Thanksgiving Football

For those who aren't working or cooking (I'll be doing both), there's plenty of football coming up this Thursday.

Chicago @ Detroit. The Bears (4-7) have been pretty bad overall this season, but since hiring Matt Eberflus, they have been especially bad on the road. Their record away from home has been 3-18. Their last road victory came almost a year ago, week 12 of 2023, against the Vikings on Monday Night Football (12-10, Nov 27, 2023). The Lions (10-1) absolutely look like the best team in the NFL right now. They've won nine straight, as compared to the Bears who have lost five in a row. The Bears haven't been very good against the run this season, and since the season-ending injury to inside lineman Andrew Billings they've been worse. The Lions have the best one-two tandem at running back with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. In short, I don't expect this to be close. Lions, handily.

NY Giants @ Dallas. Neither team is particularly good this year, but Dallas (4-7) just pulled off an impressive upset of Washington in rather convincing fashion. The Giants (2-9) have given up the season, getting rid of Daniel Jones and putting Tommy Devito behind one of the worst offensive lines in the game. It's hard to believe Dallas will be favored, but the Giants might be the most screwed up franchise in the NFL ... and the NFL includes the Jets and the Panthers. Cowboys, handily.

Miami @ Green Bay. This is the only game on Thursday worth watching, and it will be on prime time. The Dolphins (5-6) are a lot better with Tua Tagovailoa. The Packers are 8-3, good enough for third place in the NFL's toughest division. One would think the Packers have a better defense, but actually the Fins give up fewer yards. What the Packers do well, however, is run the ball. They're averaging over 150 yards per game, and I think they'll keep the ball out of Tua's hands enough of the time to win. Packers, in a close match.