By now, if you’re a frequent visitor to The Wife Hates Sports, you are familiar with the “Pick Your Knows” segment and the grand experiment that features yours truly facing off against THE WIFE, the Sports Chump, a simple coin flip and a weekly special guest.

But we are all entertaining on Thanksgiving and family is up for a visit.  To this point, I need to complete the full slate of picks.  I would like to get my Thanksgiving Day selections over to you first (in a separate post).  Otherwise, they will be over and done with.

Here they are, a trio of holiday picks and a simple wish to you:  HAPPY THANKSGIVING to you and yours!  As always, THANK YOU for visiting The Wife Hates Sports and thank you for popping by to talk sports with me.

Matthew Stafford leads the Detroit Lions offense

Matthew Stafford faces the struggling Eagles on Thanksgiving

NFL Week 12: Thanksgiving Day Picks

Philadelphia Eagles at Detroit Lions (+1.5)

The Eagles have more talent, but this Philly team is clearly living in gravy-thick turmoil.  It is nothing but rumblings regarding the fate of Chip Kelly.  Hint: Plenty of people are already placing Chip in one of the many open college football jobs in 2016.  That leaves the Lions, headlined by an offense that features Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson.  Detroit’s dynamic duo should have success against an Eagles defense that while ranked 16th against the pass (245.9 ypg), has given up 20 TD’s through the air.  Detroit’s pass ‘D’ has just 4 INT’s on the season, but the butt fumblin’ Mark Sanchez is good for a few major errors per game.  Toss in the Lions playing at home on Thanksgiving and I’ll take Detroit to win outright.

KP’s Pick: Detroit Lions

Carolina Panthers at Dallas Cowboys (+1.5)

happy-thanksgiving-turkey

Thanksgiving Day Picks: Happy Turkey Day from The Wife Hates Sports!

As per the holiday tradition, the Cowboys get the home game (as the Lions do).  With that honor (and Romo under center), many like Dallas to knock Carolina from the ranks of the unbeaten.  Translation: Cam Newton and the Panthers continue to be disrespected, despite a 10-0 start (the best in franchise history).  Sure, Romo and Dez Bryant add a star-filled element to the Dallas offense, but each faces a major challenge against a Carolina defense that is ranked 7th against the pass (228.3 ypg) with more INT’s (15) than TD’s allowed (12).  If one thinks Darren McFadden could benefit, well, the Panthers are also ranked in the top ten against the run.  Yes, I clearly doubted the Panthers at the beginning of the year (as I have admitted to recently) and I’m riding that Carolina-blue bandwagon until they falter.   

KP’s Pick: Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers (-9.5)

It’s Thanksgiving night at Lambeau Field and the Packers will be honoring Brett Favre.  There’s not enough tryptophan in the world to suck the energy out of that event.  Also, despite being one of the best rivalries in the NFL, there won’t be enough in Chicago’s tank to deflate that moment, either.  For good measure, throw in Alshon Jeffery being banged up (again) and Aaron Rodgers ready to build off the momentum created from last week’s big win over the Vikings.  Expect a heaping helping of pass statistics and with the Bears likely shorthanded, I’ll take the Packers to kick off the holiday season right.  Green Bay covers.    

KP’s Pick: Green Bay Packers

The rest of the Week 12 picks can be found here!