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ATLANTA FALCONS -3 -113 @ DETROIT LIONS
Atlanta (6-4) at Detroit (4-6) @ 12:30 PM. EST. *FOX Network.
When the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions pull up a seat to their Thanksgiving dinner tables on Thursday evening, both would like to be able to give thanks for a win.
The Falcons and Lions, who will face off at Ford Field in the first game of Thursday's holiday double-header, are both in dire need of a trip to the left side of the win-loss column.
Atlanta comes into its Week 12 tilt fresh off back-to-back home losses to the Packers (33-25) and Buccaneers (30-27), defeats that have dropped Jim Mora's team a game back in the both the NFC South and Wild Card races. The Falcons, who will be playing on Thanksgiving Day for the first time in franchise history, are in danger of missing the postseason, with trips to face Carolina (7-3), Chicago (7-3), and Tampa Bay (7-3) still remaining on the docket.
Also looking to pick up some ground will be the Lions, who suffered their third loss in four games by dropping a 20-7 decision in Dallas last Sunday. Steve Mariucci's team, which was playing for sole possession of first place as recently as Week 8, has now fallen three games back of the division-leading Bears in the NFC North. The Lions, who have also lost three of their last four Thanksgiving Day games, currently reside in third place in the division, a game behind second-place Minnesota.
SERIES HISTORY
The Lions lead the all-time series with Atlanta, 22-8, and were 17-10 road winners when the teams last met, in Week 5 of the 2004 season. Detroit also took the last matchup between the two in the Motor City, a 13-10 win in 2000. The Falcons' most recent win in the series came in 2002, at home, and they last won in Detroit during the 1998 season.
Mariucci is 8-4 in his career against the Falcons, including a 7-4 mark while with San Francisco (1997-2002). Mariucci's most memorable confrontation with Atlanta took place in a 1998 NFC Divisional Playoff, when his Niner team took a 20-18 loss. Mora, who served on Mariucci's staff from 1997 to 2002, is 0-1 against both his former boss and the Lions.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
The Lions have injury concerns on both sides of the football, and their defensive problems are particularly unsettling when considering all the weapons that the Falcons have in their offensive arsenal. Whether Harrington or Garcia takes the snaps for Detroit is immaterial, since the Lions' o-line is still horrendous. Look for Atlanta to come out focused in a must-win situation and to run the ball effectively in a winning effort.
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DENVER BRONCOS @ DALLAS COWBOYS +3 -104
Denver (8-2) at Dallas (7-3) @ 4:15 PM. EST. *CBS Network
Don't expect the Denver Broncos and Dallas Cowboys to be in a congenial holiday mood on Thursday, when the two will face off in the second game of the day's Thanksgiving double-header.
This game is far too important to include any niceties.
The Broncos/Cowboys matchup figures to have much to say about the NFL's postseason picture, with both teams entering Week 12 as first-place clubs.
Visiting Denver currently resides alone atop the AFC West, and brings a three- game winning streak into Texas Stadium. The Broncos blanked the Jets, 27-0, last week, maintaining a two-game advantage on both Kansas City and San Diego in the AFC West.
Dallas, meanwhile, sits in a tie for first along with the New York Giants in the NFC East, and can gain a half-game edge over the G-Men with a win on Thursday. The Giants will play at Seattle on Sunday. The Cowboys have also won three in a row, extending their winning streak by taking down the Lions, 20-7, last week.
Bill Parcells' team will be playing its third game in 11 days.
SERIES HISTORY
The all-time regular season series between the Cowboys and Broncos is knotted at four games apiece, and Denver evened the series by winning the two most recent matchups. The Broncos went to Dallas to score a 26-24 victory in a Thanksgiving Day game during the 2001 season, which marks the last head-to- head meeting between the clubs. Dallas' last win in the series came in 1995 at home.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
The Cowboys, who have a strong pass rush and stop the run well, have as good a chance as anyone to take Denver out of its efficient, ball-control, mistake- free offensive approach. On the other side of the football, meanwhile, the veterans Bledsoe, Glenn, and Keyshawn Johnson should be able to make some headway against a couple of green d-backs that are part of a group that has shown a propensity for giving up aerial yards this year. Look for Dallas, which matches up better than most against Denver, to put together the perfect game plan to end the Broncos' win streak.
Atlanta (6-4) at Detroit (4-6) @ 12:30 PM. EST. *FOX Network.
When the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions pull up a seat to their Thanksgiving dinner tables on Thursday evening, both would like to be able to give thanks for a win.
The Falcons and Lions, who will face off at Ford Field in the first game of Thursday's holiday double-header, are both in dire need of a trip to the left side of the win-loss column.
Atlanta comes into its Week 12 tilt fresh off back-to-back home losses to the Packers (33-25) and Buccaneers (30-27), defeats that have dropped Jim Mora's team a game back in the both the NFC South and Wild Card races. The Falcons, who will be playing on Thanksgiving Day for the first time in franchise history, are in danger of missing the postseason, with trips to face Carolina (7-3), Chicago (7-3), and Tampa Bay (7-3) still remaining on the docket.
Also looking to pick up some ground will be the Lions, who suffered their third loss in four games by dropping a 20-7 decision in Dallas last Sunday. Steve Mariucci's team, which was playing for sole possession of first place as recently as Week 8, has now fallen three games back of the division-leading Bears in the NFC North. The Lions, who have also lost three of their last four Thanksgiving Day games, currently reside in third place in the division, a game behind second-place Minnesota.
SERIES HISTORY
The Lions lead the all-time series with Atlanta, 22-8, and were 17-10 road winners when the teams last met, in Week 5 of the 2004 season. Detroit also took the last matchup between the two in the Motor City, a 13-10 win in 2000. The Falcons' most recent win in the series came in 2002, at home, and they last won in Detroit during the 1998 season.
Mariucci is 8-4 in his career against the Falcons, including a 7-4 mark while with San Francisco (1997-2002). Mariucci's most memorable confrontation with Atlanta took place in a 1998 NFC Divisional Playoff, when his Niner team took a 20-18 loss. Mora, who served on Mariucci's staff from 1997 to 2002, is 0-1 against both his former boss and the Lions.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
The Lions have injury concerns on both sides of the football, and their defensive problems are particularly unsettling when considering all the weapons that the Falcons have in their offensive arsenal. Whether Harrington or Garcia takes the snaps for Detroit is immaterial, since the Lions' o-line is still horrendous. Look for Atlanta to come out focused in a must-win situation and to run the ball effectively in a winning effort.
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DENVER BRONCOS @ DALLAS COWBOYS +3 -104
Denver (8-2) at Dallas (7-3) @ 4:15 PM. EST. *CBS Network
Don't expect the Denver Broncos and Dallas Cowboys to be in a congenial holiday mood on Thursday, when the two will face off in the second game of the day's Thanksgiving double-header.
This game is far too important to include any niceties.
The Broncos/Cowboys matchup figures to have much to say about the NFL's postseason picture, with both teams entering Week 12 as first-place clubs.
Visiting Denver currently resides alone atop the AFC West, and brings a three- game winning streak into Texas Stadium. The Broncos blanked the Jets, 27-0, last week, maintaining a two-game advantage on both Kansas City and San Diego in the AFC West.
Dallas, meanwhile, sits in a tie for first along with the New York Giants in the NFC East, and can gain a half-game edge over the G-Men with a win on Thursday. The Giants will play at Seattle on Sunday. The Cowboys have also won three in a row, extending their winning streak by taking down the Lions, 20-7, last week.
Bill Parcells' team will be playing its third game in 11 days.
SERIES HISTORY
The all-time regular season series between the Cowboys and Broncos is knotted at four games apiece, and Denver evened the series by winning the two most recent matchups. The Broncos went to Dallas to score a 26-24 victory in a Thanksgiving Day game during the 2001 season, which marks the last head-to- head meeting between the clubs. Dallas' last win in the series came in 1995 at home.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
The Cowboys, who have a strong pass rush and stop the run well, have as good a chance as anyone to take Denver out of its efficient, ball-control, mistake- free offensive approach. On the other side of the football, meanwhile, the veterans Bledsoe, Glenn, and Keyshawn Johnson should be able to make some headway against a couple of green d-backs that are part of a group that has shown a propensity for giving up aerial yards this year. Look for Dallas, which matches up better than most against Denver, to put together the perfect game plan to end the Broncos' win streak.