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| (Photo Credit: NFL & WAMC) |
Happy Thanksgiving!
Though we can't celebrate how we wish this year, we hope your families are all happy and healthy as we begin the Holiday Season.
Here's a special edition of Ridin' Pine Picks on what should be a very interesting Thanksgiving as we have two 3-win teams battling for their division lead and another game postponed.
Please eat as much Turkey and stuffing as your stomach holds, and then some.
We’ll have the rest of the Week 12 slate as the weekend approaches.
12:30 p.m. ET
Houston @ Detroit
Jake: Texans
The Texans looked great on Sunday. They did everything I expected out of them on offense, and the defense finally looked like a competent unit. This is certainly not even an okay defense—they have one of the worst secondaries in the league, and their pass rush has been getting worse by the season—but the Lions shouldn’t be a tough matchup. The Texans offense is going to win them this game, and it will be against a secondary who continues to take away snaps from their 3rd pick, rookie CB Jeff Okudah whom many expected to be a star out the gate for the Lions.
Sam: Taxans
Both of these teams aren't particularly impressive this year, but the only elite feature either team possesses is the pass offense of the Texans. Deshaun Watson has thrown for over 300 yards 5 times this season and the Lions pass defense, despite not being terrible, definitely doesn't have what it takes to stop the Texans air attack.
Johnny: Texans
DeShaun Watson made Houston look a lot better than their record and PJ Walker, the Lions Week 11 opponent, made Detroit look a lot worse than their record. As long as the Texans WRs get a little bit of separation, Watson can find them. But if they can’t, then it will be really tough to beat any NFL team. Watson accounted for 380 out of his team’s 399 total yards in their victory over the Pats, so it’s not like he’ll need much help against an easier opponent.
4:30 p.m. ET
Washington @ Dallas
Jake: Football Team
I really like the Football Team outside of their quarterback room. Their offense isn’t exactly deep, but I think McLaurin is one of the most receivers in the NFL, and Antonio Gibson is a fun running back to watch. Defensively—I’ve talked about it all year—I think they have a pass rush unit that could become the best in the league in some time. The Cowboys shockingly beat the Vikings last week but with how inconsistent (and usually bad) that Vikings defense has been this year, I’m gonna chalk that up to a fluke. I think Andy Dalton will struggle against this defense, and I think Smith and the offense will do enough to hold on.
Sam: Cowboys
After the injury to Dak Prescott, and subsequent to Andy Dalton, the Cowboys went downhill quickly and looked awful. Last week though with Dalton back the cowboys looked like a totally different team and were able to beat a respectable Vikings squad. Any NFC East game is a tossup this season, and anything can happen as it seems all four of these teams are equally awful, but I see this one leaning Cowboys, who are ridin high off their first quality win of the year.
Johnny: Football Team
It is absurd and embarrassing to every team in the NFC Least that this game, in week 12, will result in possession of 1st place in the division. Both 3-7 teams are coming off W’s, but the Skins have the best pass defense in THE LEAGUE allowing just 195.5 yards per game, and though they get to play the NFC Least more than anyone outside the division, they are facing a division opponent this week. Also Alex Smith has had a few solid games and is likely to continue this level of play against a poor Cowboys D.
Don’t forget to stay tuned for the rest of the Week 12 Slate as the weekend rolls around!
Thanks as always for checking us out!
Also check out our 2020 Ridin’ Pine Picks Archive to see how Jake, Sam, & Johnny have been doing!