Patriots (8-2) at Lions (2-8), 10:30 a.m.
Few AFC teams have run roughshod over the NFC like the Patriots have. New England has won 19 of the past 20 regular-season games against NFC teams. And this is not the matchup the battered Lions need at the moment.
With Matt Stafford at quarterback, Detroit was beginning to feel as if it finally could turn a corner from its annual struggles, but Stafford is out with a shoulder injury.
The difference will be if the Lions can muster a little holiday effort. They usually have found a way to make it a battle in these yearly Turkey Day affairs, but this is a lot to ask.
The Lions have a puncher’s chance given their pop in the return game. Stefan Logan is in the league’s top six in both kickoff and punt returns. They need turnovers and special-teams TDs.
The call: Patriots 28-16
Saints (7-3) at Cowboys (3-7), 2:15 p.m.
Jason Garrett has been a little more aggressive since being handed the interim label on his head coaching title with the Cowboys. That stands to reason since he’s trying to get the job full-time when most folks in the league believe owner Jerry Jones wants a “gotcha” name for the gig.
Garrett has led the team to two consecutive victories.
The difference will be if the Cowboys’ pass rush can disrupt Saints quarterback Drew Brees in any fashion. In his only previous start against the Cowboys, Brees was 26-of-38 passing for 384 yards and five TDs.
The Cowboys are a tough out on the holiday — 27-14-1 all-time on Thanksgiving — and have won four consecutive Thanksgiving games.
The call: Saints 31-28
Bengals (2-8) at Jets (8-2), 6:20 p.m.
The Jets are the masters of the close game this season — their last four victories have been by six points or less — and now have designs on the top seed in the AFC postseason race.
Bengals coach Marvin Lewis’ seat is getting warm as the Bengals are one of the most underachieving outfits in the league this season.
The difference will be if Lewis’ defense can force a mistake or two from Jets QB Mark Sanchez. Sanchez has played it by the numbers much of the time and has been able to make a play or two late in games when New York has needed it.
The trouble for opponents is the Jets don’t need all that much from him to win — New York is 11-2 in Sanchez’s starts when his passer rating is at least a middle-of-the-road 80.
The call: Jets 24-13
