Here’s what I’m thankful for as a football fan this year (with a side of what not to expect in week twelve).<\/p>\n
Green Bay (-8) at Detroit<\/b> Oakland (+13.5) at Dallas<\/b> NY Giants (-6) at Denver<\/b> Tampa Bay (+11.5) at Atlanta<\/b> Miami (-3) at Buffalo<\/b> Washington (+10) at Philadelphia<\/b> Seattle (-2.5) at St. Louis<\/b> Carolina (+3) at NY Jets<\/b> Cleveland (-14) at Cincinnati<\/b> Indianapolis (-3) at Houston<\/b> Kansas City (+13.5) at San Diego<\/b> Jacksonville (+3) at San Francisco<\/b> Chicago (+11) at Minnesota<\/b> Arizona (+1) at Tennessee<\/b> Pittsburgh (+1) at Baltimore<\/b> New England (+3) at New Orleans<\/b>
I’m thankful that I don’t have to play a division rival on a short week with a backup quarterback.<\/a> Packers by 10.<\/p>\n
I’m thankful for the fact that I don’t have to put real money on either of these teams. For fun, let’s say Dallas wins, Oakland covers.<\/p>\n
I’m thankful that the one potentially entertaining game on the Thanksgiving schedule is taking place in prime time. I like Denver to win it straight up, partly because I figure the Broncos’ skid can’t go on forever and partly because I have trouble believing a banged-up and inconsistent team can succeed after traveling most of the way across the country to play in Denver’s thin atmosphere on short rest.<\/p>\n
I’m thankful that I don’t root for a team that’s $30 million under the salary cap and thinks its biggest problem is that its been running the wrong defense<\/a> for 11 weeks. Falcons by 17.<\/p>\n
I’m thankful that I’m not part of a cash-strapped organization in hopelessly small market wasting my time on pie in the sky<\/a> head coach searches. Dolphins by a field goal.<\/p>\n
I’m thankful for not having to so much as pretend to be interested in figuring out whom Dan Snyder will waste his millions on next. Eagles win, Native Americans cover.<\/p>\n
I’m thankful that the NFC West is part of the NFC. And, you know, west. I’m also thankful that I’m not pinning any kind of hopes on Kyle Boller<\/a>. Seahawks by four.<\/p>\n
I’m thankful for teams that know the Super Bowl is played in February, not September, and that are coached by people who don’t feel “disrespected”<\/a> when opponents play to win. The Jets should be thankful to be catching a weak opponent, because it’s the only way these days that they end up winning. I’m gonna say by six.<\/p>\n
I’m thankful that I’m not a Cleveland Browns fan. Really, I feel for Browns fans. I do. They’re good folks (the ones I’ve met). And there but for the grace of the football gods, and all that. But wow. Just … wow. It never gets good, does it? Cincinnati by 17.<\/p>\n
I’m thankful for having figured out that while the Colts are surely going to drop a game at some point this season, it serves my purposes not one bit to keep trying to guess when it will come. Colts by two (or possibly not — but you didn’t hear that from me.)<\/p>\n
I’m thankful for the notion that the Chargers may land the four seed in the playoffs and a divisional round trip to Indianapolis. That’s always a fun matchup (though usually not for Indy.) Chargers by 10.<\/p>\n
I’m thankful that I don’t have to stress about whether my team can slow down Dave Garrard<\/a>, though I do suspect the Niners will figure something out. San Francisco by four.<\/p>\n
I’m thankful that, Brett Favre’s vote of confidence<\/a> notwithstanding, I didn’t mortgage my team’s future in a trade for Jay Cutler<\/a> this past off-season. Vikings by 10.<\/p>\n
I’m thankful that the Titans have found a way to bounce back from an awful start to become an entertaining team. Seriously, I am. Way too much packing it in after six weeks in the NFL this season, if you ask me. I still think the Cardinals win this game, mind you, but I credit (and thank) the Titans for continuing to fight.<\/p>\n
I’m thankful for feeling relatively confident that years from now, when Ben Roethlisberger is complaining about not having been protected back when he was too stupid to take care of himself<\/a>, I’ll probably be too old to get worked up about it. Ravens by three no matter who starts under center for Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n
I’m thankful for knowing that the Patriots defense is better than it gets credit for being, and that the Saints defense is a good bit worse than it’s perceived to be. This game comes down to turnovers. Two of them, both of which lead to points. New England, 41-27.<\/p>\n