Titans next four games are at Colts, home vs. Texans, at Cardinals and at 49ers. Then they get the Rams and Jaguars at home. At 6-4, the Titans should win at least four more games to get to 10 wins, which should be enough to get into the playoffs.
The Oakland Raiders will be thankful when they're out of the dump that is the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum and in a brand new stadium in Las Vegas. Other than that it has not been the kind of season the Raiders were hoping for. I know I missed on them. My AFC representative for the Super Bowl doesn't even look like they're going to make the playoffs.
Can't think of anything the Denver Broncos have to be thankful for. Denver has lost six-straight games, their longest skid in 27 years. General Manager John Elway already fired offensive coordinator Mike McCoy and they've made the switch at quarterback and will start Paxton Lynch Sunday against the Raiders. More changes could still be coming.
The San Diego Chargers, I mean the Los Angeles Chargers -- still not use to them being in L.A. -- will be thankful when their new stadium is finished. It has to be weird playing in front of a home crowd of 25,000 fans.
Finally, the Kansas City Chiefs were thankful for the first five weeks of the season. The Chiefs looked like the best team in football after five weeks beating both the Patriots and Eagles to open the season. Since then they've gone 1-4 including last week's lost to a terrible Giants team.
With that I'll leave you with my picks for Week 12, including the three games on Thanksgiving. I'll be eating two dinners on Thursday and will be watching a lot of football. It's going to be a good day.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Week 12 Picks (Home team in CAPS)
Minnesota (8-2) over DETROIT (6-4)
Thursday, 12:30 p.m. ET (Fox)
DALLAS (5-5) over L.A. Chargers (4-6)
Thursday, 4:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
WASHINGTON (4-6) over N.Y. Giants (2-8)
Thursday, 8:30 p.m. ET (NBC)
ATLANTA (6-4) over Tampa Bay (4-6)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET (Fox)
CINCINNATI (4-6) over Cleveland (0-10)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
Tennessee (6-4) over INDIANAPOLIS (3-7)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET (Fox)
KANSAS CITY (6-4) over Buffalo (5-5)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
NEW ENGLAND (8-2) over Miami (4-6)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
Carolina (7-3) over N.Y. JETS (4-6)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET (Fox)
PHILADELPHIA (9-1) over Chicago (3-7)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET (Fox)
Seattle (6-4) over SAN FRANCISCO (1-9)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET (Fox)
L.A. RAMS (7-3) over New Orleans (8-2)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
OAKLAND (4-6) over Denver (3-7)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
Jacksonville (7-3) over ARIZONA (4-6)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
PITTSBURGH (8-2) over Green Bay (5-5)
Sunday, 8:30 p.m. ET (NBC)
BALTIMORE (5-5) over Houston (4-6)
Monday, 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Last Week: 8-6
Overall: 100-60 (.625)
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