96-64 for the yer.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING. As a child, I loved Thanksgiving because of several things. One, it was a trip to my grandparents house, where my step-Grandmother would chain smoke giving the house a most peculiar smell, especially when mixed with my granddad's pipe tobacco. Then there was FOOTBALL. Yes, it was just the Cowboys, but for my grandparents, who rarely if ever left the house, watching TV was something they did exceedingly well. Then on Thursday night, there was a trip to the arena for the Thanksgiving night Rasslin Matches. My Granddad, My Brother, and Myself loved it, my dad generously drove everyone even though he did not care for it. Yes, what a family.
This week, My parents are here. We allow no smoking in our house (Though no one does anyway) We cook the turkey ourselves, using the same recipe without cigarette droppings
And when FOOTBALL Starts, we can see the Lions about the time the food comes out, be out cold when the Cowboys start, then wake up at night and watch another game, all the time laughing at the materialistic encroachment of Christmas onto the Thanksgiving holiday which is NOT supposed to be about acquiring more goods, but being Thankful for those we have, and FOOTBALL!
WHICH Brings us to the week in the NFL Quite a busy week, no BYE teams and some interesting matchups.
Vikings @
LIONS. I am also going to go out on a prosthetic limb here and pick the Lions at home. Now granted, the VIkings are positioning themselves for the Number one seed, but the Lions MUST WIN to keep in the hunt for a wildcard, and at home, On THANKSGIVING, I too think that they will up to something
HOMELESS CHARGERS @ Cowpokes. This is another hard one to call. Picking against the Cowboys at home seems to be ok after the Sunday night spanking they got. The Cowpokes will be without Sean Lee, which is half of the defense, and while Smith IS hoping to play, he will have to be careful, because if he goes down, then there is no help. Not so much of a pick for the Chargers as a pick against a banged up Cowboys who are missing 2 major pieces of the puzzle, plus a number of defensive starters who had limited practice and may not be able to contribute much. Thankfully, I live in a country where alcohol is legal and abundant so I probably will sleep through this one.
Giants @
REDSKINS. I'd hate to go there. The Redskins are inconsistent at best and the Giants are pitiful at worst. On a short week to prepare, who knows>?
Succaneers @
FALCONS In the old days, Pirates used to walk around with well trained parrots on their shoulders. (Not really, there is very little historical evidence of such, but there is a great HOLLYWOOD revision of Pirate life including parrots. ) Can you imagine what would happen if the Buccaneers tried to wear FALCONS on their shoulders instead? They'd get their EYE-PATCHES plucked out.
Brown @
BENGALS I am really feeling sorry for the Browns, and even more so for their fans. Being a
FINZ FAN myself, I know what disappointment feels like
TITANS @ Colts. Titans will keep a hand on that division title with a win here
Bills @
CHIEFS They have a chance here to regain that early season magic against a team that does not do well on the road and does not have faith in a QB that won a few for them. ANDY REID can go ahead and eat 2 whole Turkeys on Thursday, and still win.
Dolphins @
PATRIOTS If you want an Upset Pick, Well, NOT THIS ONE! At home, in line for the first seed, against the worst offense and a team that makes more penalties than they do offensive yards, Belichick will not even have to cheat !
PANTHERS @ Jets. What you will see in the Macy's Parade Thursday: The
Pink Panther Balloon. What you won't see: Previews of the new Broadway play "We area great team" Starring the New York JETS....even Disney and Pixar can't buy that level of fantasy.
Bears @
EAGLES This could be a practice game for the Flying Eagles. They can bring some high school soccer player in to kick, let the backups have starts (who are just as good as the starters anyway) and spot the Bears 20 points...and still win without breaking a sweat.
SEAHAWKS @ 1&9ers. If the Seagulls lose, then I can at least keep making fun of the other teams name for a while.....1&10ers doesn't sound the same
Broncos @
RAIDERS The CRUMMY GAME OF THE WEEK Coach Del Rio is having about as much luck as a 3 legged cat trying to bury a turd on ice. As for the Rocky Mountain Broncos, I think I had it backwards. Early on, they were grounded, but now, like John Denver's career, the Broncos are falling apart when they are high. Either way, a home field will be about the only 2 point difference in this one.
Saints @
RAMS Here is why I think the RAMS Will bounce back and outscore the Saints at home, and I don't see the Saints getting their 45th straight win this week. But it will be a high scoring game, maybe in the 50's to the 40s
JAGUARS @ Pesky Red Birds. Keeping a hand on the first place slot will be easy, Bruce Arians and company are done like a Thanksgiving leftover by Sunday night.
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A SUPER BOWL REMATCH
Packers @
STEELERS. The Steelers need to do what they SHOULD have done in Super Bowl XLV and WIN! I remember my kid, 9 years old at the time, waking me up Monday Morning, Feb 7th, 2011 and saying, in his soft little kids voice.."Daddy..who won the Super bowl?" and I have awake moaned "The Packers" and he said "OH" sadly, knowing how disappointed I was. I mean I like the Packers, just not when they are against the Steelers or My Finz.
Monday Night
Texans @
RAVENS. The Ravens, at home, need a win to stay in the WildCard hunt. The Texans, on the other paw, may as well just jockey for a good draft pick. While it won't be a close game, the Texans just don't have the personnel this week to beat a team like the Ravens on the road.
Well, there it is. Hope you are at least entertained. Remember this is for fun only, no wagering please.