A DOZEN 'LEFTOVERS' ON TURKEY-FILLED NFL WEEKEND
With turkey trimmings and receipts from Black Friday
shopping sitting in front of them, National Football League fans in the Excited
States will sit down Sunday and Monday for a dozen “leftovers” on the Week 12
regular-season menu. The Thanksgiving Thursday offerings served up a real turkey in New York where the Jets got totally stuffed by the New England Patriots 49-19, while the visiting Houston Texans outlasted the Detroit Lions 34-31 in overtime. In Dallas, the Cowboys' defence took the day off and were gunned down 38-31 by the explosive Washington Redskins.The highlight for New York football fans, besides the game ending, was a halftime show by Lenny Kravitz, who performed Like A Jet, but didn't bomb at MetLife Stadium like the NFL team. One has to wonder how long the Rex Ryan Show will run in Jetsville after that debacle.
By the way, Kid Rock sang in Detroit and Kenny Chesney performed in Dallas.
As for Sunday, there might be the occasional glance at the Sports Ticker on Sunday to see how their pigskin relatives in Hogtown – the Toronto Argonauts and Calgary Stampeders – are making out in the CFL’s 100th Grey Cup game, but it won’t compare to the serious channel surfing football-loving Canadians will be tackling.
TMZ, the best entertainment website in my bookmarks, has a
story on Olivia Manning (mom to quality quarterbacks Peyton and Eli) expressing her
difficulty on deciding which son to spend Thanksgiving weekend with. Peyton and
the Broncos play Sunday in Kansas City, while Eli’s Giants host the Green Bay
Packers. Hmmm, she’s puzzled deciding between New York or Kansas City? Wonder
if Olivia has a concussion history, too?
Methinks the Full Meal Deal on Sunday will be the
Packers-Giants' matchup starting at 5:15 p.m. in Vancouver, although the
49ers-Saints (1:30 p.m.) and
Seahawks-Dolphins (10 a.m.) will be tasty appetizers, too.
So, to avoid a delay of predications penalty, here are
Sunday’s picks:
The Situation: Bears’ quarterback Jay Cutler is unsure if
he’ll play Sunday as the voices inside his concussed head still sound like
flapping butterfly wings. Thirteen of the 14 pigskin pundits with ESPN.com say
Da Bears will win no matter who plays quarterback (Paging Ryan Leaf and Rob
Johnson, cleanup on Aisle 2 please)!
Gord’s Great Guess: Da Bears to sink the Wobbly Ship Vikings
in a close game (six or less point spread) with defence being the difference at
Soldier Field.
The Situation: I want to like the Raiders. Maybe it’s
because a fan base that dresses like KISS on game day deserves some love. And I
remember when we used to mock the Bingo Bango Bengals for being a sad-sack
squad. Not anymore.
Gord’s Great Guess: Bengals to blitz the Raiders by at least
10 points.
The Situation: I think the parking attendant is playing
quarterback for the Steelers with Ben Alphabet and his backup both banged up
and unable to start. This is an opportunity for the low-scoring Browns to score
just enough to record the victory. And, what’s up with the Steelers’ retro
jerseys? They have established a new standard for ugliness. Even Anna
Kournakova would look bad wearing one of those rugby-wannabe inmate jerseys that are an embarrassment to bumblebees everywhere.
Gord’s Great Guess: Browns win, barely, in an ugly game no
matter what the Steelers are wearing.
Buffalo Bills at Indianapolis Colts
The Situation: Rookie quarterback Andrew Luck is the real
deal for the Colts and he should get a chance to prove that, again, against the
defensively suspect Bills, who are not the greatest road warriors.
Gord’s Great Guess: Colts will beat the Bills by at least 9
points. In other words the Bison won’t be risin’ to the challenge in windy
Indy.
The Situation: Peyton Manning has the Broncos on a roll and
insiders are already pointing in Denver’s direction when discussing potential Super Bowl
sleepers.
Gord’s Great Guess: Whether the Chiefs are called KC or KFC,
they’re plucked this weekend. Broncos to win by at least eight.
The Situation: Both teams can’t afford to lose. The Seahawks
are usually like Saskatchewan gophers on the road (guaranteed to be flattened), while Miami is 2-2 at home. My heart says the Hawks, my wallet says the
Dolphins. But my gut says Seattle wants it more and the Dolphins’ offence
produces less than Canada Post on weekends.
Gord’s Great Guess: Seahawks win, but barely. Maybe a late
field goal decides it. For Pete’s (Coach Carroll) sake, I hope I’m right on
this coin-flip decision.
The Situation: Even though the Dirty Birds are 9-1, their
offence lately has been missing in action. Yet, on paper, they have way more
stars than the Bucs. This game is dangerous for Atlanta because they are supposed
to beat Tampa Bay and, therefore, it’s even tougher to get cranked up for that
assignment.
Gord’s Great Guess: Matt Ryan will be on a personal mission
to erase last week’s disaster (he threw five interceptions and no TD passes in
a so-so win over Arizona). Falcons will win, by six points or more.
The Situation: Both teams can be hotter than a Victoria
Secret model, and colder than your wife finding the Victoria Secret calendar in
your pillowcase. (Bad hiding spot, according to my co-blogging brother!)
Gord’s Great Guess: Jags tip Titans in closest game of the
day. Field goal will decide it, and maybe in overtime.
The Situation: Don’t want to say the Chargers are desperate,
but rumour has it they’re putting scarecrows in the end zones this weekend
because the Ravens are in town. The smart money is on Baltimore, the unsure
money is on San Diego. Some experts suggest this game is the upset special of
the weekend and believe the Chargers can win.San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints
The Situation: Drew Brees and the Saints are hot, while the
49ers will start Colin Kaepernick at quarterback after he directed San Fran to
a 32-7 victory over Da Bears last Monday in place of Alex Smith.
Gord’s Great Guess: Saints march past 49ers in a tight game,
decided by six points or less.
The Situation: Good time on Sunday to catch up on your sleep.
Both teams are like fighters without a knockout punch. But at least the
Cardinals have playoff hopes.
Gord’s Great Guess: Cardinals by six points or more to win.
Green Bay Packers at New York Giants
The Situation: To me this is Sunday’s finest offering,
albeit the Giants have been flatter than pancakes for the past couple of weeks.
Is this the weekend the Giants rise?
Gord’s Great Guess: Most of the experts are picking the
Packers to prevail over the Giants. I have a hunch they won’t. I’m picking the Giants
to rebound and win by 3 or more in a classic dogfight.
THE MONDAY NIGHTER
Carolina Panthers at Philadelphia Eagles
The Situation: When schedule-makers drew this one up in the
off-season it had potential to be a top-rated showdown. Instead, it’s two
under-achievers looking to rediscover some pride down the stretch.
Gord’s Great Guess: Because the game is in Philly, the
Eagles will win, perhaps a 27-17 kind of game.
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