NFL 2022 Week 12 Thanksgiving Prequel
Thanksgiving Thursday, November 24, 2022, 12:30pm
Buffalo Bills (-9) at Detroit Lions — The Lions have quietly won three games in a row. The Lions also have no defense. The Bills have too many weapons on offense and defense. The Bills are playing in Detroit for the second straight week after beating Cleveland there when a snowstorm moved their game. A garbage touchdown to beat the spread is highly possible. Bills win but fail to cover
4:30pm
New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys (-9) — The Cowboys obliterated a good Minnesota team by 37 points. The Giants have lost two straight, including an embarrassing home loss to Detroit. The Giants may have overachieved, and they are injured. Cowboys cover
8pm
New England Patriots at Minnesota Vikings (-3) — The Vikings were humiliated at home by 37 points while the Patriots needed a punt return touchdown in the final five seconds to break a 3-3 tie over the Jets. Look for the Vikings to overcome last week’s humiliation. The Patriots defense is good, but the Vikings have plenty of offensive firepower. Vikings cover
Sunday, November 27, 1pm
Denver Broncos (-2.5) at Carolina Panthers — Both of these teams are a mess. The Broncos gave away the game last week against the hated Raiders with miserable play-calling down the stretch. The Panthers keep playing musical chairs at quarterback. Last week Baker Mayfield replaced an injured PJ Walker. This week Sam Darnold returns from injury and gets the start. The Broncos have a very good defense and no offense. Even the slightest offense will beat the Panthers. A loss could get Nathaniel Hackett fired. This is the rematch of Super Bowl 50. It’s hard to take the Broncos on the road, but the Panthers are also a mess. Broncos cover
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3) at Cleveland Browns — The Buccaneers appear to have righted their ship. The Browns are sinking. This is just a case of a talent mismatch. Tom Brady seems to have corrected his issues from a few weeks ago and the team has string together consecutive win. Buccaneers cover
Baltimore Ravens (-4) at Jacksonville Jaguars — This is another mismatch on paper. Lamar Jackson leads a Ravens team rounding into playoff form. The Jaguars are improving but a year away from being competitive consistently. The Jaguars will not be able to stop Jackson. Ravens cover
Houston Texans at Miami Dolphins (-12) — The Texans are the worst team in the league. The Dolphins have a very good defense and a quarterback in Tua Tagovailoa who is playing lights out. This could get ugly early. Dolphins cover
Chicago Bears at New York Jets (-6) — Both of these teams find creative ways to lose games. Robert Saleh has benched Zach Wilson and is giving Mike White the start. Justin Fields shows flashes, but does not put a complete game together. The Jets have a very good defense. The spread is too high given the Jets dysfunction on offense. Jets win but fail to cover
Cincinnati Bengals (-1 1/2) at Tennessee Titans — This is a rematch of last year’s playoff slobberknocker where the Bengals gutted out a 19-16 road win. The Titans are burning for revenge. Expect another street fight. Mike Vrabel is going to keep it stone age by pounding the rock and playing defense. As good as Joe Burrow is, the Tennessee defense sacked him nine times in their playoff game. The Titans get their revenge. Upset special, Titans win outright
Atlanta Falcons at Washington Commanders (-3 1/2) — The Commanders have quietly won five of their last six games. The Falcons won a thriller over Chicago last week but are too inconsistent. Marcus Mariota is not playing badly, but Taylor Heinecke has been playing very well. As expected under Ron Rivera, the Commanders are improving on defense. Commanders win but fail to cover
4pm
Los Angeles Chargers (-3 1/2) at Arizona Cardinals — Both of these teams find ways to lose games. These are underachieving teams. Justin Herbert has more weapons than Kyler Murray. Both of these coaches seem to be overrated. Until the Cardinals fix their problems, they do not deserve the benefit of the doubt. Chargers cover
Las Vegas Raiders at Seattle Seahawks (-4) — The Raiders finally won a game against a Denver team as bad or worse than they are. Now back to reality. The Seahawks are well-coached and have talented playmakers on offense. The Raiders have no defense. This will be a blowout. Seahawks cover
Los Angeles Rams at Kansas City Chiefs (-15 1/2) — The Rams won a 54-51 pinball game in 2018. Yet the Chiefs are as good as ever and the Rams are flailing. Yet the spread is ridiculous, especially since the chiefs have been winning close games. Chiefs win but fail to cover
New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers (-8 1/2) — The Saints are struggling, but the 49ers are inconsistent from week to week. Jimmy Garoppolo has plenty of weapons in George Kittle and Deebo Samuel, but the spread is too high given the quality of the Saints defense. 49ers win but fail to cover
8pm
Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles (-7) — The Eagles are 9-1 but have struggled the last two weeks. The Packers are 1-6 in their last seven games. Aaron Rodgers is yelling at everyone but they are still losing. Given the problems the Eagles are having on offense, expect a closer game than the high spread predicts. Eagles win but fail to cover
Monday, November 28, 8pm
Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis Colts (-2 1/2) — Both of these teams are having a tough year. Jeff Saturday has lit a fire under the Colts the last two weeks, taking Philadelphia to the limit. Jacoby Brissett is competent and Kenny Pickett is still learning. In the dome, the bolts offense should have enough efficiency for a win. Colts cover