[Impy]

Yeah, sorry, it's me again. Bender told me to tell you he's really looking forward to getting back in the saddle when he feels better. He really misses yall.

Until then

Today we have a guest with a very special announcement, please welcome former Bears placekicker Connor Barth. Connor, I understand you were cut yesterday after missing that potential game-tier on Sunday.

"That's right, Impy, and I'm gonna get cut in a different way tomorrow, you see I'm donating my legs to a wounded warrior who will put them to far better use than I ever could!"

Wow, that's quite a noble sacrifice, Connor. Who's the lucky recipient?

"That would be me."

Hey there, where did you lose your legs, soldier?

"Mustafar."

Oh, that's near Fallujah, right?

"Um......yes, that's correct. So anyhow I've been using these high-tech replacments, my movement is clunky, they take forever to recharge, and they add like a foot to my height. I had to spend a small fortune on a custom order mattress and I can't tell you how many times I've hit my head getting into the car, it really stinks."

Well, thanks to Connor, you have a lot to be thankful for!

"Just one thing, I'll still be able to kick around a soccer ball with my pain in the arse grandson , right?"

"Absolutely! Just maybe aim a little to the left of where you want the ball to go, or sometimes a little to the right."

So, Thanksgiving, that means lots of Thursday action on the gridiron. It's a longstanding tradition, watching the Lions lose, and the Cowboys win. What are your plans, obviously not at all photoshopped attractive blonde Bears fan?

"I go by Belly Button Chick now, it's a lot easier to type. I'm gonna watch the Lions win and the Cowboys lose, sitting on the couch next to you, very good looking man who is definitely not holding me prisoner in his basement."

Hey, when you say it like that people might think I'm not actually good looking! So, who are our local boys playing on Sunday? Cleveland?

"No, that's Christmas Eve, this week is @ Philly."

Ah f%^&!

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

[Impy]

Bender's NFL Thread: Ping

Get your Turkey Day picks in.

[PAR35]

Shouldn’t this be posted as a caucus thread in the Religion section?

[rlmorel]

I miss reading your threads, bender! (thanks for posting, Impy!)

Bender, get will and back in the saddle!

[Enterprise]

If I'm really really good, will Santa leave belly button girl in my stocking? Please?

And why, oh why, do I keep letting Seattle embarrass me? I don't even LIKE that team!

[Enterprise]

After all my whining, I HAVE to pick Seattle again. Ewwww.

Minnesota
Chargers
Washington
Kansas City
Carolina
Philadelphia
Cincinnati
New England (Five star lock of the week. Call now and get two picks free!)
Atlanta
Tennessee
Seattle
Oakland
Jacksonville
New Orleans
Pittsburgh
Baltimore

[al_c]

Lions
I still believe in the Cowboys.
Deadskins
Chiefs
Panthers
Philly
Cincy
Patsies
Falcons
Oilers
Seahags
Raiders
Jags
Rams
Stillers
Texans

[L,TOWM]

Detroit
Dallas
Washington
Kansas City
Carolina
Philadelphia
Cleveland
New England
Atlanta
Tennessee
Seattle
Oakland
Jacksonville
New Orleans
Pittsburgh
Baltimore

[RayChuang88]

Here's the problem: outside of the Patriots, Steelers, Eagles and maybe the Vikings and Saints, are there any teams that are actually capable of winning the Super Bowl now? (shrug)

[pepsi_junkie]

Busy week so I'm going to get my picks in early for once, just in case the turkey escapes from the gallows and I need to go hunt him down. That's very time consuming.

• Minnesota at Detroit: Minnesota is hot but one of their only two losses was to the Lions. It's a short week and Minnesota is on the road but can Detroit really sweep the Vikes? So much for the waffling, here comes the prediction: Vikings Win
• L.A. Chargers at Dallas: Fun fact: The Seahawks punter completed a pass for -4 yards this week, walking away with a higher QB rating than Dak Prescott got against the Eagles. He still won't have Zeke, might have his LT back. But after getting squashed in a "must win" game I expect the Cowboys to fold the tent. Chargers win
• N.Y. Giants at Washington: The Giants have quit on their coach and the 'Skins just blew a game in epic fashion. But the 'Skins are the better team, especially at home. Redskins win
• Buffalo at Kansas City: Kansas City continued their freefall with a weak performance and loss against a terrible Giants team. But KC is always a tough place to play for opposing teams and the Bills QB situation is horrendous. Chefs win
• Carolina at N.Y. Jets: Panthers are hot and cold, most recently hot but coming off a bye week. Can they shake off the rust and recapture their momentum? Yup, Jets are mediocre at best. Panthers win
• Chicago at Philadelphia: The Eagles have some challenges ahead with facing both the Rams and Seahags on the road but taking on the Bears at home isn't one of those challenges. Eagles Win
• Cleveland at Cincinnati: Since passing on Carson Wentz in the draft, the Browns are 1-25. That doesn't get better this week. Bungles win
• Miami at New England: With the Jets, the Bills, and the Dolhins twice every year, the Pats basically get six "gimme" wins year after year. Miami isn't going to change that this year. Patriots win
• Tampa Bay at Atlanta: Atlanta dodged a bullet but they won in a hostile environment last week and at home against a sad Tampa team they look to continue their climb back into the playoff hunt. Falcons win
• Tennessee at Indianapolis: Indy would need a lot of Luck to win this one (see what I did there? Boom!) but he ain't playing. Titans win
• Seattle at San Francisco: Seattle D is depleated and coming off an emotional loss at home but lucky for them they get to take on a terrible 49ers team just when they really need a win to keep their wildcard hopes alive. Seahags win
• Denver at Oakland: I don't beleive in Oakland but Denver on the road with horrible QB play is just not something I can pick. Raiders win
• Jacksonville at Arizona: I got nothing for this one.Jaguars win
• New Orleans at L.A. Rams: Time to find out if that Saints D is for real. Having to fight back against an incompetent Redskins team at home doesn't bode well for their prospects here against a much tougher Rams club. I say Rams win
• Green Bay at Pittsburgh: Sorry, ghost of Lombardi. The ROdgers-less Pack isn't on the same level as the Steelers. Steelers Win
• Houston at Baltimore: Houston is a heavy favorite in this one, mostly because Baltimore is just plain bad this year. With a scrub at QB and their best defensive player out for the year Houston isn't going anywhere this season but they do win it in Baltimore because someone has to. Texans Win

[Rummyfan]

Wow! Coming off a 9 - 4 week.... How did the Giants beat the Chiefs?! I don't feel so bad about that one though - just about everyone else got it wrong too. C'est la vie in the NFL! So here we go on Thanksgiving weekend picks - a football extravaganza!

Thursday, Nov 23, 2017 (All times Eastern)

Minnesota at Detroit 12:30 pm FOX Ford Field After that throttling of the Lambs last week, I must conclude that the Vikings are for real!. Even with Case Keenum at QB. Or maybe because of Case Keenum at QB. And, uncharacteristically, the Lions have been coming on too. But this game will separate one pretender from one contender. Despite the Lions great record in T-Day games, I like Minnesota. Vikings.

L.A. Chargers at Dallas 4:30 pm CBS AT&T Stadium How about that whooping the Bolts laid on the Bills last Sunday?! I don't think Dak Prescott is going to be so accommodating by throwing four first-half picks. The 'Boys are in trouble true, but can still put up a fight. Why am I such a patsy for the Chargers? Who knows... Chargers.

N.Y. Giants at Washington 8:30 pm NBC FedEx Field The G-Men showed some life on Sunday with the win over KC. The 'Skins meantime, since a huge road win at Seattle, have lost two straight, including a back-breaker to Drew Brees and the Saints. I like them to recover a little bit here though, keeping them on life-support as far as the postseason is concerned. Redskins.

Sunday, Nov 26, 2017

Buffalo at Kansas City 1:00 pm CBS Arrowhead Stadium KC.... a 5 - 0 start followed by a 1 - 4 stretch. And the Bills.... well, last week showed they are not a very good road team. And I guess the Peterson experiment is over (I think it was over at halftime last week). Still, I expect Andy Reid will right things for the Chiefs in order to make a playoff run. And that starts this Sunday! Chiefs.

Carolina at N.Y. Jets 1:00 pm FOX MetLife Stadium Panthers are rounding into form while Gang Green are just too inconsistent (losing to Tampa Bay?! C'mon!). Panthers.

Chicago at Philadelphia 1:00 pm FOX Lincoln Financial Field Eagles are on a major roll, and I don't see the Bears and Trubisky doing anything to slow that down. The party continues in Philly, where Carson Wentz is the greatest thing since the invention of the cheese steak, or Steve Carlton (Richie Ashburn?). Eagles.

Cleveland at Cincinnati 1:00 pm CBS Paul Brown Stadium Browns teased last week and came oh-so-close. And I thinks the Bengals may just play badly enough to let the Browns get that elusive W. So here ya go...Browns.

Miami at New England 1:00 pm CBS Gillette Stadium Did I say above the Eagles are on a roll? There's another team on a roll too, after a 2 - 2 start, and that team is the Patriots, now at 8 - 2. Systematically dismantled the Raiders last week in Meh - hee - co, and the D has been playing great the last month. Miami was shut out by the Ravens just two week ago. So... Patriots.

Tampa Bay at Atlanta 1:00 pm FOX Mercedes-Benz Stadium Earlier this season I said I'd never pick the Falcons again. Well, time to eat crow - or falcon anyway. Having beaten the Cowboys and the Seahawks in succession, have the Birds righted the ship and are now cruising to a playoff spot? Maybe that's too much to expect but they definitely have enough to beat the inconsistent Bucs. Falcons.

Tennessee at Indianapolis 1:00 pm FOX Lucas Oil Stadium Despite that hiccup against the Steelers last week, the Titans are still the team to beat in the AFC South (sorry Jags!). And the Colts are still in major disarray. Titans.

Seattle at San Francisco 4:05 pm FOX Levi's Stadium Niners no longer have to worry about going winless this season. Sea-Hags need to get a win to keep their season alive. The Niners will oblige. Seahawks.

Denver at Oakland 4:25 pm CBS Oakland Coliseum Two teams racing to the bottom of their division. Both have suffered blowout road losses in recent weeks. Someone has to win here and I think Derek Carr has more weapons - and more skill - than Denver can mount. Raiders.

Jacksonville at Arizona 4:25 pm CBS University of Phoenix Stadium Your playoff-bound Jacksonville Jaguars! How long has it been since that was the case?! That brief period of Arizona brilliance from a couple of seasons ago seems much further in the past than that. Jaguars.

New Orleans at L.A. Rams 4:25 pm CBS Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum I'm thinking that the Saints have studiously studied last week's Rams game where the Vikings held them to a lowly seven points and can apply the same tactics. Plus Drew Brees and the rest of the Saints are playing liker men on a mission. Saints.

Green Bay at Pittsburgh 8:30 pm NBC Heinz Field Sadly for the Packers no Aaron Rodgers (except in those cute commercials with his dog) means no wins. Steelers are licking their chops for this one. Steelers.

Monday, Nov 27, 2017

Houston at Baltimore 8:30 pm ESPN M&T Bank Stadium Two weeks ago I was drooling over this game - I have tickets and was really looking forward to Deshaun Watson putting on a clinic. Now, no Watson and the Ravens suddenly have a great opportunity to get over the hump of five-hundred. Now the Ravens have been the very definition of inconsistent, and moribund on offense at best. Nevertheless, they'll do enough to win this one. Ravens.

And in college ball..... Georgia Tech beats Georgia (hey I've gotta pick 'em!)

and in an upset that puts the playoff system in a tizzy

Auburn beats Alabama!

And a Happy Happy Thanksgiving to All! I have much to be thankful for, this weekly thread being one such thing!

Good luck everyone!

[Drago]

All the best to Bender...may you feel better soon/get well soon!