Green Bay at Detroit
10:30 a.m., Packers by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Packers won 17-9 at Green Bay on Dec. 17, 2006
Eighteenth meeting vs. these two on Turkey Day. Lions lead series 11-5-1. Pack has won, count ’em, six straight on the road. Lions, meanwhile, have lost three in a row on Thanksgiving by an avg. score of 32-9. Brett Favre has won 11 of past 13 vs. Lions. But then, who hasn’t? Packers 30th in the loop in rushing, Lions 32nd. Motown leading the league with 30 takeaways, 15 fumble recoveries.
Prediction: Packers 34, Lions 23
N.Y. Jets at Dallas
2:15 p.m., Cowboys by 14
Last meeting: Cowboys won 17-6 at the Meadowlands on Sept. 28, 2003
Meeting of brothers here, with Jets TB Thomas Jones playing vs. Cowboys TB Julius Jones. Dallas LBs DeMarcus Ware (9.0) and Greg Ellis (6.5) have almost as many sacks as Jets (16). N.Y. had nine going into last weekend before terrorizing Pitt OL. Cahboas lead NFL’s Mortal Division (sans Pats) with 324 points scored. Jets WR Lavernanues Coles could miss this one. Dallas’ Jason Witten (696) one of four NFL TEs on pace for 1,000 receiving yards. Record is three in 1981, including Kellen Winslow, whose kid, K.W. Jr., is on target to lead league with 1,227.
Prediction: Cowboys 41, Jets 9
Indianapolis at Atlanta
6 p.m., Colts by 11 1/2
Last meeting: Colts won 38-7 at Indianapolis on Dec. 14, 2003
Who knew? Falcons QB Joey Harrington will start his sixth straight Turkey Day affair — four with Lions, one with Dolphins. So, do you get the impression he’s a journeyman? Peyton Manning in only Thanksgiving start: 23-of-28 passing, six TD tosses vs. Lions. Indy No. 3 in NFL in offense, Falcons 28th. Other than that, we’re talking epic matchup. Dirty Bird DE John Abraham, a target of Broncos’ trade overtures a coupla years ago, has seven sacks in past nine games.
Prediction: Colts 31, Falcons 20
