Thanksgiving Day NFL Recap

Happy Friday. I hope eveyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I also hope you could find a way to enjoy the NFL games yesterday. I know, not much excitement. But there was if you were Lions QB Duante Culpepper. Read on if you're not sure what I mean.

 Packers (7-4) 34, Lions (2-9) 12

During pregame, Culpepper was informed that he would not be starting, and that Matthew Stafford would. Culpepper did not appear to be too pleased with the team's decision. He did practice with the first team for the short week. Remember, Stafford suffered a separated shoulder during Sunday's 38-37 win over the Cleveland Browns.

Maybe, Culpepper would have been the better selection based on the game Stafford had. 20 of 43, 213 yards, 1 TD, 4 INT. One of Stafford's INT was a pick 6 by Packers CB Charles Woodson. Overall the Lions had five turnovers.

One last quick (maybe not so quick) note from the game. There's 2:51 left in the game and the score is 34-12, Green Bay. Detroit has the ball on their own 28. It's 2nd and 10 and Stafford completes a pass to backup TE Casey Fitzsimmons. Upon being tackled, it appears that Fitzsimmons fumbles the ball but the officials ruled that Fitzsimmons was down by contact.

I know...not so quick. Sorry. I have to say this next part though. Packers head coach Mike McCarthy (left) challenged the play. It was reversed and Geen Bay got the ball. I am massively irritated with McCarthy's decision to challenge that play. You're already winning 34-12 and there's less than three minutes left. What a heartless call by McCarthy. Happy Thanksgiving, Coach. You are no doubt, my Turkey of the Day. Congrats!

Some may say I'm off base. I say to you that you're as heartless as McCarthy. You already have the "W". What more do you need?

Game ball: Packers QB Aaron Rodgers: 28-39, 348 yards, 3 TD

Oakland (3-8) 7, Dallas 24 (8-3)

Did Dallas show a little offense or was it an optical illusion? I think it was the latter. The Bengals did manage 17 points on the Raiders and the Cowboys are supposed to have a more explosive offense. We were witnesses to WR Miles Austin and his playmaking ability. Despite not having gaudy numbers over the last couple of weeks, he had them this game.

Did I see Cowboys WR Roy Williams and Raiders WR Darrius Heyward-Bey both have a receiving TD? Then, I wasn't dreaming...We're sure about that?

Game ball: Cowboys WR Miles Austin: 7 receptions, 145 yards, TD

New York Giants (6-5) 6, Denver (7-4) 26

Without RB Ahmad Bradshaw, running seemed futile to the Giants. They only took 16 cracks at rushing. That's a extremely low amount for them. To offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride's credit, New York only had the ball for 24:30 compared to 35:30 for Denver. The Giants were leading the league in time of possession coming into the game.

The Broncos defense held the Giants to 267 total yards and QB Eli Manning was sacked three times.

One thing that a lot of us may have been waiting for...the coming out party for Broncos RB Knowshon Moreno. We knew the kid could play. I thought the Broncos made a reach in the last draft selecting him with the 12th overall pick. Boy, did I miss that boat.

Game ball: Broncos RB Knowshon Moreno: 19 carries, 88 yards, TD

The last word for today. There's been a ton of chatter about Detroit and Dallas hosting the Thanksgiving Day games, especially Detroit. I know for the past decade that the Lions have been among the worst teams in the league. I know some are suggesting that the games be rotated amongst the other NFL teams. I want you to ponder this as we enter our holiday season.

If there is one area of the country that needs any support from the rest of our great nation, it's Detroit. No single area has been ravaged more due to our economic troubles than Detroit and its surrounding areas. I grew up in Flint, Michigan. My early childhood was watching the games on TV as you could never get tickets to the games being played at Tiger Stadium.

Detroit has lost so much...don't add to it.

My belly is still full from yesterday...