A Thanksgiving Feast

I have to admit, I had a plan for this post a few days ago. It was going to be the reasons the Jets should bench Mark Sanchez right here and now. I was going to list the reasons (same mistakes over and over, the media is really going to be out for blood soon, the Jets veterans can't keep their poker faces much longer with each and every rookie mistake, etc.) and arrive at a somber conclusion.

But we're in a holiday season. Sports should not bring us down (too much.) There's always next week to tell the Jets how to run the franchise. For now, we will do a Sunday Smash, Thursday Edition. It's the ever-elusive Thursday Thrash. So without further ado, here is a mid-week picks section for today's Thanksgiving matchups. Just gobble, baby.

Cowboys (-13.5) over Raiders
Tony Romo and the whole Dallas offense has played like, well, turkeys. Oakland actually has pretty good numbers defending the pass. But if the Cowboys have shown us anything this year, it's to expect the unexpected. Marion Barber tears up Oakland early on, and Romo shreds them late to pull away.

Giants (-6.5) over Broncos
If you've fancied this blog during the season, you probably notice the trend that I always pick against the Broncos. Their week 1 win was an insane fluke, and I have unfairly held it against them to this day. It's not like I hate them. I don't. But ever since that crazy win...I've just continually expected a fall. The Giants, despite beating Atlanta, clearly haven't escaped their swoon either. Kyle Orton is back for the Broncos, but I see a combination of him having rust and trying to do too much, leading to turnovers. It will be a close one, but I can see the Giants getting in the endzone late. They will keep pace with Dallas in the division.

Upset Perfiction of Thanksgiving
Lions (+11) over Packers
It's right there in line with the other Thanksgiving traditions: Hope, against hope, that the Lions can somehow win their annual Thanksgiving game. I started following football cohesively in the late 1990's, so the Lions being awful is pretty much all I have known. This year is no different, as they are given eleven points. This is the team that scored 38 last week! Oh yeah, it was against Cleveland. But there's something really special going on here: Matthew Stafford hurt his shoulder in that game. That's right, big ol' Daunte Culpepper is in line to get the start for Detroit. There's something about Daunte Culpepper playing on a day that celebrates food that makes me feel wrong to pick against him. You can do it, Lions.


Now for the return of What About Conor Wednesday. What's it been, 2 months or so? Preposterous. Here's a quickie in honor of Turkey Day. In reverse order, Conor's top-5 Thanksgiving foods. To make thinks interesting, I have excluded turkey from consideration. It's a given...

5. Cranberry Sauce
Delicious, yes. But penalized a bit because it lacks ability to 'stand on its own.' More of a complimentary deliciousness.

4. Yams with Marshmallow
I used to think it was gross. Then I tried them, and I've never looked back.

3. Apple Cider
In a weird way, it's the most exclusive 'Thanksgiving food' that I know. How often does one have apple cider??

2. Stuffing
I still don't know what it's made of. But they are all scrumptious.

1. Mashed Potatoes
The classic. I never have a bite of turkey without some potatoes mixed in. Doesn't get any better.

Thanks for reading. Happy Thanksgiving!