Our tasty previews and picks for the NFL’s holiday tripleheader | Opinion
NFL WEEK 13
GREG COTE’S THANKSGIVING DAY PICKS
Welcome to the NFL’s 14th year of Thanksgiving Day tripleheaders. The sport has managed to make itself as integral with this holiday as the Macy’s parade and me gaining 12 pounds in one eight-hour gorge.
The NFL’s first Thanksgiving game was in 1925, and the 1934 Lions-Bears was the first Bird Day game in league history to be nationally televised. I believe Tom Brady was a rookie that year.
Let’s feast on some picks!
BEARS (5-6) at LIONS (3-7-1)
Line: CHI by 3 1/2.
Cote’s pick: CHI 19-13.
TV: 12:30 p.m., Fox.
Not much of an appetizer here to start us off. Two teams out of the playoff chase and with lousy offenses whets the appetite like a beet salad. This is Detroit’s record 80th Bird game, Chicago’s 36th and the 18th between them. Bears beat Lions on the holiday last year and in Week 10 this season, both by a touchdown. Matthew Stafford is very likely out again and fill-in Jeff Driskel is hobbled by a hamstring tweak and being awful. We have reached a nadir in the art form when the best quarterback in a game is Mitchell Trubisky, but I will ride Bears’ defense to a road cover.
BILLS (8-3) at COWBOYS (6-5)
Line: DAL by 7.
Cote’s pick: DAL 23-17.
TV: 4:30 p.m., CBS.
If this is our day’s main course, it lives up pretty well, both for quality — and drama. Jerry Jones is not happy (again) and Jason Garrett’s seat is smoldering (again). So here’s what happens: Dallas shows up much better at home, as usual, and Garrett earns a reprieve until the next loss. This is Dallas’ 52nd Thanksgiving game, Buffalo’s ninth (first since 1994) and these teams’ first meeting on the holiday. Think the bet line disrespects Bills even as I fancy Dallas outright. Defense and that Devin Singletary/Frank Gore ground game should keep it close unless Josh Allen messes up.
SAINTS (9-2) at FALCONS (3-8)
Line: NO by 7.
Cote’s pick: NO 31-20.
TV: 8:20 p.m., NBC.
Not full of football yet? Dessert anyone? Atlanta as a 14-point dog stunned N’Awlins 26-9 in Week 10 but don’t look for a repeat. Falcons were back to Earth in getting utterly clobbered at home by Tampa Bay last week. This is only ATL’s fourth Thanksgiving game and NO’s third, with Saints beating Birds 31-17 a year ago. Big rivalry and Falcons’ erratic unpredictability make this a tough call. Birds D really hectored Drew Brees three weeks ago, and Saints’ O-line is a bit banged up. Still (and especially with Julio Jones iffy with a shoulder injury), give us Brees by double digits.
