This year has been what the old folks call a “doozy.” From celebrity and artists deaths, to world disasters to the most contentious US presidential election in my memory. From the first Chicago Cubs World Series victory in a century, to the UK plunging off a cliff while giving the European Union the finger, to the outer reaches of our solar system where we sent a state of the art spacecraft to orbit Jupiter, 2016 will either be a year to remember or one we’ll all desperately want to forget so if you can’t find something to be thankful for today, just look at this slate of NFL games, the best Thanksgiving group that I can remember in a long time.
As we go through the Thanksgiving games, I’ll also toss in some fun facts about 2016. I’ll be live blogging all the games today so hang out if you can.
Early Game
Minnesota at Detroit (-1.5)
The Vikings (6-4) and Lions (6-4) get to spend their Thanksgiving playing a mini playoff game. The winner of this match up takes control of the NFC North by a solid game with just five more to play. The loser falls completely out of the current playoff picture by a game and may find themselves behind a couple other teams in line too.
Minnesota ended a four-game losing streak last week that saw them drop from being possibly the best team in the NFL, to a busload of chokers that their offensive coordinator, Norv Turner, quit on. Detroit put its own early three-game skid behind them and have won five of their last six games. Quarterback Matt Stafford might be playing the best football of his life as he keeps the offense rolling without Calvin Johnson, who retired in the offseason.
The pick: We’ve got a 64 percent consensus on the Lions in the picks community, but I think Minnesota is too good on defense to let that happen. Vikings 27, Lions 24
2016 Fun Fact: In January the World Health Organization announced an outbreak of the Zika virus, with 1.5 million people contracting the mosquito-borne illness in Brazil alone.
Late Game
Washington at Dallas (-6)
I’ve been accused of having a man-crush on Dallas Cowboys (9-1) quarterback Dak Prescott and I don’t know why anyone would think that. Maybe it’s the giant Dak Prescott tattoo I have across my chest. At any rate, if you’ve missed the Dak and Zeke show to this point, Thanksgiving afternoon will be the perfect time to remedy that while you struggle to keep your pants buttoned in your recliner.
The Redskins (6-3-1) are a solid team, coming in off a huge victory over the Green Bay Packers Sunday night. Kirk Cousins is on his way to massive contract and could have Washington headed to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.
The Pick: I’ve ridden the Cowboys all year and I’m not stopping now. It doesn’t help Washington that they played a tough, late game Sunday night. Cowboys 34, Redskins 24
2016 Fun Fact: In February North Korea violated multiple United Nations treaties by longing a long-range rocket into space. The performed another nuclear test in September. United States Defense Secretary William Perry says that “the likelihood today of a nuclear catastrophe somewhere in the world is greater than it was during the Cold War.”
Thursday Night Game
Pittsburgh at Indianapolis (+8.5)
This game lost a little of its luster when Colts quarterback Andrew Luck was put in the concussion protocol. Luck will not play so it’ll be up to Scott Tolzien to keep Indianapolis in the AFC Playoff race. Good luck with that.
The Steelers come in after a fresh dismantling of the Cleveland Browns. Ben Roethlisbeger has put his bad post-injury game behind him and should see Antonio Brown and Eli Rogers running open against a depleted Colts secondary all game. If John Madden was still broadcasting games, Le’Veon Bell might end this one with two Turducken legs.
The Pick: I would have picked Pittsburgh in this game even with Luck playing, but with Tolzien at QB you wonder if Indy can even get on the scoreboard. Steelers 37, Colts 10
2016 Fun Fact: In September it was announced that global CO2 levels exceeded 400 parts-per-million, the highest ever registered in human history.
Last Week
Straight up: 11-3
Against the spread: 10-4
Season
Straight up: 95-64-2
Against the spread: 86-75
