NFL Tips and Previews, Week 12
Lions vs. Bills
November 25th
Recently, it has become somewhat of a running joke that Detroit is not worthy of a Thanksgiving Day slot. But with three consecutive wins behind them, they are one of the most intriguing teams. Add to that the recent inconsistent form of Buffalo, and some are wondering if what not long ago would have been the most unlikely result possible may happen.
The Lions have been playing accountable football, not conceding one turnover in last week’s win over the Giants, with an impressive O-Line giving Jared Goff plenty of protection.
Add to that a vastly-improved defensive game with Aidan Hutchinson coming into his own, and Detroit is suddenly a challenging prospect.
Buffalo put aside a couple of poor performances to see off Cleveland last week with a two-pronged running attack led by Devin Singletary and James Cook finding some solid rhythm. Their defensive game also held up, with Matt Milano leading the way. Expect them to continue their return to the winner’s list and overcome a resurgent Detroit here.
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Cowboys vs. Giants
November 25th
The Cowboys have also had recent times when their status as a Thanksgiving Day fixture has been doubted. There are no doubts about how watchable they are now.
Dallas followed a soul-crushing loss to Green Bay with an absolute thrashing of the NFL’s hot team Minnesota. Tony Pollard continues to cement himself as their number-one running player and should cause all sorts of trouble. At the same time, defensive star Micah Parsons has declared himself ready to go after leaving the game through injury.
New York has slipped in recent weeks after a solid first half of the season and will be desperate to claw their way back to the winner’s board against their NFC East rivals.
Both teams have a 7-3 record, and this game is vital to their playoff hopes.
If the Giants are to be any show, they need more on the offensive game from Quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley, who were both below par in last week’s loss to Detroit. Expect Dallas to get the jump on them this week and edge ahead in the standings.
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Eagles vs. Packers
November 28th
Unbeaten in its first eight games, the past two weeks have seen the Eagles’ wings clipped a little. They almost let last week’s game against Indianapolis slip until Jalen Hurts stepped up with a scrambling touchdown.
Some personnel changes to their defensive team looked to have them a little unstable early until things clicked for them, with Brandon Graham claiming a crucial sack. The slow starts might not be sustainable against a Packers outfit that has had issues this season but has shown bursts of what they once were.
Aaron Rodgers has stepped up after an indifferent first half of the season, but questions remain around the weapons at his disposal. One rising star he is targeting is rookie Christian Watson, one of the NFL’s best receivers in recent weeks. Look for Rodgers to hit him up early and the Packers to jump out of the blocks. The question is whether they can sustain it against a Philly team that knows how to win under any circumstance.
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Colts vs. Steelers
November 29th
Any doubts about Jeff Saturday’s appointment as Indianapolis’ head coach have eased after an impressive effort against the Eagles last week.
Saturday has the Indy D running hot, with a big game from Yannick Ngakoue, who will lick his lips at the chance to take on Pittsburgh. Kenny Pickett has been OK without setting the world on fire under centre, while George Pickens has cemented himself as the Steelers’ number one receiver.
T.J. Watt is still their biggest threat in defense, and while he hasn’t had a truly outstanding performance since returning from injury, it does feel like it’s not too far off and could come this week.
The Colts’ offense relies heavily on Jonathan Taylor, and if he can keep going on his current trajectory, it should be enough for them to get back on the winner’s board.
