NFL Picks Week 12: The Dallas Cowboys and the Rest of the Thanksgiving Matchups

Ladies and gentleman, the best weekend of the year (excluding March Madness opening weekend) is here.  We have a full lineup of football and college basketball for your viewing pleasure.

Thanksgiving would not be the same without football.  We have all been blessed with this wonderful addition, to shoving our faces with turkey, cranberry sauce and stuffing, since 1920 and Thanksgiving would just be plain weird without it.

This season we have the pleasure of having three NFL games; here are a preview of the matchups and a prediction of their winners.

Stuff Your Face wIth As Much Turkey and Noodles As You Can

OK, the first game of the day comes around lunchtime—it's called eating.  Make sure to feed your face, until you feel like the Pillsbury Doughboy. Make sure to also load up on some caffeine or else you will fall asleep during football because of Turkey Tummy. 

Now onto the games. 

New England @ Detroit 12:30 EST (CBS)

Leon Halip/Getty Images

ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 21: Maurice Morris #28 of the Detroit Lions runs for a first down as Jay Ratliff #90 of the Dallas Cowboys attempts to make the stop during the game at Dallas Stadium on November 21, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys defeated

This game could turn out to be quite exciting.  Although the records make it seem like it could be a game where New England just dominates all around, don't let Detroit deceive you, they have been playing better than their schedule indicates.

New England

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

FOXBORO, MA - NOVEMBER 21: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots throw a pass during a game with the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium on November 21, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

New England comes into this game with a record of 8-2 and are in first place coming off a great victory against the Indianapolis Colts last weekend.  The Patriots have an offense that doesn't have great stats, but they have what it takes to win games, and are led by one of the best quarterbacks in the league in Tom Brady (Justin Bieber).

Their offense should be OK and be able to score a lot of points as long as they can run the ball.  The Lions are ranked 31st in run defense and that is a real weakness so far this season.

Plus, if Brady doesn't pass the ball he doesn't have to worry about being sacked by Ndamukong Suh, who has recorded seven sacks on the season.

Detroit

Leon Halip/Getty Images

ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 21: Shaun Hill #14 of the Detroit Lions throws the ball as DeMarcus Ware #94 of the Dallas Cowboys makes the sack during the game at Dallas Stadium on November 21, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys defeated the Lions 35-19. (

The Lions come in with a record of 2-8 and have been devastated by the injury of quarterback Matthew Stafford.  They are coming off a tough loss to the Dallas Cowboys who are playing with a new injury after the firing of their head coach Wade Phillips.

Although they lost their quarterback to injury, they have found another great quarterback in Shaun Hill.  Hill leads the sixth-ranked passing offense in the country.  He has thrown for 1,921 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.  Facing the Patriots secondary, which is ranked 31st in the NFL, he should have a field day completing passes and putting up big numbers.

Having one of the best receivers in the nation in Calvin Johnson helps his ability to throw over defenses.  Expect him to have a good game against this weak secondary. 

The Winner: The Patriots

Elsa/Getty Images

FOXBORO, MA - NOVEMBER 21: Devin McCourty #32 of the New England Patriots celebrates with teammates Kyle Love #74 and James Sanders #36 after McCourty intercepted a pass from the Indianapolis Colts on November 21, 2010 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Ma

Although the Lions will be able to throw all over the Patriots horrible secondary, one still can't expect Tom Brady to have a bad game against a weak Lions secondary.

This matchup is sure to be a high-scoring shootout, that should be a memorable Thanksgiving Classic.

New Orleans @ Dallas 4:15 EST (FOX)

This is another interesting matchup to watch and is definitely the main event of the day.  With a Saints team that is looking to go back to the Super Bowl, and a Dallas team that has recently been revived and is looking for three straight wins.

New Orleans

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

NEW ORLEANS - NOVEMBER 21: Quarterback Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints signals a first down against the Seattle Seahawks at Louisiana Superdome on November 21, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The Saints come into this matchup with a record of 7-3.  They are led by Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees, and look to win this game as a preview of winning a game in Cowboy Stadium in February. 

They come in with one of the best passing attacks in the game of football, averaging 286.8 yards per game.  Another great advantage for the Saints is their pass defense, which ranks second in the league. They should be able to pass all over the 21st-ranked passing defense in the nation, but that will just be found in time.

Brees should be able to pick them apart, and with the expected return of the former, former Heisman winner Reggie Bush, they might have just what it takes to get their running attack back in order.

Dallas

Tom Pennington/Getty Images

ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 21: Quarterback Jon Kitna (C) #3 of the Dallas Cowboys leads a team prayer with (l-r) punter Nick Harris #2, linebacker DeMarcus Ware #94, running back Marion Barber #24, cornerback Bryan McCain #37, wide receiver Dez Bryant #88,

Dallas has had quite the season so far. They started off the season with head coach Wade Phillips (that didn't last long) and with quarterback Tony Romo, who broke his collarbone and is out for a while.

Dallas is led by quarterback Jon Kitna, who hasn't been playing bad as of late. He has passed for 1,223 yards, and 10 touchdowns in only five games played. 

Look for rookie receiver Dez Bryant to have another big game, as he seems to be a pretty clutch player as he establishes himself as one of the best young receivers in the nation.

If Dallas expects to have a chance at winning this one, they will need to be able to pass the ball on what is a strong Saints secondary. The Cowboys rushing game is one of the worst in the league and they will need to rely on Kitna's arm to win their third straight game.

The Winner: New Orleans

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 20: Reggie Bush #25 of the New Orleans Saints in action during their game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on September 20, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Although Dallas should be able to keep this one close, there is no way they will be able to pull off the upset against the Saints. New Orleans is just playing a high level of football right now that will be difficult for the Cowboys to match.

Although they might not have a shot, it's still Thanksgiving, and one should never count out America's Team on Thanksgiving Day.

Cincinnati @ New York Jets 8:20 EST (NFL Network)

This game could be the least interesting matchup of the day.  The Bengals have been a disappointment again this season, whereas the Jets have been one of the toughest teams in the league.  Although it's difficult to see this one being close, the Jets have won their last three games in either overtime or in the final seconds.

Cincinnati

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 14: Chad Ochocinco #85 of the Cincinnati Bengals reaches for a pass during the Bengals 23-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL game at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 14, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/

The Bengals have had a year to forget.  What was expected to be a great season full of numerous passing yards and touchdown passes by two of the cockiest receivers in the NFL in Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens, has turned out to be quite a bust.

The Bengals come into this matchup with a record of 2-8 even losing to the Buffalo Bills giving them their second victory of the season.  Although they are ranked eighth in passing in the NFL, they still don't have what it takes to win.

Their defense has killed them this season, giving up 26.8 points per game ranking them in the bottom quarter of the NFL.

They are a one-dimensional team only averaging 96.6 rushing yards per game.  This along with the defense has been their downfall in what was supposed to be a great season.

New York Jets

The Jets are one of the most talked about teams in the NFL this season, mainly because of HBO's Hard Knocks.  Besides all the off-the-field stuff that has happened with them, they are many experts' pick to win the Super Bowl this season.

They come in with a record of 8-2 and have one of the top rushing attacks in the league averaging 145.9 yards per game.

Their defense is also stellar featuring the 16th best pass defense with the fifth best running defense.  They should have no problem shutting down the Bengals offense.

Rex Ryan should have a field day with this one, and if I was Carson Palmer, I would be scared for my well-being.

The Winner: The Jets

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 21: LaDainian Tomlinson #21 of the New York Jets runs against the Houston Texans on November 21, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

The Jets will win this one in exciting fashion.  This one will not be close like the other games should be on Thanksgiving.  Expect the Jets to come out and light up the scoreboard, while further solidifying themselves as one of the best teams in the NFL.

Happy Thanksgiving

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Enjoy the good food, the family and the football. 

James Evens is a Purdue student and Basketball/Football Featured Columnist for the Boilermakers, along with being a Writing Intern at Bleacher Report.  Follow him on Twitter or like him on Facebook.