Why Do The Cowboys and Lions Play Every Year?

The NFC North battle that all of a sudden looks winnable for Chicago (4-6).

Another possible threat to an undefeated season: As the playoffs near, will coach Ron Rivera rest some of his best players to get them healthy, giving late-season opponents a better chance at winning? Chiefs 31 Bills 21. The Dolphins (4-6) and Jets (5-5) have a similar scenario at the Meadowlands.

November 28, 1929: Chicago Cardinals fullback Ernie Nevers set an National Football League single-game record with 40 points, thanks to six touchdowns and four extra points, effectively single-handedly defeating the Chicago Bears, 40-6.

Somebody woke up the Lions. The Lions sold the game out, and they have played on Thanksgiving ever since with the exception of World War II years. They’ve won their last two games against the Packers and Raiders and only allowed a total of 29 points. Lions win their third straight with a 45-14 victory over the Eagles. Playing in ankle-deep mud that one writer described as “turf [that] made the average pig’s quarters appear to be wall-to-wall carpeted by comparison”, the Eagles substituted in clean footballs, which were against the rules at the time. In 2011, the Cowboys once again failed to cash as a 7-plus favorite in a 20-19 win over the Dolphins. Quarterback Cam Newton is having the best year of his career and is in the run for an MVP award. The Cowboys will face the Panthers at 4:30 pm ET.

At the time, the Carolina Panthers took offense to this, as I had written that their game with Dallas was a key component to the awfulness. Since then both the Cowboys and Lions play every Thanksgiving.

“Our team played well”.

According to numbers released by CBS Friday afternoon, the Panthers’ Thanksgiving Day rout of Dallas out-rated the Cowboys and Eagles Thanksgiving game in 2014. Even a Clippers-Warriors game wouldn’t do as well as Packers-Bears.

That doesn’t mean a win at Lambeau Field, but it sure is something to watch. Favre’s jersey retirement ceremony at halftime will be the highlight of the evening for the 80,000 fans in attendance. I was 11-5 in Week 12, which brings me to 97-65 for the season. The Lions come in with a modest two-game winning streak. The Eagles are just one game behind the Giants in the division and in the wild card race. Rookie Tevin Coleman has not been the explosive change-of-pace back the Falcons were hoping he’d be. Jags win and inch one step closer to the playoffs. Texas residents will undoubtedly be checking out UT take on Texas Tech in a matchup that could have a big impact on recruiting decisions. This game will prove where the Jags stand among the league’s better teams.

DeMarco Murray is a must start with Ryan Mathews out, especially against a defense that has allowed 18.4 points per game to RBs, the 8 most in fantasy. The Panthers are really good at slowing wide receivers, however. That mark has since been lowered, now all the way down to 13 seconds (earlier this year by the Saints).