Have almost 6lbs of Ham left.

So Grilled Ham and Cheese it is,lol

As with most of us, I'm dealing with lockdowns. I generally head over to my elderly Pops house to watch the Rams game live. He has DirectTV, so no issue. I'm not trying to get his household sick (not that I am) but in an abundance of caution, I'm not heading there this weekend to watch the game. That said, I will be a mess if I am not watching the game live. How do you gents generally watch these games, reliably? I'd be happy to pay the NFL to watch live Rams games, but, unfortunately, unless I'm a DirectTV subscriber (I'm not), it doesn't really appear possible. I've had that NFL pass that allows you to watch games after they are done playing (more like a couple hours after), but, I'm not thrilled with that idea. I'd have to avoid all football watching until that time, that doesn't sound great.

Suggestions? Thanks and GO RAMS!

Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp are in rhythm and have Rams' offense rolling

The Los Angeles Rams' offense had recently been waning, and the production of wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods was on the decline, but Woods vowed that the duo would remain patient.

"Big plays with Cooper and myself," Woods said before a Week 11 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, "it will come."

Perhaps Woods had an inkling that the pair was bound for a big role, or maybe their patience just paid off, because in a 27-24 victory over the Bucs, Woods caught 12 passes for 130 yards and a touchdown and was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week, and Kupp caught 11 passes for 145 yards.

The duo became the second set of teammates with 10 catches and 100 receiving yards in a single game in Monday Night Football history, joining the Kansas City Chiefs' Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce -- who accomplished the feat in a 2018 Week 11 thriller against the Rams -- according to Elias Sports Bureau research.

And, according to the Rams, Woods and Kupp became the first receiver duo in team history to each have 10 catches in a single game.

"Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods were outstanding," Rams coach Sean McVay said. "You talk about guys creating their own tough catches in crunch-time moments."

Expect more to come Sunday at SoFi Stadium, as the NFC West-leading Rams (7-3) prepare for a rematch against the 4-6 San Francisco 49ers (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox), who defeated them 24-16 in Week 6.

"Those are two of our playmakers and guys we want to get the ball to a little bit more often and we were able to and you see what happens," said Rams quarterback Jared Goff, who was 39-of-51 for 376 yards and three touchdowns, with two interceptions, against the Bucs. "Those guys looked as good as they've looked all year and it's exciting. It's hopefully the beginning of an uphill trajectory at this point, they're playing really good ball and we're excited about it."

Before the season, the Rams signed Kupp to a three-year, $47.3 million extension and gave Woods a four-year, $65 million deal.

Woods is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons and has caught 54 passes for 599 yards and five touchdowns in 2020. He also has rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns.

Kupp also produced a 1,000 receiving yard season in 2019 and is on pace for another, with 64 catches for 722 yards and two touchdowns.

Last Monday, the Bucs effectively stopped the Rams' run game, giving up only 37 rushing yards, prompting the Rams to adapt and utilize their passing game. But Goff said McVay also went into Week 11 with the intention of getting Woods and Kupp more involved.

Woods credited a fast start -- including a 13-play, 80-yard touchdown drive -- for their ability to reestablish themselves and get in rhythm.

"It was just a credit to the game flow, really, feeling how it was playing out, felt like we were executing on our quick plays, quick passes, quick tempo, really just catching us some looks," Woods said. "Then I feel like for me, just being involved in the quick-pass game, being able to run some routes downfield, and really just keep this offense and the momentum of our drives going."

The challenge will be replicating the performance Sunday against the 49ers, who have won their previous three matchups against the Rams and who effectively shut down their passing effort in Week 6, when Goff was held to only 198 passing yards in what several players characterized as an uncharacteristic team performance.

Woods was targeted 10 times but had only four receptions for 29 yards and a touchdown, and Kupp caught three passes on nine targets for 11 yards.

On Sunday, the 49ers are expected to be without several starters as their team deals with various injuries and players who have been put on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

However McVay said there would be no letup in the Rams' preparation and approach.

"They've beat us three straight times," McVay said. "You flip on the film and I don't care who's playing, who's not, they find a way to compete and do a great job."

Coming off Monday night's win, Goff expressed confidence that the Rams are hitting their stride at the right time.

"We can be as good as we want to be, honestly," Goff said. "We have some division games coming up -- some big ones -- but, everything is there for us to take and we have to take it one week at a time and keep playing good ball. I think our defense is still playing outstanding and the better we can be on offense, I think we're really close to being where we want to be."

PRE-GAME THREAD

• Tweets about the game, leading up to the game, players, writers, etc.
• Stats, tidbits
• Game specific insights, Rams and opposing team.
• Weather conditions
• Pregame stuff, quips, articles, previews, prediction stuff (some times there seems more than normal of this type of stuff)
• “Things on the web” that don’t feel they stand alone, but maybe fit here
• Excited about something with the game, maybe you want to shout it here
• Trash talking, general smack
• Unsure where to put something game related, maybe try here
• Going to the game? Tell us! (at least in the future)

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congrats to @Mikey Ram for winning 15k in last weeks contest, just 1 point off the actual score (tagging @CGI_Ram for the funds transfer)


on to niner week. The Rams are coming off a big win on MNF over the Tampa Bay bitches and the 49ers, well they just suck donkey balls. Come to think of it, that's probably what they were doing for their bye week. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I would imagine the donkeys are ashamed of themselves for stooping so low. Could be that one of em stomped on Jimmy G's ankle awhile back.


Anyway, on to the game. You know the rules. You know how to play the game.

Get to guessin

Just for the basic BS simple stuff, must be a new customer or have been off the list for awhile.

Black Friday special, must reply by this Sunday.

Heck of a deal for cord cutters.

Rams-49ers Preview: SoFi the scene for important divisional tilt

Hope you had a safe and memorable Thanksgiving, everyone.

For those of you experiencing hardship this holiday season at the end of a trying 2020, we hope that Rams football is bringing you some solace and joy.

And it's not just the performance of the players and staff between the lines. The way Rams like Cooper Kupp and Jalen Ramsey continue to invest in the community is worth calling out this week and every week.

Now, I know the team would like to gift everyone a win over the rival 49ers, who are 4-3 against the Rams since 2017. No other opponent has beaten the Rams more than twice since Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay were hired at the start of that year.

Kupp Half Full

Because one of the lasting memories of the Week 6 loss was the odd disconnect between Jared Goff and Kupp, I wanted to circle back on what they've done since that Sunday night in Santa Clara.

The Rams' slot receiver has been targeted 46 times for 33 receptions and 348 yards. That's a catch rate of 72 percent and an average of 87 yards per game – both comfortably above Kupp's career levels.

While they haven't linked up on a scoring play in the last six outings, that Niners defeat really was a blip on an otherwise sterling radar.

Raw Bar

It was a confidence-building win in Week 11 for Goff, who was markedly improved from empty sets and against the Buccaneers blitz.

The interceptions were a nuisance, I understand. And no question he, Kevin O'Connell and Sean McVay are working hard to minimize those miscues even further. After only four picks through seven games, Goff has thrown four in the Rams last three outings.

I just want to point out that interception percentage – and really, turnover-worthy plays – are of much greater importance than raw interception numbers.

Against a tremendous run defense in Tampa Bay, the Rams asked Goff to put it up 51 times (61 in Miami). His season-long rate is still well below last year's concerning 2.6 percent and in line with his 2018 Pro Bowl campaign.

How about the fact he was not sacked despite the pass-happy approach? Nice design by McVay and execution by the Rams, including new left tackle Joe Noteboom.

Run D.M.C.

Los Angeles gets another solid run defense this week – perhaps not as stout as the Bucs, who held the Rams to a grand total of 37 yards on the ground Monday night, but still top 10 in the league.

Nonetheless, the Rams managed a robust 5.95 yards per attempt in their first collisions with the Niners, and I'd envision a return to a more balanced offensive approach this Sunday.

Point Predictions

The Rams last 30-point game was October 11 at Washington.

My prediction of the week is that they'll go for 30-plus on Sunday and average 30-plus in their remaining six games. This group feels poised to break out, and despite missing from 44 yards in his L.A. debut, I'm bullish on Matt Gay as the long-term answer in the kicking game.

Defensive Deep Dive

Here's a bit of context for what the Rams defense has accomplished so far.

The 2020 NFL season in on track to set record levels for cumulative points (49.2), yards (718.3), and fewest giveaways (2.6) on a per game basis. It's an increasingly offensive league, littered with prolific offensive talent, especially at the quarterback position. And that only amplifies the accomplishment of Brandon Staley's unit.

At 17.1 offensive points per game allowed, they're the best in the league.

Their 3.9 offensive points allowed in second halves is the lowest since at least the 2000 Ravens (4.5), and by a wide margin. (We're actively working to extend that comparison even farther back in time and will update accordingly.)

And in the last two games, against future Hall of Famers Russell Wilson and Tom Brady, the Rams have vaulted up to a tie for seventh in the NFL in takeaways. They're now averaging 1.5 per outing.

Always Be Closing

Which leads us to the offenses they'll face in the closing stretch:

SF - 18

ARI - 11 (twice)

NE - 19

NYJ - 31

SEA - 4

That's an average of 16th in offensive efficiency, with only one top 10 offense left on the schedule. And here's my weekly reminder that the Rams are long overdue to score a defensive touchdown.

Man in the Middle

Without starting inside linebacker Micah Kiser, who was placed on injured reserve following a knee injury suffered at the end of Monday's win, it will be interesting to monitor snap counts.

Troy Reeder had three sacks in Washington the last time he got his opportunity. So perhaps he's the only substitute the Rams will need.

But if some creativity is required, edge Justin Hollins played some off-ball linebacker for Staley in Denver. And Leonard Floyd has that flexibility as well. A practice squad call-up is always an option, as Derrick Moncrief popped up for the Dolphins game.

Garoppolo-and-3

The Rams have yet to beat 49ers starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who unfortunately has missed a good bit of time due to injury since being traded to San Francisco and is once again on the injured list.

While Jimmy G is a perfect 4-0 against the Rams, the other Niners signal-callers are 0-3 since 2017. That includes this week's starter Nick Mullens, who was at the helm for the 2018 finale at the Coliseum and passed for three touchdowns and three interceptions in a 48-32 Rams triumph.

If You Don't Know Deebo, Now You Know

Like many of you, I enjoyed the back-and-forth between Aaron Donald and Deebo Samuel back in October.

I don't envy the 49ers, facing the all-everything defensive tackle as he looks to break out of a two-game stretch without a tackle, much less a sack.

Of course, we all understand he's being doubled and tripled and held at an alarming rate.

Against the Niners, maybe his presence will be as colossal as it was on the SoFi Stadium canopy during MNF.

Home for the Holidays

According to NFL Research, teams are finally finding some traction in their home venues.

Home teams are 20-8 (.714 win percentage) over the last two weeks, compared to .492 over the first nine weeks of 2020 – a figure that was bolstered by the Rams 3-0 mark to that point in the season.

The remaining undefeateds at home are Pittsburgh (5-0, also unbeaten overall), the Seahawks (5-0) and the Rams (4-0).

Inglewood will host four of the Rams' final six.

I remember spending time with my Aunt and our cousin for a week in the summer and on holidays for a brief two year stint in the seventies. They were close in age and thick as thieves. A strange odor would sometimes be coming out of the bedroom they shared on the second story of my Great Grandparents house. When they saw me come in they would chuckle and laugh. They were always listening to music, and I remember the stack of 45's they would have on the nightstand and on the turntable. I bought 45's until cassettes came out.

Did you guys buy 45's and do you have a favorite song that was a B - side on one of them? I didn't buy this one one, but it is a great one. On the B - side of "Paperback Writer" by The Beatles was "Rain".

The Beatles - Rain - YouTube

So I thought I would start a Santa thread, something to get our minds off all the other crap going on. I'll start with my story. Some of this I learned later, some is from what I remember.

It was around 1966, Christmas Eve. My father really had not worked much in the past year going from job to job while taking electronic classes at night to learn how to fix TV's. Money was tight. My mother always made Christmas good for me and my 5 sisters at the time (Sister 6 would come in 69). So as kids we didn't know what we didn't know. That Christmas was going to be sparse that year. Anyway, back to Christmas eve. It was snowing, about 5:30 in the evening, and in WI that means it was dark. the doorbell rang and one of my older sisters opened the door and in walked Santa. Not just any Santa. Santa. He was just like the story said. Blue eyes, Real leather belt, and boots, real fur on a real red jacket. Real beard, and the laugh. Now, he knew all of our names, our teachers, what grade we were in, how old we were. Everything. And he pulled two things out of his bag for each of us. One of those fake stockings that were made of 1/4 in square mesh and a hand wrapped present. As he left he got into a 1955 Chevy. Yeah, I know, not a sleigh. But here's the rub. He hit 4 houses on our street that year. All 4 were families in need. And no one, absolutely no one knew who he was. He also hit two of my cousin's houses. Here we are 54 years later and no one has ever been able to discover who he was, so to me, he was and is the "real Santa". My mother and I discussed him over the years and she told me that his suit was impeccable. Not some cheap homemade suit, but a real dyed red wool suit.

So, you say there is no such thing as Santa? I say there is. I meet him for real.

Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods are 1st and 2nd in key receiving stat since 2019

When the Los Angeles Rams extended Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp this year, hardly anyone thought twice about questioning the decision. And there’s a reason for that.

Since they became teammates in 2017, they’ve been as consistent and reliable as any wide receiver tandem in the NFL. They have a knack for creating big plays, too, even if they’re not the fastest or most athletic guys in football.

They’re not considered deep threats, but where they gain big yardage is after the catch. According to Pro Football Focus, no wide receivers have gained more yardage after the catch than Kupp and Woods, who rank first and second in that department since 2019.

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Jared Goff trusts both wideouts immensely and it’s easy to see why. When he puts the ball in the right spot, there’s a good chance Kupp and Woods will gain yardage after the catch – often turning a short gain into a big one.

Just look at Monday against the Bucs, for instance. Kupp broke at least 4 tackles and was elusive in the open field, while Woods turned a short screen into a 35-yard gain to set up a field goal before the half.

You can bet Goff is thrilled to have both of his wideouts signed long-term, continuing this connection for the foreseeable future.



Rams defense has been insanely good vs. deep passes this season

There are a lot of areas where the Rams have improved defensively this season. They’re better against the run, have generated pressure at a high rate and are playing excellent coverage at all levels of the field.

But unquestionably, their biggest improvement has come on deep passes. The Rams have been excellent when it comes to limiting big plays, allowing very few deep completions down the field. In fact, it’s hard to believe how good they’ve been against passes 20-plus yards downfield.

On Monday night, Tom Brady was 0-for-6 on deep passes, throwing two interceptions to Jordan Fuller. On the year, the Rams have allowed just five deep completions on 34 attempts, according to Next Gen Stats.

That’s good for an NFL-best 14.7% completion rate, which is just the start of it. The Rams are also tied for first with five interceptions on such throws, they’ve allowed a league-low 5.1 yards per attempt, have given up an 8.7 passer rating on deep throws and quarterbacks’ completion percentage over expectation is -16.4% – also best in the NFL.

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If the Rams continue to take away deep shots down the field, they’re going to be really tough to beat. Teams are going to have to dink and dunk their way toward the end zone, which isn’t easy against a defense that has aggressive cornerbacks and safeties who know how to hit.

With the Seahawks and Cardinals still on the schedule, the Rams will need to be at their best taking away deep passes because those are two of the better teams in that department.

With Micah Kiser sidelined, Troy Reeder tackles middle of Rams' defense

The Rams will play the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday — and at least two more games — without their leading tackler.

Inside linebacker Micah Kiser was placed on injured reserve Thursday after suffering a knee injury during Monday’s victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The injury is not expected to be season-ending or require surgery, coach Sean McVay said. Kiser, a third-year pro, has a team-best 77 tackles for a defense that ranks No. 1 in the NFL, allowing the fewest yards per game.

Troy Reeder will start in place of Kiser, who must miss three games — against the visiting 49ers, a road game against the Arizona Cardinals and a Thursday night matchup with the visiting New England Patriots. Kiser will be eligible to return for a Dec. 20 home game against the New York Jets.

“The hope is that it’s just those three games,” McVay said during a videoconference after practice. “It was something that you even debate whether or not you wanted to do it [put him on injured reserve] because it’s kind of right in that fringe area.”

Reeder, an undrafted free agent in 2019, started eight games as a rookie. He thrived earlier this season when he started in place of Kiser, who sat out at Washington on Oct. 11 because of groin and chest injuries. Reeder recorded a team-best 11 tackles and had three sacks in a 30-10 victory.

“I do have a lot of confidence in Troy to step in and seamlessly handle the job,” McVay said Wednesday, when Kiser’s status was still to be determined. “He’s really done a great job of preparing himself for when his opportunities do come up.

“He was ready to go against Washington. I thought last year, he definitely demonstrated as a rookie it wasn’t too big for him where he started a handful of games at [middle] linebacker and played a significant amount of snaps. Expect him to step in and do a great job for us this week as well.”

Reeder will start alongside inside linebacker Kenny Young in defensive coordinator Brandon Staley’s hybrid 3-4 scheme.

The Rams are limiting opponents to an NFL-low 291.9 yards per game. They are fifth in rushing defense (91.3 yards per game) and second in scoring defense (19.2 points per game) and passing defense (200.6 yards per game).

In their 27-24 victory over the Buccaneers, the Rams gave up 251 yards. Rookie safety Jordan Fuller intercepted two passes by Tom Brady, including one in the final minutes to seal the victory in Tampa, Fla.

“I felt like we stayed steady and we were able to close the game out as you would hope to against a guy like that,” Staley said of Brady, a six-time Super Bowl champion. “That’s certainly the ultimate challenge, is [a two-minute drill] against one of the great two-minute quarterbacks to ever play, and I felt that our guys were composed and I felt like we finished the game playing our best ball.”

The defense added depth this week when the Rams claimed end Derek Rivers off waivers from New England. Rivers, a third-round draft pick in 2017, had 1½ sacks in eight games this season before the Patriots waived him. Because of COVID-19 protocols, Rivers cannot practice until Saturday and will not play against the 49ers, McVay said.

But the 6-foot-5, 250-pound Rivers eventually could contribute as a pass rusher and on special teams, Staley said.

“Getting a bigger-body guy that can run for special teams,” Staley said.

The Rams also in coming weeks could see the return of outside linebacker Obo Okoronkwo, who was activated from injured reserve this week. Okoronkwo had one sack this season before he suffered an elbow injury against Washington. Okoronkwo is not expected to be ready for the game against San Francisco, but Staley and McVay anticipate he will be productive again soon.

“He’s going to add a boost to us with the juice that he has coming off the edge,” McVay said.

Etc.

Tight end Tyler Higbee (elbow) did not practice, and his status could be a game-time decision, McVay said. Rookie outside linebacker Terrell Lewis (knee) did not practice. Lewis was sidelined earlier this season because of a knee issue. “It’s all related in some form or fashion,” McVay said. “But he had some swelling — we had to drain it — and then we’re kind of waiting to get some further information on his status and what that looks like moving forward.”

Opposing View: 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan expecting same Aaron Donald, Rams in Week 12

Much of the conversation during Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald's Wednesday virtual media session focused on his atypical lack of production. Aside from two quarterback hits against the Seahawks in Week 10, he hasn't recorded a tackle or sack in each of Los Angeles' last two games.

Donald's impact, however, isn't always measured by the stat sheet alone because of his dominance and the attention he commands, which is why 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan still expects the same Donald he's been accustomed to seeing over the last three years heading into Sunday's game at SoFi Stadium.

"Absolutely not," Shanahan said on a conference call with Rams beat writers Wednesday, when asked if he had seen a drop-off in Donald's play. "I wish, but no I haven't. I've been waiting a long time for that, doesn't seem like it's happening."

Donald still has nine sacks this season, tied with Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt for third in the NFL entering Week 12.

Although Donald didn't have one against the 49ers in Week 6, he had 11.5 total in his previous 11 games against them. Week 6 was also the first time he failed to get a sack against San Francisco since Week 1 of the 2016 season, having recorded at least one in six straight games against the 49ers.

Shanahan also doesn't see much of a difference between the Rams team the 49ers hosted six weeks ago and the one they will be facing on Sunday in Los Angeles.

Like the first meeting, L.A. heads into the second riding a two-game win streak, coming off a strong defensive performance.

"I thought they were really good then and I think they're really good now," Shanahan said. "They've been able to stay healthy most of this year, so they've been able to keep their continuity. When you do that, guys to me just tend to get better and better within the scheme of both sides. I felt that way very strongly a month ago and it's a month later and they've only gotten better."

Rams quarterback Jared Goff has been part of that improvement, bouncing back from a challenging Week 8 contest against the Miami Dolphins with back-to-back games of at least 300 passing yards while completing 75 percent of his passes.

"He's playing very well," Shanahan said. "I've always been a huge fan of Goff. I mean, Miami got after us with some of the blitzes in those situations too. But usually when he's in a good situation with protection and stuff and they got the right look on and someone's open, he hangs in there and knows where to go with the ball."

Shanahan and the 49ers have won each of the last three games in this series, but he doesn't think anything specific has contributed to that or that it has any bearing on this week's game. He expects another competitive matchup on Sunday.

"I mean, we had a real good team last year, so did they," Shanahan said. "They were two hard fought games, especially that second one coming down to the wire. I think earlier this year, it was a good game, our guys played well. But the Rams, they had our number when I first started out. They're playing as good as any team in the league right now. It's going to be a huge challenge for our team this week."

I have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease by two doctors. But over the past two years the meds don't work very well, to reduce the motor skill problems. I have several issues; gait, feet freezing on turns and hand tremors. I don't know if anyone here has used THC for medicinal purposes. And weed is legal in Illinois for recreational use.
Thanks

I'm not trying to push some kind of redundancy.

We personally went way out of the 'normal' Thanksgiving meal and made Pork Katsu.

I'm excited about it but also kind of feeling like I should be having mashed potatoes and stuffing etc.

I am wondering if any of you have a special recipe you pull out on Thanksgiving.

I used to pull out chicken stuffed bacon wrapped jalepenos but the last few years I have been in charge of the whole spread. This year has obviously presented a different set of circumstances.

We made the Katsu and the Curry and will be delivering to our family.

What do you all have for me?

Is it me? Doesn’t it get old every year the announcers talk about how great a 4-7 team is! If they were so great, so well coached, and have so much talent shouldn’t they be 7-4?


I get trying to give their fan base hope, but COME ON MAN1! After today’s Lions vs Texans game, you’d think the Texans are running the table and likely Super Bowl bound.

1. Why is spiking the ball not intentional grounding?

2. Do kneel downs affect a QB's stats?

3. If a defender turns his back to a play, why does the offense get penalized for impeding their progress?

4. Did the NFL rescind PI's from coaches challenges?

5. Why are personal fouls not reviewable? In fights where both players are at fault, why only penalize one? Plays where a ref thinks there's a shot to the head that is actually a shoulder are wrong. So is missing a hit to the QB's head that gets missed.

6. Why are fans allowed in some stadiums and not others?

7. Why isn't there a rule as to how loud noise can be piped in to distract an opposing offense?

8. Why do the Rams never play on Thanksgiving?

9. Did the Rams change their colors to match Wal Mart's, or was it the other way around?

10. Why is it called football when it's mostly played by your hands?

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Damn.

It's just my wife and I now....We tately make a big meal for just ourselves anymore, so we are thinking of going out today for the meal. We have Applebees, Golden Corral and Cracker Barrel. I don't know if Golden Corall is open due to Covid, but I know that Cracker Barrel is...But assuming all three are open, which do you choose?

\Or do you just get a Thanksgiving Pizza?

I guess I have been out of touch but can anyone give me an update on Taylor Rapp? I just read that he is on IR but is he done for the season or is there hope/plans that he will return to the active roster this season? He was one of my favorite Rams players last season and I thought he had a really bright future for the Rams! And, even if he returns I doubt he can win a starting role at this time but I do think he would prove to be a very valuable player/backup to the Rams for the rest of the season!

Thanksgiving Day: Houston Texans vs. Detroit Lions

For your (hopefully) socially distant Thanksgiving entertainment, the Houston Texans are traveling to the Motor City to take on the Detroit Lions. This is the 81st time since 1934 that the Lions will host a Thanksgiving Day game, their second against the Texans.

At this point, the Lions (4-6) are more known for their Thanksgiving game tradition, or for being the team on Tim Allen's manly, vintage sweatshirts from that one almost-funny TV sitcom in the 90s, than they are for winning actual football games. This past Sunday, the Lions were shutout for the first time in Matthew Stafford's tenure and the first time since 2009. While scoring points is an obvious must in order to win games, not scoring points against a Panthers team playing without their starting quarterback, running back, and left tackle, is just so emblematic of the Matt Patricia regime. The Lions have lost three of their last four games and have to perform better on offense than the 185 total yards, 10 first downs, and 3.4 yards per play they accrued against Carolina.

With no picks in the first or second round in the upcoming draft — and nothing really to trade to get them in those rounds — it doesn't really hurt the Texans (3-7) to keep winning games. They've won two of their last three, and the victory over New England was the first win against a team this season not named the Jacksonville Jaguars. Progress! Huzzah! Romeo Crennel at least has this Texans squad playing with energy and for one another since taking over the team in October. Perhaps with another win on Thursday, Crennel can finesse his way to removing the interim tag from his title.

Houston at Detroit

Kickoff: Thursday, Nov. 26, 12:30 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Spread: Texans -2.5

Three Things To Watch

1. Detroit's running game... or lack thereof

Anytime your favorite team's leading rusher is 35 and on his fourth squad in as many seasons, that's probably a clue that your team isn't very good. Hello, Lions.

Adrian Peterson is the best running back of his generation and perhaps the last of his kind, but in his 14th season, he is hardly what he once was. However, that doesn't stop Patricia from feeding A.D. like he's still an every-down back. Peterson has 44 more carries than any other Lions back yet only has 58 more yards than the team's second-leading rusher, D'Andre Swift, whose 4.7 yards per carry is a whole yard more than Peterson's average.

For the season, the Lions are 29th in rushing yards (954), 28th in attempts (237), and 25th in yards per attempt (4.0). They've had just four games of 100 rushing yards this season and over the last five games have averaged a measly 73.4 yards per contest, including three games under 70 yards on the ground.

The Detroit run game was anemic as ever against the Panthers' 23rd-ranked rushing defense. The Lions had just 40 rushing yards, a 2.4 yards per carry average, and zero rushing first downs. Zero. None. Nada. Zip. The same number of points the Lions scored on Sunday. That is inexcusable, and it falls squarely on Patricia's completely inept offensive scheme. In the first four opening drives, Patricia ran Peterson on consecutive plays three separate times. Those six runs totaled just 16 yards. Those three possessions resulted in two punts and a fumble after picking up just 48 yards of total offense on 14 plays.

The Lions have a chance to do some damage on the ground this week against the Texans and the league's worst rushing defense. Heck, put Tim Allen out there in his manly-dad sweatshirt, and even he'd pick up a first down by accident. Houston is allowing a league-high 5.1 yards per carry and 1,593 yards on the season.

2. Speaking of bad running games...

... Have you heard of the Houston Texans? There are a myriad of reasons why the Texans have just three wins this season, and the completely lifeless run game is close to the top of the list. Houston is 31st in total rushing yards (846) and first downs (50), 30th in attempts (220) and rushing touchdowns (6), and 27th in yards per attempt (3.8). Opposing teams have gained nearly twice as many rushing yards against the Houston defense (1,593) as the Texans gain themselves (846).

Just 23 percent of the Texans' yards of total offense come from the running game, a league-worst. Houston has had just three games of 100 rushing yards this season, once in the last five games. And in those last five games, Houston has only had one non-Deshaun Watson rushing touchdown.

It certainly doesn't help the Texans that they've been without leading rusher David Johnson (concussion) for the last two weeks and will likely be without him again on Thursday. The other running Johnson, Duke, has filled in for David the last two games without much avail; just 69 yards on 24 carries, a 2.6 yards per carry average.

Houston was able to pick up the win against New England on Sunday with absolutely no running attack whatsoever. Watson led the land attack with just 36 yards. Only 55 of the Texans' 399 total yards of offense came from running the ball.

On Thursday, the Texans face a Lions defense that allows the third-most rushing yards per game (139.0) and the most rushing touchdowns in the NFL (17). In the last three games, the Lions have been gashed for 480 yards and six touchdowns on the ground.

3. Deshaun earning that paycheck

With no run game of which to speak, no defensive support, a so-so offensive line to protect him, and no big-play weapons to throw to, Deshaun Watson is proving that he's been worth every penny of that $160 million contract extension he signed in September. The entire Houston franchise, its future on and off the field, revolves around Watson.

After a somewhat rocky start to the season, Watson has kicked his game into high gear. In the last five games, he has thrown 11 touchdowns without an interception, posted a 116.2 passer rating, completed 70.9 percent of his throws, had three 300-yard games, and is converting an impressive 8.2 yards per pass. Watson had arguably his best game of the season in the win against New England. He completed 75.7 percent of his throws for 344 yards, with three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing), a 121 passer rating, and 9.3 yards per attempt.

With a short week of prep and no time for injuries to heal, there's a good chance Watson will be even more shorthanded than he's used to going against a Lions defense that's surrendered 1,335 yards of offense in the last three games. Starting left tackle Laremy Tunsil is likely out with an undisclosed illness, and his two leading receivers Kenny Stills and Randall Cobb are both questionable after sustaining injuries in the first half of the Patriots game. Mix in the lack of a running game, and it looks like all the pressure falls on the shoulders of Watson to pull out a win. What else is new?

Final Analysis

It's weird to think that the Texans would be a favorite in any other game for the rest of the season, but that's just how far the Lions have sunk under Matt Patricia. If the Lions have another performance like they had against the Panthers, Patricia might be home early for the holidays as the Lions rebuild for the future for the umpteenth time this decade. Give me Houston and Houston to cover.

Prediction: Texans 28, Lions 24

Thanksgiving Day: Washington Football Team vs. Dallas Cowboys

Bragging rights won't be the only thing on the line in a pivotal Turkey Day showdown between the Washington Football Team and Dallas Cowboys inside AT&T Stadium on Thursday. Despite their lackluster 3-7 records, the winner will have a golden opportunity to take sole possession of first place in the closely contested NFC East with a victory on Thanksgiving Day. The 3-6-1 Eagles hold a half-game lead over the rest of the NFL's most maligned division, which will last until Thursday — unless Dallas and Washington tie.

Following a pair of disappointing three-point losses to the Giants and Lions, Washington managed to snap its two-game losing skid with a much-needed 20-9 win at home against the Bengals on Sunday. It marked the first victory in over two years for Comeback Player of the Year candidate Alex Smith, who has battled his way back to starting quarterback status after suffering what was thought to be a career-ending leg injury in 2018. It also marked Washington's first win since beating Dallas 25-3 back in Week 7. Head coach Ron Rivera and Co. will now make their way to the Lone Star State looking to complete the regular-season sweep of their longtime division rival and take control of first place in the NFC East.

It had been 42 days since the snake-bitten Cowboys last tasted victory. And America's team finally delivered with a surprising 31-28 upset of the Vikings on Sunday. The win not only snapped a four-game losing streak for the Cowboys, but it also supplied them with their first road win of the season. More importantly, it put them back in the hunt for a division crown and a spot in the playoffs. They will now go in search of back-to-back wins for the first time under head coach Mike McCarthy. And if the Cowboys are successful in avenging their Week 7 loss to Washington, they will sit alone atop the NFC East standings.

The Cowboys hold a commanding 73-46-2 lead in the all-time series against Washington. Dallas is 8-1 all-time against Washington in games played on Thanksgiving and has won seven of the last nine in the series overall.

Thanksgiving Day: Washington at Dallas

Kickoff: Thursday, Nov. 26 at 4:30 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
Spread: Cowboys -3

Three Things to Watch

1. The Washington pass rush

The team that wins the battle in the trenches will have a big leg up in this matchup. It was certainly a huge factor in Week 7 when a dominant Washington pass rush consistently overwhelmed a beat-up Dallas offensive line en route to six sacks and eight quarterback hits on the day. Washington also sent starting quarterback Andy Dalton to the locker room with a concussion in that matchup.

The good news for Dallas is that the offensive line looks to be in much better shape this time around. In fact, the Cowboys O-line had its best showing of the season last week despite using its seventh different starting combination up front in 10 games. A lineup that featured Pro Bowl guard Zack Martin making his first-ever start at right tackle proved solid, allowing Dalton to throw for 203 yards and three touchdowns in the win over the Vikings.

The bad news is that the Washington pass rush isn't likely to be any less potent than it was the last time these teams faced each other. Washington is tied for the third-most sacks in the NFL (32), led by Montez Sweat (6.0) and Ryan Kerrigan (5.5). The team had four sacks and six quarterback hits just last week against Cincinnati. And one of those hits left Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow with a season-ending knee injury. If the Cowboys revamped offensive line isn't up to the challenge on Thursday, it will be another long evening for Dalton and the Dallas offense.

2. The ground game looms large

The new-look Dallas offensive line shined particularly bright in the run game last week, leading the Cowboys' ground attack to a season-high 180 rushing yards against the Vikings. The big uglies paved the way for Ezekiel Elliott's first 100-yard rushing performance of the year and cleared the path for a 42-yard scamper to the end zone for running back Tony Pollard, who totaled 60 rushing yards on just five carries. The Cowboys will look to parlay that momentum into another successful outing on Thursday against a Washington defense that has been somewhat generous to opposing run games away from home, allowing 138.8 rushing yards per game on the road (27th in the NFL). Washington held Dallas to just 84 rushing yards in their first meeting, but the Cowboys should fare better on the ground this time around.

Washington hopes that history can repeat itself for its ground attack on Thursday. It racked up 208 rushing yards against the Cowboys in Week 7, led by rookie running back Antonio Gibson with a season-high 128 rushing yards and a touchdown. Gibson is also coming off his second-highest rushing total of the season last week against the Bengals with 94 yards and a score — giving him five rushing touchdowns in his last four games.

Gibson, along with fellow Washington running backs J.D. McKissic and Peyton Barber, will be paired against a Dallas defense that ranks just 31st in the NFL against the run, surrendering 153.8 rushing yards per game. However, the Cowboys have made significant strides against the run over their last three contests, giving up just 96.7 yards per game on the ground over that span. That likely means that the Washington run game will be in for a much tougher test this time around. And it certainly won't help matters if Gibson is a little worse for the wear on Thanksgiving after popping up on the injury report with a potential ankle issue.

3. The passing game

Dalton will look to make the most of his second opportunity this season against Washington on Thursday. His first opportunity didn't go so well, with the Dallas quarterback completing just 47.4 percent of his pass attempts for 75 yards before making an early exit with a concussion. But Washington boasts the top-ranked pass defense in the NFL. In addition to featuring one of the league's best pass rushes, Washington is the only team in the NFL that is giving up less than 200 passing yards per game.

While that doesn't exactly bode well for Dalton's chances to find redemption in Round 2 against Washington, he does have more than enough firepower at his disposal to have success through the air in this matchup. Chief among his top weapons are wide receivers Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, and Michael Gallup to go along with Elliott and tight end Dalton Schultz. But again, the Cowboys' ability to succeed in the passing game against Washington will hinge largely on the offensive line's ability to hold up in pass protection.

Meanwhile, Smith hopes to add to his inspiring comeback story with an impressive performance against the Cowboys on the big Thanksgiving stage. So far, the results have been mixed for the veteran quarterback in his return. In four games (three as a starter), Smith has completed 68.2 percent of his pass attempts for 918 yards, but he only has two touchdown passes against four interceptions. Smith has built a nice rapport with wide receiver Terry McLaurin, who leads Washington in receptions (62), receiving yards (871), and receiving touchdowns (3). However, according to Washington's injury report released on Monday, McLaurin is nursing an ankle injury that could potentially limit him on Thursday.

While the Dallas pass defense seems to be trending in a better direction of late with the emergence of hard-hitting safety Donovan Wilson, there's still plenty of room for improvement. The Cowboys rank 14th in the league against the pass, allowing 232.6 yards per game. But no NFL defense has given up more touchdowns through the air than the Cowboys with 24.

Final Analysis

The Cowboys looked like a much-improved team in their win against the Vikings last week. Dallas also carries some much-needed momentum into this matchup courtesy of last Sunday's upset victory. And it's hard not to like the Cowboys' chances against a Washington team that has beaten them just once in nine previous Thanksgiving matchups. If the Cowboys truly have their mojo back, a Dallas win is not only possible, it's likely. On the other hand, it's difficult to trust a Cowboys team that has yet to put together back-to-back wins all season, especially against a Washington team that held them to just three points and 142 yards of total offense just a few short weeks ago.

It will be closer this time around, but the Washington pass rush will once again prove to be too much for Dallas to handle. The Washington Football Team escapes "Jerry World" with a narrow Turkey Day victory to complete the regular-season sweep of the Cowboys and propel itself into first place in the NFC East.

Prediction: Washington 24, Dallas 20