Triskaidekaphobia:
Don’t think about it
Mitchell Trubisky vs. Jeff Driskel will give you indigestion before you sit down for your Thanksgiving meal. Try and watch the Bears at Lions and realize how much quarterbacking means in the NFL. On the other end of the QB spectrum is MVP front-runner Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens playing host to Jimmy Garoppolo and the San Francisco 49ers. This matchup is splendid and deserves total focus and no thought of using either team. The Titans and the Colts are an AFC South tussle that figures to be tight and neither team is predictable enough to bank on. The Browns visit the Steelers. The teams have to be on their best behavior. Yes, Cleveland is on a roll but expect Pittsburgh to be fired up after the way the first meeting ended. Way to risky. The same goes for the Buccaneers at the Jaguars. The only certainties here are Jameis Winston will throw for 300 yards and multiple interceptions. The Patriots and Texans hook up in a Sunday night battle in Texas. New England is 10-1 and in the midst of a brutal stretch of their schedule. All that means is Bill Belichick will have the Pats primed and there is no guarantee Deshaun Watson will solve that incredible defense. The Vikings head to Seattle for a Monday night battle that should be watched and not played in a knockout pool.
Let the bettor beware
The Jets seem like the perfect pick against the winless Cincinnati Bengals. Gang Green is on a three-game roll and just crushed the Raiders, who came to New Jersey with playoff dreams. Then, of course, Zac Taylor has to go and insert Andy Dalton back at QB, giving the belief the rookie coach thinks that could be the difference between 0-12 and the team’s first chance for a win. Be careful. The Eagles would figure to be a lock against the Dolphins. However, the way the offense is sputtering, Philly looks like it would be a lock against no one. The Chargers are on the road against the Broncos. Denver appears lost and can’t be depended on for any offensive output. Melvin Gordon is back in gear. However, Philip Rivers doesn’t look anything like the quarterback he has been for years. So, pass, or else you might get picked off.
Tempting fate
The Bills visit the Cowboys. Teams who seem to only beat teams they should win against. That makes this a total toss-up until you realize Buffalo’s three losses are to New England, Philly and Cleveland. This feels like it should be all Dallas but there are troubles in Texas and nothing to say the Cowboys don’t throw in a clunker. … The Saints and Falcons complete the Thanksgiving trifecta. Easy to believe New Orleans will be out for revenge after it lost to Atlanta a couple weeks ago. Don’t be fooled as the Falcons could have the answer to Drew Brees and the offense. The Rams can’t be as awful as they looked against the Ravens. The Cardinals seem to be the perfect spot to rebound. Oh, Kyler Murray is a dual-threat QB and you saw what Lamar Jackson did to LA. The Chiefs look like they are in a prime spot playing host to the Raiders. Kansas City won the first meeting and Oakland is coming off an awful loss. However, don’t forget the Jets fit the perfect “trap-game” scenario and Jon Gruden’s team could rebound.
Go for it
The Carolina Panthers play host to Washington. Yes, Washington is coming off a victory over Detroit. That game was at home, not that it matters, and the Lions find every way imaginable to lose. The Panthers should have downed the Saints Sunday. They get Dwayne Haskins on the road. Don’t be fooled by the 19 points Washington scored. The TD was on a kickoff return and Jeff Driskel helped the cause with three picks. This seems like the spot. One other game to consider is Green Bay at the New York Giants. Aaron Rodgers vs. Daniel Jones seems like the ultimate mismatch. Then, you have to factor in the Packers were crushed by San Francisco and will be playing a game on the other coast Sunday in Week 13. Still, Aaron Rodgers and an 8-3 team against Daniel Jones and a 2-9 team on a seven-game losing streak. Oh, so hard to pass up no matter where this is played. The one catch, and this is a huge one, is the Packers have Washington at home in Week 14. That’s a good one to keep in the bank. You do have to avoid triskaidekaphobia to get there!
