NFL Passion Week 12 Thanksgiving Special: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Week number 12 and easily the most exciting football of this stellar NFL season yet is upon us this week, all beginning on Thanksgiving Day. It's always nice to have football on the tube Thanksgiving morning, but this year holds greater value because all parties involved are playing good football right now, something that is rarely the case on Thanksgiving Day. Even the Miami Dolphins have gone on a 3 game winning streak just in time to play on the big stage in Dallas. The annual home teams the Cowboys and the Lions both have good records this year, a very rare thing for Detroit, and their respective home crowds will definitely be amped at Kickoff. And then we have the Harbaugh Bowl, big brother John vs. little brother Jim, in what will be one of the most anticipated games and defensive struggles we'll see all season. After we get over all of the Thanksgiving hooplah, we still have a whole Sunday slated with important, competitive games vital to the NFL standings. Here's a preview of everything Week 12 has to offer, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

Green Bay Packers (10-0) at Detroit Lions (7-3) 12:30 PM ET 9:30 AM PT Fox

Why the Packers will win this game: For starters, because they haven't lost a game this season. On top of that, they have the runaway MVP this season in Aaron Rodgers, and I can't remember the last time this offense even skipped a beat. Jordy Nelson is outplaying Greg Jennings and that's saying A LOT because Jennings is having an excellent season himself. The Packers don't need a run game, it's not like the Lions have one anyway.

Why The Lions will win this game: Detroit has been waiting for this one all season, a chance to put a stamp on just how real they are by defeating the undefeated defending champions on Thanksgiving Day. Coming off a 49 point performance and 5 touchdowns by Matthew Stafford, the Lions are one of the very few teams capable of going blows with Green Bay offensively. These two teams match up very well, and with the home crowd booming and excited for the Lions first meaningful Thanksgiving Day game in quite some time, this one has E-P-I-C written all over it. Look out for the Lions.

What will really happen: It could go down as one of the greatest Thanksgiving games ever played, especially with what it means in the NFC North standings. The Lions have one chance to try to close the gap on the Packers before seasons end, and it starts Thursday. A Green Bay win would pretty much lock up the division. This one will be undoubtedly close, and I think if the Packers do pull it off, which they are still favored to, it will be their most hard fought win all season.

Packers 38, Lions 35

Miami Dolphins (3-7) at Dallas Cowboys (6-4) 4:15 ET 1:15 PT CBS

Why the Dolphins will win this game: A few weeks ago I would have looked at this game and thought why in the world is it being played on Thanksgiving, now I view it as an appetizer between Packers/Lions and 49ers/Ravens. Suddenly the Dolphins are on a three game winning streak, Matt Moore is playing excellent, and the team is confident. Sometimes confidence is just what a team needs to pull off the upset, even if it is Thanksgiving in Dallas.

Why the Cowboys will win this game: Tony Romo is on a roll throwing for 270 yards and 3 touchdowns for the second game in a row, while the Cowboys ride a three game winning streak. After getting destroyed by the Philadelphia Eagles a few weeks ago, Dallas hasn't looked back since. They have gone from 3-4 and third place in the NFC East to 6-4 in a first place tie. Kudos.

What will really happen: I'm impressed with Miami lately, but Romo and the Boys have completely changed my opinion of them the last few weeks. They are playing good defense and explosive offense, on top of the fact that it is Thanksgiving in Dallas. It's hard for me to see the Cowboys losing this one.

Dolphins 17 Cowboys 24

San Francisco 49ers (9-1) at Baltimore Ravens (7-3) 8:20 PM ET 5:20 PT NFL Network

Why the 49ers will win this game: The 49ers have been rolling all year, losing once in overtime in a game I doubt they would have lost if it were in week twelve. The Niners have made huge strides this season, are on an 8 game winning streak, and are on absolute fire. They toy with their opponents at times. There will be no toying around in Baltimore, but the Ravens should be more afraid of the Niners than vice versa. This team is dangerous.

Why the Ravens will win this game: The Ravens have a huge advantage because they are at home and the 49ers have to travel through 3 timezones to face them. They also have a way of stepping up in big games like this even though they often falter against lowly opponents. But no doubt the Ravens are a team capable of beating San Fran, this is the NFL where everyone can beat everyone. If their defense rises to the occasion they can beat the 49ers, who sometimes struggle in the redzone. Holding them to field goals is the name of the game.

What will really happen: Both defenses will show up understanding how important this game is, and there will not be many points on the board. Neither team will crack 20, and it will be decided either on a last second field goal, in overtime, or on one or two game changing plays. Little brother wins.

49ers 17 Ravens 14

Buffalo Bills (5-5) at New York Jets (5-5) 1:00 ET 10:00 PT CBS

Both of these teams desperately need a win after falling off the last few weeks, and I feel the loser rolls over and dies the next few weeks. I also think the winner may get the momentum gained from huge games such as these. Sometimes all you need is a big win to get out of a slump. The Bills have simply played too ugly the last three weeks to get a vote from me.

Bills 13 Jets 20

Tennessee Titans (5-5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6) 1:00 ET 10:00 PT CBS

This game is another must win for both teams, and once again I'm pretty sure the loser rolls over and dies while the winner has at least a little more life in them, more so Tennessee if they win. Yup, it's that time of year again, for some teams every game is do or die.

Titans 27 Buccaneers 17

Chicago Bears (7-3) at Oakland Raiders (6-4) 4:05 ET 1:05 PT Fox

Just when the Bears were beginning to hit their stride they lose their quarterback which is why it's ironic that they play the Raiders this week. The silver and black lost Jason Campbell right as they were getting hot and fortunately Had Carson Palmer as a back up plan. Let's see if the Raiders will feel their pain and take it easy on Chicago. I doubt it. Maybe the Bears should offer Kyle Orton another contract for a few weeks, I mean he did just get released and the guy isn't that bad. I like Oakland in this one, last week I so would have picked the Bears.

Bears 16 Raiders 17

Denver Broncos (5-5) at San Diego Chargers (4-6) 4:15 ET 1:15 PT CBS

Ok this nonsense has to end sometime, and we all have to snap back to reality. The Chargers can't possibly continue to play this way and eventually the Broncos are going to have to throw the football to win games. The AFC West is starting to become just a tad bit ridiculous. I'm thinking the Chargers can finally get a victory against a division opponent at home, and Tim Tebow will finally get that reality check.

Broncos 17 Chargers 24

Carolina Panthers (2-8) at Indianapolis Colts (0-10) 1:00 ET 10:00 PT Fox

This will be one of those games where Cam Newton throws for over 300 yards and two scores, and the Panthers will look good. It's never a good game anymore when the Colts are playing.

Panthers 31 Colts 17

Arizona Cardinals (3-7) at St. Louis Rams (2-8) 1:00 ET 10:00 PT Fox

On the road still without quarterback Kevin Kolb I'm not feeling the Cardinals right now nor am I feeling this game. I'd be very upset if my name was Larry Fitzgerald.

Rams 21 Cardinals 13

Washington Redskins (3-7) at Seattle Seahawks (4-6) 4:05 ET 1:05 PT Fox

Now that the Redskins season implosion is finally complete with their 27-24 overtime loss to the Cowboys, I can get some sleep at night. The Seahawks are starting to play good football, and should handle Washington this week.

Redskins 10 Seahawks 27

Minnesota Vikings (2-8) at Atlanta Falcons (6-4) 1:00 ET 10:00 PT Fox

The Falcons are battling for a playoff spot, and I don't think they're going to be playing with Minnesota Sunday. Adrian Peterson may not even play. If you have any thoughts on how the Vikings can possibly win this game, I'd love to hear them.

Vikings 13 Falcons 34

Houston Texans (7-3) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3-7) 1:00 ET 10:00 PT CBS

7-3 and Arian Foster against 3-7 and Blaine whatever his name is. Need I say more?

Texans 31 Jaguars 7

Cincinnati Bengals (6-4) at Cleveland Browns (4-6) 1:00 ET 10:00 PT CBS

The Bengals have lost two straight games by one score or less to both the Ravens and the Steelers. I'm sure they are livid about it. They'll take it out on the Browns.

Bengals 27 Browns 7

Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3) at Kansas City Chiefs (4-6) 8:20 PM ET 5:20 PT NBC

This one had somewhat potential to be good earlier in the season, but the injury bug has ran like a virus through the Chiefs locker room. If the 49ers knock off the Ravens on Thanksgiving what do you know, the Steelers will hold exclusive possession of first place in the AFC North once again. Go figure.

New England Patriots (7-3) at Philadelphia Eagles (4-6) 4:15 ET 1:15 PT CBS

It seems this year that the Eagles are at their best with their backs against the wall, and fortunately for them it will be against the wall until they post at least 6 more wins straight. I think they fight hard with or without Michael Vick, and survive yet another week with a huge win over New England. I don't know what it is about the Eagles, but it's extremely hard to give up on them. I'm going out on a limb as i go for my third straight Upset special.

Patriots 21 Eagles 24

New York Giants (6-4) at New Orleans Saints (7-3) 8:30 PM ET 5:30 PT ESPN

The poor football Giants had so much momentum two weeks ago, now suddenly they just barely lose to the surging 49ers then lose one to a Michael Vickless Eagles team. Now they have to go on the road and beat the Saints in front of the entire football world on Monday night. I don't know who Eli and the gang upset, but things are not going their way right now.

Giants 17 Saints 27