Thanksgiving feast features Cowboys and Broncos
from
BetWWTS.com
It has all the makings of an epic 12-round heavyweight tilt featuring a couple of top contenders.
The AFC West-leading Denver Broncos (8-2) leave the favorable atmosphere of Mile High Stadium and travel to Big D to take on the NFC East-leading Dallas Cowboys (7-3) in one of two football feasts this Thanksgiving (Thursday, 4:15 p.m. ET, CBS).
What makes this contest particularly compelling is how closely these two teams match up, both offensively and defensively. Each team also has a Super Bowl winning coach patrolling the sidelines.
On offense, both the Broncos and the Cowboys feature quarterbacks that were not expected to excel this season.
For the Broncos, Jake Plummer has been mistake-prone through much of his nine-year NFL career. Interceptions have been the Snake?s biggest problem - last season he had 20 INTs, which was tied for the league lead.
This season, that has changed dramatically and much has been made about Plummer?s consistent, mistake-free performances. In 10 games, he has only three picks, which is the fewest in the NFL among starters.
Meanwhile, veteran QB Drew Bledsoe was acquired by Dallas in the off-season. For the past couple of years with Buffalo, Bledsoe was among the league leaders in sacks and his offensive numbers were noticeably in decline. Heading into the season, many felt Bledsoe was getting too old and too slow.
Yet after 10 games, Bledsoe has been sacked fewer times (although he?s still among the leaders), and his QB rating is among the top five in the league. His passing yards per game have improved significantly, and he too is making fewer mistakes.
As for the running game, both teams are splitting the workload between two primary backs. In Denver?s case, Mike Anderson and Tatum Bell together have more than 1,400 yards on the ground. For Dallas, Julius Jones and rookie Marion Barber have 867 yards combined.
Pulling in the pigskin, Plummer?s primary target has been Rod Smith who has 666 yards. For Bledsoe, it has been Terry Glenn with 748.
On defense, both teams are neck-and-neck. Through 10 games, Dallas is allowing an average of only 16.4 points per game (No. 4 in the league); the Broncos are allowing 16.9 (No. 3).
That said, the Cowboys? defense is more balanced ? they are strong on both their pass and rush defenses.
The Broncos, on the other hand, are skewed in favor of their rush defense. Denver is giving up less than 80 yards per game (No. 2) on the ground, but is allowing more than 240 through the air (No. 28).
With only 18 sacks this season, it?s clear the Broncos are giving opposing quarterbacks plenty of time to find receivers, something that should comfort Bledsoe. However, he?ll have to be wary of Denver CB Champ Bailey, who has five INTs, second-most in the NFL.
With these two teams so evenly matched, coaching will become a key component come Thursday. This battle of brains will pit Denver?s Mike Shanahan versus Dallas?s Bill Parcells, both of whom have two Super Bowl rings.
Who is the better of the two?
Many would likely give the nod to Parcells since he has successfully turned crummy teams in New England, New York and now Dallas into winners. Whereas, Shanahan has yet to win a playoff game since quarterback John Elway retired.
Regardless, bettors are leaning towards the Broncos in this game. We currently have Denver listed as a 2-point road dog at an expensive -130.
If you take into account the traditional three points given to the home team, the Broncos are, in a sense, favored by five.
Although Denver is 7-2-1 against the spread (ATS) this season, they are only 2-2 straight up (SU) on the road. The Cowboys, meanwhile, are 7-3 ATS and are 4-1 SU at home.
The total for this contest has been pegged at 41.5. The Broncos are 6-4 on the OVER/UNDER; Dallas is 3-6-1.
The other game:
The early Thanksgiving appetizer will feature the Atlanta Falcons (6-4 SU, 5-5 ATS) versus the Detroit Lions (4-6 SU, 6-4 ATS) in Motown (12:30 p.m. ET, FOX).
Playing on Thanksgiving has been a Detroit tradition dating back to 1934. The Lions have played 65 times on turkey day and have a record of 33-30-2.
Bettors don?t like Detroit?s chances of improving their record this year even though the Falcons are coming off two straight losses ? we have the Lions listed as +3 home dogs at -120.
Granted, the Birds are playing better away from home, where they are 3-1. The Lions, meanwhile, are 4-3 at Ford Field.
These two teams met once last year with the Lions beating the Falcons 17-10 as 7-point road dogs.
The total in the game has been set at 42. Atlanta is 6-4 on the OVER/UNDER; Detroit is 4-4-2.
from
BetWWTS.com
It has all the makings of an epic 12-round heavyweight tilt featuring a couple of top contenders.
The AFC West-leading Denver Broncos (8-2) leave the favorable atmosphere of Mile High Stadium and travel to Big D to take on the NFC East-leading Dallas Cowboys (7-3) in one of two football feasts this Thanksgiving (Thursday, 4:15 p.m. ET, CBS).
What makes this contest particularly compelling is how closely these two teams match up, both offensively and defensively. Each team also has a Super Bowl winning coach patrolling the sidelines.
On offense, both the Broncos and the Cowboys feature quarterbacks that were not expected to excel this season.
For the Broncos, Jake Plummer has been mistake-prone through much of his nine-year NFL career. Interceptions have been the Snake?s biggest problem - last season he had 20 INTs, which was tied for the league lead.
This season, that has changed dramatically and much has been made about Plummer?s consistent, mistake-free performances. In 10 games, he has only three picks, which is the fewest in the NFL among starters.
Meanwhile, veteran QB Drew Bledsoe was acquired by Dallas in the off-season. For the past couple of years with Buffalo, Bledsoe was among the league leaders in sacks and his offensive numbers were noticeably in decline. Heading into the season, many felt Bledsoe was getting too old and too slow.
Yet after 10 games, Bledsoe has been sacked fewer times (although he?s still among the leaders), and his QB rating is among the top five in the league. His passing yards per game have improved significantly, and he too is making fewer mistakes.
As for the running game, both teams are splitting the workload between two primary backs. In Denver?s case, Mike Anderson and Tatum Bell together have more than 1,400 yards on the ground. For Dallas, Julius Jones and rookie Marion Barber have 867 yards combined.
Pulling in the pigskin, Plummer?s primary target has been Rod Smith who has 666 yards. For Bledsoe, it has been Terry Glenn with 748.
On defense, both teams are neck-and-neck. Through 10 games, Dallas is allowing an average of only 16.4 points per game (No. 4 in the league); the Broncos are allowing 16.9 (No. 3).
That said, the Cowboys? defense is more balanced ? they are strong on both their pass and rush defenses.
The Broncos, on the other hand, are skewed in favor of their rush defense. Denver is giving up less than 80 yards per game (No. 2) on the ground, but is allowing more than 240 through the air (No. 28).
With only 18 sacks this season, it?s clear the Broncos are giving opposing quarterbacks plenty of time to find receivers, something that should comfort Bledsoe. However, he?ll have to be wary of Denver CB Champ Bailey, who has five INTs, second-most in the NFL.
With these two teams so evenly matched, coaching will become a key component come Thursday. This battle of brains will pit Denver?s Mike Shanahan versus Dallas?s Bill Parcells, both of whom have two Super Bowl rings.
Who is the better of the two?
Many would likely give the nod to Parcells since he has successfully turned crummy teams in New England, New York and now Dallas into winners. Whereas, Shanahan has yet to win a playoff game since quarterback John Elway retired.
Regardless, bettors are leaning towards the Broncos in this game. We currently have Denver listed as a 2-point road dog at an expensive -130.
If you take into account the traditional three points given to the home team, the Broncos are, in a sense, favored by five.
Although Denver is 7-2-1 against the spread (ATS) this season, they are only 2-2 straight up (SU) on the road. The Cowboys, meanwhile, are 7-3 ATS and are 4-1 SU at home.
The total for this contest has been pegged at 41.5. The Broncos are 6-4 on the OVER/UNDER; Dallas is 3-6-1.
The other game:
The early Thanksgiving appetizer will feature the Atlanta Falcons (6-4 SU, 5-5 ATS) versus the Detroit Lions (4-6 SU, 6-4 ATS) in Motown (12:30 p.m. ET, FOX).
Playing on Thanksgiving has been a Detroit tradition dating back to 1934. The Lions have played 65 times on turkey day and have a record of 33-30-2.
Bettors don?t like Detroit?s chances of improving their record this year even though the Falcons are coming off two straight losses ? we have the Lions listed as +3 home dogs at -120.
Granted, the Birds are playing better away from home, where they are 3-1. The Lions, meanwhile, are 4-3 at Ford Field.
These two teams met once last year with the Lions beating the Falcons 17-10 as 7-point road dogs.
The total in the game has been set at 42. Atlanta is 6-4 on the OVER/UNDER; Detroit is 4-4-2.
