Green Bay Packers (5-5-1) @ Detroit Lions (6-5)
The Packers will get Aaron Rodgers back just in time to finish the season. He is the difference between this team winning and losing. When he is in the game you can see a completely different vibe all across the team. They have no confidence without Rodgers. The Green Bay defense failed to step up without Rodgers. They allowed at least 26 points in each of the four games without Rodgers. Adrian Peterson rushed for 143 yards and a td against the Packers on Sunday. It was the most yards put up against them by a RB this season.
The Lions have lost two in a row against teams with losing records. Matt Stafford was intercepted four times by the Buccaneers. The god news was that even with the Lions turning the ball over five times, they only lost by three points and had a chance to win the game. Detroit's problem in their two game skid has been their inability to take control of the game. More often than not they have been playing from behind and find themselves trying to catch up. That's been the case throughout the season. If they can get an early lead and not let up they will be an unstoppable force.
Sunday's game will be for first place in the division. Both teams need this game badly. The Packers will rely heavily on RB Eddie Lacy. The Lions have a good run defense but Lacy ran for over 100 yards against the Vikings. Rodgers should be able to air it out against the Lions, who are bad against the pass. They've allowed 21 tds in the air this year. But the Packers are almost as bad. They have just four interceptions on the year and allow opponents to post a QB rating of 98.8 against them. Stafford and the Lions will be throwing the ball a lot. Megatron will get open thanks to the return of Nate Burleson who is a threat himself. Green Bay should have trouble stopping the Lions but should be able to keep up. This will be a high scoring game The advantage goes to the home team. The Lions should edge out the Packers, maybe as time runs out.
My Final: Det 34 GB 30
Oakland Raiders (4-7) @ Dallas Cowboys (6-5)
The Raiders, like a lot of teams, have injury problems starting with QB and continuing with RB. Missing both McFadden and Pryor has been detrimental for an offense that loves to run the ball. When two key guys like that go down it leaves the offense in bad shape. The Raiders, with three QBs, have posted QB rating of 75.7. Meanwhile, the defense allows opponents to a QB rating of 98.1. This season the Raiders have been out scored 194-246.
The Cowboys, despite having one of the worst defenses in the NFL, are 6-5 and fighting for first place. They shouldn't be as bad as they are on defense, They have a good group, this shows in the turnover margin where the Cowboys are tops in the NFC, and in my opinion, the blame falls on the coaching staff. The offense is always a threat to put up huge numbers against any team.
This game will be hard fought on both sides because of the national spotlight. Nobody wants to lose on Thanksgiving while the whole world is watching. The Cowboys need this game more than the Raiders who are virtually out of the wild card race. The Raiders defense has allowed 21 td passes and the Cowboys will add to that number Romo will attack the defense and should have success in doing so. Looking at the numbers on paper you would think that the Raiders would have success against the Cowboys defense. But, with the Cowboys at home, along with the Raiders injuries, I think the Boys will tighten up on defense. Dallas will get out to an early lead and the rout should be on.
My Final: Dal 38 Oak 26
Pittsburgh Steelers (5-6) @ Baltimore Ravens (5-6)
A few weeks ago seeing this game on the schedule you would have thought it would be a meaningless game. But, after the Steelers started out 0-4, they've won five of seven and are looking to capture the final wild card spot. This game could decide who gets it. The Steelers have won three in a row coming into this prime time match-up. Big Ben has been great throwing the ball. He's racked up over 3,000 yards and 19 td. His main weapon is WR Antonio Brown. Brown has league high 82 rec and 1044 yards and six tds. PIT defense ranks third against the pass.
The defending champs have been inconsistent this year. They are best when they are at home though, where they are 4-1. Ray Rice started to reemerge in the offense two weeks ago against the Bear, but disappeared against the Jets. His inconsistencies have been a big problem and leave the Ravens with questions at the RB position for next season. If there were ever a time for Rice to show up it will be Thanksgiving night under the lights.
The Steelers defense has been weak against the run and if the Ravens want to in they need Rice to take advantage of his opportunities. Joe Flacco has done little to earn the money he was paid
the off season. He can start by leading his team to a win Thursday night It won't be easy though. The Steelers hold opposing QBs to an average of 215 yards a game. Flacco has thrown 13 interceptions so far and while the Steelers defense only has six they will look to capitalize on mistakes. Flacco has been very poor at making decisions this year. He posts a QB rating of just 75.3, not what you'd expect from a Super Bowl MVP. The days of Baltimore's high powered defense is gone. They no longer are the intimidating force they used to be. Their one bright spot is against the run where they have only allowed one rushing td all year. That means that Rothlisberger will have to get it done through the air, and he will. The Ravens won't be able to stop Big Ben and don't have enough weapons to keep up.
My Final: Pit27 Bal-17
The Packers will get Aaron Rodgers back just in time to finish the season. He is the difference between this team winning and losing. When he is in the game you can see a completely different vibe all across the team. They have no confidence without Rodgers. The Green Bay defense failed to step up without Rodgers. They allowed at least 26 points in each of the four games without Rodgers. Adrian Peterson rushed for 143 yards and a td against the Packers on Sunday. It was the most yards put up against them by a RB this season.
The Lions have lost two in a row against teams with losing records. Matt Stafford was intercepted four times by the Buccaneers. The god news was that even with the Lions turning the ball over five times, they only lost by three points and had a chance to win the game. Detroit's problem in their two game skid has been their inability to take control of the game. More often than not they have been playing from behind and find themselves trying to catch up. That's been the case throughout the season. If they can get an early lead and not let up they will be an unstoppable force.
Sunday's game will be for first place in the division. Both teams need this game badly. The Packers will rely heavily on RB Eddie Lacy. The Lions have a good run defense but Lacy ran for over 100 yards against the Vikings. Rodgers should be able to air it out against the Lions, who are bad against the pass. They've allowed 21 tds in the air this year. But the Packers are almost as bad. They have just four interceptions on the year and allow opponents to post a QB rating of 98.8 against them. Stafford and the Lions will be throwing the ball a lot. Megatron will get open thanks to the return of Nate Burleson who is a threat himself. Green Bay should have trouble stopping the Lions but should be able to keep up. This will be a high scoring game The advantage goes to the home team. The Lions should edge out the Packers, maybe as time runs out.
My Final: Det 34 GB 30
Oakland Raiders (4-7) @ Dallas Cowboys (6-5)
The Raiders, like a lot of teams, have injury problems starting with QB and continuing with RB. Missing both McFadden and Pryor has been detrimental for an offense that loves to run the ball. When two key guys like that go down it leaves the offense in bad shape. The Raiders, with three QBs, have posted QB rating of 75.7. Meanwhile, the defense allows opponents to a QB rating of 98.1. This season the Raiders have been out scored 194-246.
The Cowboys, despite having one of the worst defenses in the NFL, are 6-5 and fighting for first place. They shouldn't be as bad as they are on defense, They have a good group, this shows in the turnover margin where the Cowboys are tops in the NFC, and in my opinion, the blame falls on the coaching staff. The offense is always a threat to put up huge numbers against any team.
This game will be hard fought on both sides because of the national spotlight. Nobody wants to lose on Thanksgiving while the whole world is watching. The Cowboys need this game more than the Raiders who are virtually out of the wild card race. The Raiders defense has allowed 21 td passes and the Cowboys will add to that number Romo will attack the defense and should have success in doing so. Looking at the numbers on paper you would think that the Raiders would have success against the Cowboys defense. But, with the Cowboys at home, along with the Raiders injuries, I think the Boys will tighten up on defense. Dallas will get out to an early lead and the rout should be on.
My Final: Dal 38 Oak 26
Pittsburgh Steelers (5-6) @ Baltimore Ravens (5-6)
A few weeks ago seeing this game on the schedule you would have thought it would be a meaningless game. But, after the Steelers started out 0-4, they've won five of seven and are looking to capture the final wild card spot. This game could decide who gets it. The Steelers have won three in a row coming into this prime time match-up. Big Ben has been great throwing the ball. He's racked up over 3,000 yards and 19 td. His main weapon is WR Antonio Brown. Brown has league high 82 rec and 1044 yards and six tds. PIT defense ranks third against the pass.
The defending champs have been inconsistent this year. They are best when they are at home though, where they are 4-1. Ray Rice started to reemerge in the offense two weeks ago against the Bear, but disappeared against the Jets. His inconsistencies have been a big problem and leave the Ravens with questions at the RB position for next season. If there were ever a time for Rice to show up it will be Thanksgiving night under the lights.
The Steelers defense has been weak against the run and if the Ravens want to in they need Rice to take advantage of his opportunities. Joe Flacco has done little to earn the money he was paid
the off season. He can start by leading his team to a win Thursday night It won't be easy though. The Steelers hold opposing QBs to an average of 215 yards a game. Flacco has thrown 13 interceptions so far and while the Steelers defense only has six they will look to capitalize on mistakes. Flacco has been very poor at making decisions this year. He posts a QB rating of just 75.3, not what you'd expect from a Super Bowl MVP. The days of Baltimore's high powered defense is gone. They no longer are the intimidating force they used to be. Their one bright spot is against the run where they have only allowed one rushing td all year. That means that Rothlisberger will have to get it done through the air, and he will. The Ravens won't be able to stop Big Ben and don't have enough weapons to keep up.
My Final: Pit27 Bal-17
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