By Tim Byrnes
For the 23rd time on Thanksgiving, the Green Bay Packers played the Detroit Lions. While both teams trailed the Chicago Bears in the standings, many “talking heads” have expected the division title will be won by one of these two teams.
Football on Turkey Day began in Detroit…
Thanksgiving Day:
Green Bay (7-3-1) @ Detroit (7-4): Green Bay 31-24
Green Bay’s Jordan Love threw for four touchdowns, and Micah Parsons had 2 ½ sacks, to sweep the season series against the Lions.
Love’s total was a career high for him in a game, giving him 19 touchdown passes on the year, versus just three interceptions.
Parsons, who was traded by the Dallas Cowboys, continued to ignore the naysayers by surpassing last year’s sack total (12 in 13 games) with 12 1/2 in just 12 games. He was traded in spite of having a consistent 12-14 sacks every year of his NFL career.
Jared Goff had 256 yards-2 touchdowns while Jameson Williams had 144 receiving yards and a touchdown, in the loss.
Friday:
Chicago (8-3) @ Philadelphia (8-3): Chicago 24-15
The Bears offensive line dominated the Eagles at the line of scrimmage, controlling the clock 39:18-20:42, and rushing for 281 yards in the Friday night victory.
Running backs Kyle Monangai (130 yards-TD) and D’Andre Swift (125 yards-TD) both surpassed 100-yards rushing, something that hasn’t happened in over four decades for the Bears franchise.
The Eagles AJ Brown had 10 receptions-132 yards-2 TDs in the loss and Philly fans are beginning to show they have short memories, booing quarterback Jalen Hurts again.
Saquon Barkley continued to struggle this week, failing to exceed 60-yards rushing for the ninth time in twelve games.
Sunday:
LA Rams (9-2) @ Carolina (6-6): Carolina 31-28
It happens every season! It’s like a requirement for the Rams to lose to a lesser opponent at least once a season. In ‘22 it was New Orleans, ‘23 it was Cincinnati, and last year Chicago and Miami.
The Rams started to believe its own press and came out pretty uninspired on defense. Despite LA having superior stats in nearly every category, Carolina held the ball nearly eleven minutes longer than LA, and key turnovers were the difference.
Matthew Stafford had three turnovers (2 Int-Fum), including a pick-6 and an interception in the endzone, but still kept it close with two touchdown passes to Davante Adams.
Carolina’s Bryce Young threw three touchdowns to pace the Panthers’ offense and the Rams were victims of chunk plays all day. His game management, controlling time of possession, is picking off teams that are looking past Carolina.
Buffalo (7-4) @ Pittsburgh (6-5): Buffalo 26-7
The Steelers lost for the fifth time in the last seven games, as Buffalo shook off last week’s loss to the Texans, and had a more controlled, and efficient game.
Bills running back James Cook III weaved through the porous Steelers defense for 177 total yards while Josh Allen sealed the win with his now-record 76th rushing touchdown as a quarterback.
With Pittsburgh having the ball just eighteen minutes all game, they managed only 108 passing yards, 58 more on the ground, and were unable to build any momentum.
Other Games:
Dal 31 – KC 28 (Th)
Cin 32 – Bal 14 (Th)
SF 26 – Cle 8
Jax 25- Ten 3
Hou 20 – Ind 16
Mia 21 – NO 17
NYJ 27 – Atl 24
TB 20 – Ari 17
Sea 26 – Min 0
LAC 31 – LV 14
Den 27 – Was 26
NE 33 – NYG 15 (Mon)
Key Injuries:
GB (DT) Devonte Wyatt (ankle)
Det (WR) Amon-Ra St. Brown (ankle)
LAC (QB) Justin Herbert (hand)
Cle (OT) Jack Conklin (concussion)
Ten (WR) Xavier Restrepo (ankle)
Ind (CB) Sauce Gardner (calf)
NO (S) Justin Reid (knee)
Buf (DE) Joey Bosa (hamstring)
NYG (RB) Tyrone Tracy Jr (hip)
Byrnes Picks:
Week 13 Results:
(9-7) (127-66-1)
Week 14 Picks:
Dallas over Detroit
Miami over NY Jets
Baltimore over Pittsburgh
Tampa Bay over New Orleans
Indianapolis over Jacksonville
Cleveland over Tennessee
Minnesota over Washington
Seattle over Atlanta
Buffalo over Cincinnati
Denver over Las Vegas
Green Bay over Chicago
LA Rams over Arizona
Kansas City over Houston
Philadelphia over LA Chargers
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