NFL 2011- Thanksgiving Week 12 Picks

Gobble...gobble...gobble...Week 12 of the NFL season kicks off on Thanksgiving Day with not one, not two, but three games on Thursday. The Detroit Lions have hosted a game on Thanksgiving Day every year (with the exception of World War II) since 1934, and the Dallas Cowboys since 1966. The Lions are a surprising 7-3 as they host the undefeated defending Super Bowl champs Green Bay in the early game. The Cowboys, at 6-4 are tied for first place in the NFC East with the New York Giants, and the Cowboys host the Miami Dolphins, winners of three straight after an 0-7 start, in the late afternoon/early evening game. The Thanksgiving Night game is an NFL first, as the first-ever game featuring two brothers as Head Coaches (Jim and John Harbaugh- or Harbaugh Bowl I) takes place at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, as the 9-1 San Francisco 49ers, winners of eight straight visit the Baltimore Ravens, tied for first in the AFC North at 7-3.

BIG GAME OF THE WEEK:
HARBAUGH BOWL I
San Francisco 49ers (9-1) at Baltimore Ravens (7-3)
The Ravens put on a show against the Bengals, as the Ravens made big plays to stay afloat in the AFC North division. The 49ers, at 9-1, have all-but won the NFC West, as they are six games ahead of anyone else in the NFC West, and if the 49ers win, they could be the first team to clinch a playoff spot as early as Sunday.
Pick: Baltimore 24, San Francisco 17

THANKSGIVING DAY CLASSICS:
Green Bay Packers (10-0) at Detroit Lions (7-3)
and
Miami Dolphins (3-7) at Dallas Cowboys (6-4)

**Do I need to repeat myself?**
Can anybody stop the Green Bay Packers? Can anybody beat the Green Bay Packers? The Detroit Lions would love to answer that question. The Lions, after a slow start, overcame Carolina with big play after big play on Sunday, and are looking to give the defending Super Bowl Champs their first loss of the 2011 season.

In the later game, the Dolphins, winners of three straight, head into Big D to play America's Team, and the Cowboys find themselves tied for first in the NFC East, after a sluggish start, due to big wins and the Giants Sunday night loss to the Eagles. This game is probably a mismatch, because Miami's wins were against Kansas City, Washington, and Buffalo.

Picks: Green Bay (45-7) and Dallas (35-10)

SUNDAY GAMES:
Cleveland Browns (4-6) at Cincinnati Bengals (6-4)
Can I say "trap game"? No matter the records, these games tend to be close, but the Bengals cannot afford a close game, if they want to keep up with Baltimore and Pittsburgh in the AFC North, whilst the Browns still have to play the aforementioned Ravens and Steelers not once, but twice.
Pick: Cincinnati 31, Cleveland 17

Carolina Panthers (2-8] at Indianapolis Colts (0-10)
Can the Colts finally win one? Can the Panthers finally win one? Find out...
Pick: Carolina 17, Indianapolis 10

Arizona Cardinals (3-7) at St. Louis Rams (2-8]
The Rams would like to avenge an early overtime loss to the Cardinals.
Pick: St. Louis 21, Arizona 16

Houston Texans (7-3) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3-7)
Pick: Houston 34, Jacksonville 7

Buffalo Bills (5-5) at New York Jets (6-4)
Pick: NY Jets 35, Buffalo 0

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6) at Tennessee Titans (5-5)
Pick: Tampa Bay 20, Tennessee 17 (OT)

Minnesota Vikings (2-8] at Atlanta Falcons (6-4)
Pick: Atlanta 33, Minnesota 13

Washington Redskins at Seattle Seahawks (both 3-7)
Pick: Seattle 27, Washington 13

Chicago Bears (7-3) at Oakland Raiders (6-4)
Pick: Chicago 24, Oakland 21

New England Patriots (7-3) at Philadelphia Eagles (4-6)
Pick: New England 42, Philadelphia 21

Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers (both 4-6)
Pick: San Diego 28, Denver 24

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3) at Kansas City Chiefs (5-5)
Pick: Pittsburgh 38, Kansas City 0

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
New York Giants (6-4) at New Orleans Saints (7-3)
Pick: New Orleans 31, NY Giants 20