NFL: Capsules for Thanksgiving Day games

Published: Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009 5:45 p.m. MST
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PACKERS AT LIONS

When: 10:35 a.m.

Line: Packers by 11.

Synopsis: Teams ravaged by injuries meet in the traditional Detroit turkey-day affair. The Packers will play without two of their top defensive players, CB Al Harris and LB Aaron Kampman, both of whom suffered a season-ending knee injury last week. Detroit probably will be without QB Matthew Stafford, who suffered a separated left (non-throwing) shoulder Sunday just before he threw his fifth TD pass of the game in a victory over Cleveland. Daunte Culpepper gets the call if Stafford is out. Detroit also probably will be without key WR Calvin Johnson (knee, hand ailments). Meanwhile, the Lions have been timid on Thanksgiving, losing 7 of 8 and the last 5 in a row by an average of 22 points.

PACKERS 32, LIONS 16.

RAIDERS AT COWBOYS

When: 2:15 p.m.

Line: Cowboys by 13 1/2.

Story continues below

Synopsis: Dallas did little offensively Sunday as Tony Romo played through a back injury, and the Cowboys were lucky to beat the Redskins a week after losing to the Packers. And now Dallas TE Jason Witten has a foot injury that could slow him or even sideline him altogether. Even so, there should be no letdown here as Oakland's upset of Cincy on Sunday should get the 'Boys' attention. The Raiders have just one victory away from home (at lowly KC) and have given up an average of 32 points in their 3 road losses. Even with Bruce Gradkowski now at QB for the Raiders and the offense healthy, this seems like a great spot for a Cowboys breakout, especially with Oakland DE Richard Seymour nursing a back injury that should slow him or keep him from playing at all.

PICK OF THE WEEK (to win and vs. point spread): COWBOYS 27, RAIDERS 10.

GIANTS AT BRONCOS

When: 8:20 p.m.

Line: Giants by 6 1/2.

Synopsis: Teams that are major disappointments collide. NY blew a late 2-TD lead last weekend before beating the Falcons in OT to snap a 4-game slide. And the stats are confounding for the Giants. They rank No. 2 in the league in yards allowed (282.2 per game) but are 24th in points allowed (23.5). Denver was manhandled by San Diego and fell for the 4th consecutive time and the offense has ground to a halt, averaging a meager 9.3 points during the skid. QB Kyle Orton is nursing a sore ankle but is expected to start here. NY is expected to have RB Brandon Jacobs starting after missing the late stages of Sunday's game because of a leg injury. His backup, Ahmad Bradshaw, won't play because of a sprained ankle.

GIANTS 24, BRONCOS 17.

Recent comments

The picks are all off. All the home teams will win this week....

Wrong | Nov. 25, 2009 at 5:57 p.m.

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