NFL Picks for Thanksgiving Weekend

The one thing better than the food on Thanksgiving is the football. But this year, you are better off watching a sandlot game unless you have NFL Network, because the CBS and Fox games are a joke.

They are my two highest-point games, meaning those I am most sure of the winner I picked; the lower the number, the less sure I am of my pick.

Last week, I went 11-5 (.688) and won 98 of a possible 136 points (.720), both about 50-60 points above my season average.

1. Eagles over Cardinals: they just need it more, and the Cardinals have been the beneficiaries of a soft schedule.
2. Falcons over Chargers: at home, this is a game San Diego must win, but they just are not as good as Atlanta this year.
3. Giants over Offensively Named Ones: I should pick Washington because New York has to lose one or two more and there aren't a lot of other teams that can do it, but they are still the better team on the road.
4. Texans over Jaguars: Houston beats the bad teams, especially at home; last week was the first time I was wrong on my prediction of their game all season.
   
5. Steelers over Patriots: Cassell's run of big games is going to end, and they need a lot of passing yards to win.
6. Buccaneers over Saints: New Orleans looked even better than the team that I picked to win the NFC before the season started, and they might get Reggie Bush back; however, the Bucs' defense is better than the Packers'.
7. Vikings over Bears: Which Bears team will show up? Which Vikings team? Remember, these teams failed to score as much in the three games they collectively played against Green Bay as New Orleans did by themselves Monday night.
8. Dolphins over Rams: Sporano couldn't control Joey Porter, that may have a ripple effect in the locker room or this game would be a lock.
9. Panthers over Packers: both teams need to rebound, but the Packers are playing to stay in the playoff race; unfortunately, the Panthers have a WAY better defense than New Orleans, who the Packers couldn't beat.
10. Raiders over Chiefs: they beat them handily in Kansas City and should be able to use last week's upset to springboard to their first winning streak of the season...albeit two games.
11. Bills over Forty-Niners: Buffalo may have gotten their act together last week, or they may have just exploited a bad team; the Niners are not good, but they are much better than Kansas City.
12. Colts over Browns: lame duck coach + lame duck GM + lame duck quarterback the rest of the year = Peyton Manning having a big day.
13. Ravens over Bengals: a solid but less-than-consistent team is still way better than a horrible AND dysfunctional team at home.
14. Jets over Broncos: I know Favre is due to revert to a pick-throwing gunslinger, but the Broncos are not a threat to exploit that.
15. Cowboys over Seahawks: Dallas will not allow Seattle to get in the way—they have enough tough games left to dig out of the hole they're in.
16. Titans over Lions: contrary to popular belief the Lions do not play their best on Thanksgiving, and the Titans will come out swinging after having their unbeaten season ruined.