By Peyton Wesner
Thursday Football Games
12:30 PM EST-CBS
5-6 Chicago Bears
at 7-4 Detroit Lions
Around Thanksgiving it always seems like the Lions fall into a streak of losses. Last year they lost their remaining four games after Thanksgiving while the year before they lost their last eight games of season. So it is highly noted that Detroit struggles when the stretch run starts. The last two weeks the high scoring offense was held to six points against the Arizona Cardinals and nine points against the New England Patroits. Could this be the beginning of a slump that takes their chances to make the playoffs away? The Chicago Bears have had another let down season in 2014. They started off Week 1 with a loss to the Buffalo Bills at Soldier Field but then showed some promise as they beat the 49ers in San Francisco to even their record at 1-1. Since then the Bears really haven't impressed anyone as they have a very slim to none chance that they will make the playoffs. A stat to pay attention to has to be that although the Bears played very weak opponents they have won their last two games creating momentum for the struggling club. The keys for the Lions today has to be putting the ball in the endzone, which they have not done since Week 10 and Matthew Stafford must be able to not turn the ball over against the Bears. For Chicago, Cutler must be protected by his offensive line as the Lions have one of the best defenses in the league led by Ndamukong Suh and DeAndre Levy. Also the fate of the game rests on Jay Cutler shoulders as he must equally distribute the ball around to Bennett, Forte, Jeffery, and Marshall to keep the Lions defense off guard. This should be a very close and competitive game to start off a great slate of NFL Thanksgiving action.
---Detroit 34, Chicago 27
4:30 PM EST-FOX
8-3 Philadelphia Eagles
at 8-3 Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys have a few similarities like the Lions in my opinion. Number one they both play every year on Thanksgiving and number two they both are notorious for not being able to close out seasons with wins. After the Cowboys beat the Seahawks in Seattle, analysts started thinking that they could be the best team in the NFL. Obviously since they have lost to the Washington Redskins on Monday Night Football, and the Arizona Cardinals with Brandon Weeden as their quarterback. Last week, they just barley survived at Met Life Stadium against the New York Giants. Last season after Thanksgiving, they dropped three of their last four including the NFC East Championship game in Week 17 at "Jerry's World." Will the Cowboys fall into their perennial tail spin or will they fight through their tough schedule to take the NFC East crown for the first time since 2009. The Philadelphia Eagles were predicted by many to have a chance to win the NFC and get to the Super Bowl. A problem for the Eagles occurred in Week 9 when a collarbone injury struck 2013 Pro Bowl Quarterback Nick Foles. Now Mark Sanchez is in and has led the Eagles to a 2-1 record in his three starts. This is the first matchup of the season between the Eagles and Cowboys with their next matchup slated for Week 15 in Philadelphia. Both teams have challenging schedules going down the stretch. Dallas has to travel to Chicago, Philadelphia, and Washington while hosting Indianapolis while Philadelphia hosts Seattle and Dallas while traveling to Washington and New York (Giants). This afternoon's game will give the winner a one game lead in the division over the loser. The team that causes the most turnovers will win this game as both quarterbacks are liable to turnover the ball. My matchup of the game is the Cowboys offense versus the Eagles defense. The Eagles defense is very good at causing turnovers and if they shut down DeMarco Murray, causing Romo to have to throw many passes the Eagles could give Mark Sanchez some extra possessions with the offense leading to points.
4:30 PM EST-FOX
8-3 Philadelphia Eagles
at 8-3 Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys have a few similarities like the Lions in my opinion. Number one they both play every year on Thanksgiving and number two they both are notorious for not being able to close out seasons with wins. After the Cowboys beat the Seahawks in Seattle, analysts started thinking that they could be the best team in the NFL. Obviously since they have lost to the Washington Redskins on Monday Night Football, and the Arizona Cardinals with Brandon Weeden as their quarterback. Last week, they just barley survived at Met Life Stadium against the New York Giants. Last season after Thanksgiving, they dropped three of their last four including the NFC East Championship game in Week 17 at "Jerry's World." Will the Cowboys fall into their perennial tail spin or will they fight through their tough schedule to take the NFC East crown for the first time since 2009. The Philadelphia Eagles were predicted by many to have a chance to win the NFC and get to the Super Bowl. A problem for the Eagles occurred in Week 9 when a collarbone injury struck 2013 Pro Bowl Quarterback Nick Foles. Now Mark Sanchez is in and has led the Eagles to a 2-1 record in his three starts. This is the first matchup of the season between the Eagles and Cowboys with their next matchup slated for Week 15 in Philadelphia. Both teams have challenging schedules going down the stretch. Dallas has to travel to Chicago, Philadelphia, and Washington while hosting Indianapolis while Philadelphia hosts Seattle and Dallas while traveling to Washington and New York (Giants). This afternoon's game will give the winner a one game lead in the division over the loser. The team that causes the most turnovers will win this game as both quarterbacks are liable to turnover the ball. My matchup of the game is the Cowboys offense versus the Eagles defense. The Eagles defense is very good at causing turnovers and if they shut down DeMarco Murray, causing Romo to have to throw many passes the Eagles could give Mark Sanchez some extra possessions with the offense leading to points.
---Dallas 34, Philadelphia 27
8:30 PM EST-NBC
7-4 Seattle Seahawks
at 7-4 San Francisco 49ers
"I'm the best corner in the game. When you try me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree that's the result you going to get." If anyone that doesn't know who said this statement, they need to google it. Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks Cornerback, said this after making the game winning play on San Francisco Wide Receiver Michael Crabtree in the NFC Championship Game. With a little over a half a minute left in the fourth quarter and the 49ers down 23-17, San Francisco Quarterback Colin Kaepernick threw a deep pass intended to Crabtree that Sherman tipped away from the 49ers' receiver and was eventually picked off by a teammate. By making the play Sherman sent the Seattle Seahawks to the Super Bowl which they would win 43-8 against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. Today the rivalry continues. Crabtree as well as Sherman have not had great seasons to say the least this year. Sherman is still talking trash but not in Seahawks losses. Going into tonight, Seattle has lost four games, one more than last season already while the Niners have lost the same amount as last year. I guarantee no one would have thought that the Arizona Cardinals would be leading the NFC West division yet alone have a two game lead this far in the season. The good thing is that both teams will face Arizona again before the season is over giving them one more chance to lessen the Cardinals lead in the division. Now for the Sherman and Crabtree drama, I believe Richard Sherman is a smart enough man to know that he will get booed tonight...LOUDLY! If Sherman and the Seahawks defense don't show up, Kaepernick and the 49ers will throw all over them. Obviously, San Francisco has the advantage since they are at home. Also, the way Russell Wilson has played this season is kind of shaky. Some games he will throw for two touchdowns and no interceptions while others he will throw two interceptions with no touchdowns. I think if the Seahawks can get the running game going they will win this game no doubt. Last week against Arizona, Marshawn Lynch struggled to break free from Arizona's defense as he was only able to run for 39 yards on 15 carries. Personally as a fan of quarterbacks, I can't wait to see who has a better game Wilson or Kaepernick. And for those fans that have prior engagements and cannot catch the game tonight don't worry in two weeks they rematch in Seattle. My key to the game, which I have already stated is the Seahawks' rushing game versus the 49ers' defense.
---San Francisco 23, Seattle 16
7-4 Seattle Seahawks
at 7-4 San Francisco 49ers
"I'm the best corner in the game. When you try me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree that's the result you going to get." If anyone that doesn't know who said this statement, they need to google it. Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks Cornerback, said this after making the game winning play on San Francisco Wide Receiver Michael Crabtree in the NFC Championship Game. With a little over a half a minute left in the fourth quarter and the 49ers down 23-17, San Francisco Quarterback Colin Kaepernick threw a deep pass intended to Crabtree that Sherman tipped away from the 49ers' receiver and was eventually picked off by a teammate. By making the play Sherman sent the Seattle Seahawks to the Super Bowl which they would win 43-8 against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. Today the rivalry continues. Crabtree as well as Sherman have not had great seasons to say the least this year. Sherman is still talking trash but not in Seahawks losses. Going into tonight, Seattle has lost four games, one more than last season already while the Niners have lost the same amount as last year. I guarantee no one would have thought that the Arizona Cardinals would be leading the NFC West division yet alone have a two game lead this far in the season. The good thing is that both teams will face Arizona again before the season is over giving them one more chance to lessen the Cardinals lead in the division. Now for the Sherman and Crabtree drama, I believe Richard Sherman is a smart enough man to know that he will get booed tonight...LOUDLY! If Sherman and the Seahawks defense don't show up, Kaepernick and the 49ers will throw all over them. Obviously, San Francisco has the advantage since they are at home. Also, the way Russell Wilson has played this season is kind of shaky. Some games he will throw for two touchdowns and no interceptions while others he will throw two interceptions with no touchdowns. I think if the Seahawks can get the running game going they will win this game no doubt. Last week against Arizona, Marshawn Lynch struggled to break free from Arizona's defense as he was only able to run for 39 yards on 15 carries. Personally as a fan of quarterbacks, I can't wait to see who has a better game Wilson or Kaepernick. And for those fans that have prior engagements and cannot catch the game tonight don't worry in two weeks they rematch in Seattle. My key to the game, which I have already stated is the Seahawks' rushing game versus the 49ers' defense.
---San Francisco 23, Seattle 16
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