NFL: Thanksgiving Day Predictions

Happy Turkey Day everybody! Thanksgiving is a time for family, food, and football. The boys are back with week 12 of NFL predictions. The race is getting tighter by the week, as I, Joseph Aruther Smeltzer, am now tied with my intellectual but inferior cousin, Ryan Carlton Stewart. I cannot let the man with the Harverd Law degree steal my thunder.

Thursday 

12:30

The ‘’I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to watch something else on Thanksgiving’’ game of the week
Eagles (4-6) at Lions (3-7)


Joe: Both of these teams have greatly disappointed this season, but the Lions are riding a mini-hot streak with two straight wins. The Eagles, on the other hand, have been just awful, with last Sunday’s embarrassment at the hands of Doug Martin and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers being a strong example of just how underwhelming this team is. The Eagles are a mess, and Chip Kelly has to be on the hot seat if the front office cares at all about the future of the franchise. The Lions defense is playing well, and I will predict that Mark Sanchez throws at least three interceptions, which may or may not be partially due to this bringing back memories of the 2012 ‘’Butt Fumble’’ on Thanksgiving night. Lions 31, Eagles 17.
Player to Watch: Matthew Stafford 
David: After Philly’s display last week, I can’t see Detroit falling at home.

4:30
The ‘’Joe is feeling an upset’’ game of the week
Panthers (10-0) at Cowboys (3-7)

Joe: I love the Carolina Panthers. They are 100% legit and are the best team in the NFC right now. However, I think that the quest for perfection stops in Dallas. Looking at Carolina’s remaining schedule, I feel that this is the game that they are most likely to lose. Tony Romo and Dez Bryant are back, and they will be fired up and ready to go. Dallas finally looked like themselves last week in Miami, and every game is a must-win for them to win the weak NFC East. I have a gut feeling that Dallas will have a nothing-to-lose mentality coming into this game. Teams like this are dangerous, and I think that Romo, Bryant and Darren McFadden will put an end to Carolina’s quest for 16-0. Eat your heart out, Skip Bayless.
Player to Watch: Tony Romo

David: Romo is a winner now, and the Panthers will come back down to earth.

8:30
The ‘’Rivalry Game’’ of the week
Bears (4-6) at Packers (7-3)

Joe: After causing concern by losing three games in a row, last week's performance in Minnesota signified that the Pack is back. I expect the momentum from that Vikings win to carry over into Thursday night, and Aaron Rodgers will do what Aaron Rodgers does. Eddie Lacey appears to be finding his groove as well, and I expect another 100+ yard performance out of him Even if John Fox decides to kick the field goal on 4th and goal, Chicago still will not win this game.  Packers 35, Bears 20.
Player to Watch: Eddie Lacy

David: Jay Cutler is a horror show at Lambeau. It won’t be quite as bad as it was last year, be Cutler won’t win there and probably never will.