"The Stack" 11-25-17
The Minnesota Vikings feasted on the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving to improve to 9-2.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Our normal Football Friday post got pushed back a day, but that’s okay. Hopefully you found some great deals Black Friday shopping. The first NFL game of the day on Thursday was by far the best with Case Keenum and the Minnesota Vikings racing out to a 27-10 lead in the third quarter only to see the Detroit Lions come roaring back. Matthew Stafford got going late in the first half and thanks to him and some very questionable officiating, the Lions trailed 30-23 when Stafford threw an interception on fourth down with three minutes to go and the Vikings would hold on to win by that same score. Wasn’t that a great touchdown celebration by the Vikings too? They are for real. The other two games were duds. The Los Angeles Chargers whooped up on the offensively challenged Dallas Cowboys 28-6 despite losing kicker Nick Novak with an injury. Their punter gave it the old college try, but to no avail. He was not very good…even missed the net on the sideline practicing. Philip Rivers was great throwing for 434 yards and three touchdowns. The nightcap was terrible too with Washington upending the New York Giants 20-10. Bad field conditions, bad offenses, bad games. Hopefully Sunday’s games will be better. Let’s get right to some previews and predictions in “the stack” for today, Saturday, November 25th:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Atlanta Falcons 1 PM ET FOX
Both teams have won two games in a row, but does anyone really take the Bucs seriously without Jameis Winston? The Falcons should still take them seriously, but with the way they have looked the last two weeks, I don’t think they should have any problems taking down the Bucs.
Prediction: Falcons 30 Bucs 17
Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals 1 PM ET CBS
Poor Browns. They have to win a game at some point right? I don’t think it is going to happen this week on the road in the Battle of Ohio against Andy Dalton and the Bengals who are coming off that road win at Denver last week.
Prediction: Bengals 31 Browns 17
Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis Colts 1 PM ET FOX
The Titans struggled last week at Pittsburgh, but with a little extra time off, I think they put things back on track on offense and defense against a Colts team that isn’t very good, even with a healthy Jacoby Brissett.
Prediction: Titans 26 Colts 16
Buffalo Bills @ Kansas City Chiefs 1 PM ET CBS
Bills head coach Sean McDermott is not doing anything stupid this week and acting like an insane moron (is that redundant?). Tyrod Taylor is starting at quarterback. That gives the Bills at least a fighting chance against the struggling Chiefs. That Bills defense has been pretty bad lately though. I think the Chiefs offense wakes up and takes down the Bills.
Prediction: Chiefs 34 Bills 20
Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots 1 PM ET CBS
Matt Moore is starting over Jay Cutler this week. Not sure how much more of a chance that gives the Dolphins to take down the Patriots. Jarvis Landry said in the offseason that the Dolphins would sweep the Patriots. As the Dolphins continue to struggle and after a blowout, we’ll see what Mr. Landry is saying.
Prediction: Patriots 37 Dolphins 17
Carolina Panthers @ New York Jets 1 PM ET FOX
The Panthers were playing really well heading into their bye week. With a huge matchup against the Saints coming up next week, the Panthers better not overlook a Jets team who continues to exceed expectations. I think Cam Newton and company survive.
Prediction: Panthers 24 Jets 13
Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles 1 PM ET FOX
Did I really see Eagles head coach Doug Pederson say that Trubisky can be Carson Wentz 2.0? Huh? Talk about respect. Wentz will show Trubisky just how far he has to go after the Eagles roll the Bears.
Prediction: Eagles 37 Bears 17
Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers 4:05 PM ET FOX
The Seahawks defense has been decimated with injuries over the last couple of weeks, but fortunately they go against a 49ers team that is very bad despite winning their first game of the year a couple of weeks ago. This is a game the Seahawks must win and they will.
Prediction: Seahawks 23 49ers 9
New Orleans Saints @ Los Angeles Rams 4:25 PM ET CBS
I’ve been going back and forth on this game all week. With Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore out for the game I know that will hurt the Saints defense. Jared Goff and the Rams are looking to show that last week’s game against the Vikings is not who they really are. If the Saints win this game, it’s going to be because of Drew Brees throwing it and not because of the running game. I’m siding with the Rams now….I think….for now.
Prediction: Rams 26 Saints 23
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Arizona Cardinals 4:25 PM ET CBS
Blaine Gabbert gets to go against his former team and while Jaguars safety Jalen Ramsey won’t play, the Jaguars defense is still going to make life miserable for Gabbert. Blake Bortles returns to the stadium that helped transcend his draft stock. You may recall he led UCF to a Fiesta Bowl victory back in the day. He won’t have quite as good of numbers, but he’ll still come out with the victory.
Prediction: Jaguars 20 Cardinals 13
Denver Broncos @ Oakland Raiders 4:25 PM ET CBS
Both teams fired a coordinator this week. The Broncos fired their offensive coordinator and the Raiders fired their defensive coordinator. Apparently there were some fights in Broncos practice this week so they are at least showing a little fight. With Paxton Lynch making his first start at quarterback, I don’t think he’s going to pick up a “W”. The Raiders offense will bounce back somewhat this week and the Raiders will pick up a win to keep applying mild pressure on the Chiefs for the AFC West.
Prediction: Raiders 27 Broncos 19
Green Bay Packers @ Pittsburgh Steelers 8:30 PM ET NBC
If Aaron Rodgers were playing, this game would be must-see television. He’s not though. The Packers wild card hopes remain alive though, but will take a hit after the Steelers roll up almost 40 on them despite not having JuJu Smith-Schuster in the lineup.
Prediction: Steelers 37 Packers 16
Coming up Monday: Week 12 NFL reaction plus MNF preview
Listen to this week's "The Sports Block" podcast here.
