Be Thankful: What the 32 teams can be thankful for
So this was something that I did last season as a sort of joke on which team can be thankful for this season. As far as confirmation on what each team is actually thankful for, I have no comment. Nonetheless here's the list.
Arizona Cardinals: You have a chance to get a top 5 pick in the draft, other than that your team is shit.
Atlanta Falcons: The 28-3 memes have died down quite a bit. At least until I mentioned it.
Baltimore Ravens: You have two potential starting quarterbacks and a great defense. And still might make the playoffs.
Buffalo Bills: You don't have Nathan Peterman on your team anymore.
Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton
Chicago Bears: Monsters Of The Midway are back and you have a QB that isn't Jay Cutler.
Cincinnati Bengals: You started off well enough to be this far. You still have AJ Green on the team.
Cleveland Browns: You're not the butt of all NFL jokes anymore.
Dallas Cowboys: You still have fans that go wild after beating a team that has a sub-par record. And Ezekiel Elliot
Denver Broncos: You have a team that is good on defense and a mess at quarterback.
Detroit Lions: You might not finish in last place in the division this year.
Green Bay Packers: You still have Aaron Rodgers on the team and that Mike McCarthy might not be there anymore.
Houston Texans: You've won seven straight games.
Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck is having a good season and is upright.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Not a lot to be thankful for, you have potential to do a full rebuild.
Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes, that's about it.
Los Angeles Chargers: The Chargers are doing good so far this season, despite having shit attendance.
Los Angeles Rams: Your team is pretty good, don't need to say much.
Miami Dolphins: You could make the playoffs and Jay Cutler isn't on the team.
Minnesota Vikings: The defense is still good and Kirk Cousins is having a great season, running game not so much.
New England Patriots: Tom Brady.
New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees is having a god-mode of a season. Probably a Super Bowl contender.
New York Giants: You have a star running back in Saquon Barkley, not much else to say. Been playing better than earlier this season.
New York Jets: You're still rebuilding and you can get better at offense.
Oakland Raiders: You're the Browns and at least this guy picked you to be in the Super Bowl before the season started, never gonna let that go.
Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles have a championship instead of being miserable.
Pittsburgh Steelers: James Conner is a better and younger running back than Le'veon Bell
San Francisco 49ers: Nick Mullens is keeping you competitive in games.
Seattle Seahawks: You're in a rebuilding season and you could be in the playoffs.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Fitzmagic.
Tennessee Titans: Marcus Mariota is still at quarterback and you beat the Patriots this season.
Washington Redskins: You could still be in the playoffs.
Playoff Picture: Week 12
AFC:
#1: Kansas City Chiefs
#2: Pittsburgh Steelers
#3: New England Patriots
#4: Houston Texans
#5: Los Angeles Chargers
#6: Baltimore Ravens
Wild Card:
Baltimore @ New England
LA Chargers @ Houston Texans
Still alive:
Cincinnati (5-5), Miami (5-5), Indianapolis (5-5), Tennessee (5-5), Denver (4-6), Cleveland (3-6-1), Buffalo (3-7), Jacksonville (3-7), NY Jets (3-7), Oakland (2-8)
NFC:
#1: Los Angeles Rams
#2: New Orleans Saints
#3: Chicago Bears
#4: Washington Redskins
#5: Carolina Panthers
#6: Minnesota Vikings
Wild Card:
Minnesota @ Chicago
Carolina @ Washington
Still Alive:
Seattle (5-5), Dallas (5-5), Green Bay (4-5-1), Atlanta (4-6), Detroit (4-6), Philadelphia (4-6), NY Giants (3-7), Tampa Bay (3-7), Arizona (2-8), San Francisco (2-8)
Cool video of the week:
The cool video of the week is a reminder for Thanksgiving. The season is to remind us to be thankful for what you have, your health, and your family. This clip is from an Americana classic, The Peanuts Thanksgiving Special. Enjoy.
The Picks!
Week 12 will start in Detroit, Michigan and ends in Houston, Texas. There are two teams on a bye this week, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Rams. After this week, there will be no teams on a bye week. There will be three Thursday games, seven early games, three late games, a Sunday night game, and a Monday night game. CBS will have the doubleheader and FOX will have the single, regional game. To the picks!
Chicago (7-3) @ Detroit (4-6) (CBS): TW: Bears, CV: Bears
Both teams picked up a win last week as the Bears beat the Vikings and the Lions beat the Panthers. The two teams could make the game interesting as an early Thanksgiving game but I feel the Bears will win off of their defense. I could go with the home team though but I can't trust the Lions enough to give them the upset to beat the Bears.
Washington (6-4) @ Dallas (5-5) (FOX): TW: Cowboys, CV: Cowboys
The Redskins lost to the Texans and the Cowboys beat the Falcons last week. The game will probably be a snooze as the Redskins lost Alex Smith to injury last week and I don't think that the Redskins can rely on their defense in this one to stay close with them. I trust the Cowboys offense in this one. Probably a good game to take a snooze while the tryptophan is coursing through the system.
Atlanta (4-6) @ New Orleans (9-1) (NBC): TW: Saints, CV: Saints
The Falcons lost to the Cowboys and the Saints beat the Eagles last week. While the shoppers are out shopping and breaking the bank, the primetime game features a decent matchup with two offenses with loaded talent. Could be a shootout but I have to go with the Saints as the hot team and they're at home.
Cleveland (3-6-1) @ Cincinnati (5-5) (CBS): TW: Browns, CV: Browns
The Browns were on a bye and the Bengals lost to the Ravens last week. The game is the battle of Ohio. The Browns are coming off a bye and should be well rested (let alone beating the Falcons the week before). Should be a close game but I like the Browns in this one if they can do damage on defense.
Seattle (5-5) @ Carolina (6-4) (FOX): TW: Panthers, CV: Panthers
The Seahawks beat the Packers and the Panthers lost to the Lions last week. The game should be entertaining as both teams have solid offenses and can be good at times on defense. The game could be close. I like the Panthers in the matchup as they can both run and pass the ball well with personnel that can do the job.
San Francisco (2-8) @ Tampa Bay (3-7) (FOX): TW: Buccaneers, CV: Buccaneers
The 49ers were on a bye and the Buccaneers lost to the Giants last week. The game could come down to whoever starts for Tampa in the game. I feel Ryan Fitzpatrick has done enough to earn the starting spot for the game but I don't trust Jameis Winston to give his team the victory. Nonetheless, I don't trust the 49ers enough to keep up with the #1 passing offense in the NFL.
Oakland (2-8) @ Baltimore (5-5) (CBS): TW: Ravens, CV: Ravens
Both teams got a win last week as the Raiders beat the Cardinals and the Ravens beat the Bengals. I don't trust the Raiders enough to give them the pick this week as they're not good on either offense or defense. The Ravens have a better defense and that alone should give them a win this week.
NY Giants (3-7) @ Philadelphia (4-6) (FOX): TW: Eagles, CV: Eagles
The Giants got a win against the Buccaneers and the Eagles lost to the Saints last week. It's a divisional rivalry game, it's a huge game if the Eagles want to get back into playoff contention. Must-win rather. The Giants could very well beat them this week but I can't trust the Giants this week. Should be a lot closer than what Vegas thinks.
New England (7-3) @ NY Jets (3-7) (CBS): TW: Patriots, CV: Patriots
The two teams were on a bye last week. The Patriots are well built than the Jets, on offense they still have Tom Brady and the Jets still have a learner in Sam Darnold. I don't trust the Jets and the Patriots should get back in the winning column after this week.
Jacksonville (3-7) @ Buffalo (3-7) (CBS): TW: Jaguars, CV: Bills
The Jaguars lost to the Steelers and the Bills were on a bye week last week. The game is a rematch of the AFC Wild Card game last year and boy did these two teams fall off the earth. I like the Jaguars in the game as the Bills are just a trainwreck.
Arizona (2-8) @ LA Chargers (7-3) (FOX): TW: Chargers, CV: Chargers
The two teams took a loss last week as the Cardinals lost to the Raiders and the Chargers to the Broncos. The Chargers on offense is better since Phillip Rivers is at quarterback for them and Melvin Gordon can get great runs. The Cardinals can at times look decent but the season has been bad for them. Larry Fitzgerald deserves better.
Miami (5-5) @ Indianapolis (5-5) (CBS): TW: Colts, CV: Colts
The Dolphins were on a bye and the Colts beat the Titans last week. I like the Colts in the game as they have a more solid offense and momentum is on their side. The Colts defense can dominate games when they can but I like the Colts in this one. Miami could make it interesting.
Pittsburgh (7-2-1) @ Denver (4-6) (CBS): TW: Steelers, CV: Steelers
Both teams got a win with the Steelers beat the Jaguars and the Broncos beat the Chargers. The late game that should garner interest is this one. The two teams have solid running games and can do well enough on defense. The Steelers pass offense should dominate the Broncos in the game but it could stay interesting.
Green Bay (4-5-1) @ Minnesota (5-4-1) (NBC): TW: Packers, CV: Vikings
Both teams took losses last week as the Packers lost to the Seahawks and the Vikings to the Bears. I would pick the Vikings in the game but I don't want to give any credit to the opposition. If the Vikings to win the game, I hope it gives reason to question Mike McCarthy and convince ownership to remove him from head coach. It could be Packer victory and I'll be happy with it. It's not like Aaron Rodgers has won in U.S. Bank Stadium ever.
Tennessee (5-5) @ Houston (7-3) (ESPN): TW: Texans, CV: Texans
The Titans lost to the Colts and the Texans beat the Redskins. The week finishes up with a decent matchup on Monday Night Football. The Titans could pull off an upset but I like the Texans still with their running game, their pass offense, and great defense. Could make Marcus Mariota's night a nightmare. Hopefully, the Texans win streak can continue.
Local TV Schedule (courtesy of 506sports.com, subject to change):
FOX Single:
NY Giants @ Philadelphia:
Thom Brennaman, Chris Spielman
CBS Early:
New England @ NY Jets
Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts
CBS Late:
Pittsburgh @ Denver
Jim Nantz, Tony Romo
For more info on which game is being played in your area, check out NFL Week 12 Maps
Records:
Tom (me)
2018:
Week 1: 10-5-1
Week 2: 6-9-1
Week 3: 8-8
Week 4: 12-3
Week 5: 6-9
Week 6: 10-5
Week 7: 10-4
Week 8: 11-3
Week 9: 9-4
Week 10: 7-7
Week 11: 8-5
Overall: 97-62-2
Cardinal Viking
2018:
Week 1: 8-7-1
Week 2: 9-6-1
Week 3: 5-11
Week 4: 9-6
Week 5: 9-6
Week 6: 6-9
Week 7: 12-2
Week 8: 10-4
Week 9: 8-5
Week 10: 9-5
Week 11: 7-6
Overall: 92-67-2
Enjoy your Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and the rest of the weekend. I'll be posting a recap column on Monday. Until then, see you guys!
-Tom
Edit #1: Included Cardinal Viking's picks and changed the Chargers record from 3-7 to 7-3, sorry Chargers fans. :(
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