Chicago at Detroit - Right now, the Lions sit atop the NFC North, which feels like it is the best division in football this year by a mile. Detroit sports an impressive 10-1 record, which is tied with the Kansas City Chiefs for best in the entire league. They have won nine straight, and just look amazing so far. For Thanksgiving, they will host the last place team in the NFC North, the 4-7 Chicago Bears. Chicago actually feels - or felt - like an improving team. But a recent losing streak that has now reached five straight has effectively taken them on the verge of being out of playoff contention. Yet, they have played some better teams very tough, and probably are an improved team. It's just that when you are the last place team in the best division in the league, good luck just isn't on your side. In the past two games, they challenged both the Vikings and the Packers and took each to the limit, only to lose both games by a combined four points. Chicago can probably do something similar on Thanksgiving against the Lions. After all, they are quite familiar with them, sharing the division. However, familiarity works both ways. The Lions really feel like a team playing just incredible football in this one, and I expect them to win this one, and to really add some cushion to a lead in the second half, likely winning this one comfortably. My pick: Detroit
NY Giants at Dallas - The Cowboys are one of only two teams in the NFL without a single home win so far this season. So the G-Men should have a shot, right? Maybe, but I still do not feel comfortable feeling that they can actually win. After all, they are the other NFL team without a home win this season. Also, they have not managed to beat the Cowboys in a long time. And let's face it: Big Blue has been playing so poorly as of late, that they hardly look capable of pulling off a win right now. Add to that how the 'Boys are coming off a huge road win at Washington, and this one feels like it should go to the home team. My pick: Dallas
Thanksgiving Evening Game - Miami at Green Bay - Two hot teams square off against one another here. Unlike with the first two games, both between division rivals, there really is not much familiarity between the two teams. The Dolphins are better than their overall 4-7 record indicates, but a current winning streak which has now reached three straight underscores the urgency which this team is playing at. They are one of the better teams in the league when at full strength, and their current streak has been since Tua has come back at the helm. That makes them dangerous, and it feels like they very well might just pull off an upset win in this one. However, I still suspect that the Packers are the better team, and should come out with a narrow, maybe even a controversial, win. My pick: Green Bay
Black Friday Football - Las Vegas at Kansas City - The Chiefs are tied with the Lions for best overall record in the league at 10-1. They get to host the first Black Friday Game in NFL history, and the team that they are hosting has the longest active losing streak in the league right now. Indeed, the Silver and Black have dropped seven straight, and things have gotten very bad for them. They lost each of the last three games by multiple possessions, losing each by double digits. One hopeful sign for them is that their last close game was against KC, although they hosted that one. Maybe familiarity can help the Raiders keep this one close and make it competitive. Also, KC struggled against the Panthers, a team that seemed to be miles behind the Chiefs in terms of success and talent. However, the Chiefs are just rolling right now, and it is difficult to imagine them somehow dropping a home game to a team like the Raiders at this point, the way that both teams are playing. My pick: Kansas City
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