Thanksgiving Football

There is a third game in the 8ET timeslot. It's Denver at Kansas City, of note is an AFC team hosting a game. It will air on the NFL Network (available in HD depending on satellite/cable service provider) instead of broadcast or ESPN (though I think the DEN and KC network affiliates will have the opportunity to air the game locally. I wonder if it will draw a higher rating than the lame Lions in the 12ET time slot.

12:30 PM ET - Miami 23 Detroit 10. I'm wondering if the NFL is going to cancel the Lions' hosting Thanksgiving football if GM Matt Millen isn't gone before the next schedule is made. Maybe they can threaten Detroit with Flex Scheduling for THEIR Thanksgiving game. I'm not too disappointed that I'll be in the car for the start of this game!

4:15 PM ET - Dallas 27 Tampa Bay 13. Tampa will have to come up with a Herculean effort to defeat the surging Cowboys. I fear having to listen to Joe Buck announce this game.

I'm not surprised by Cowboy PK Mike Vanderjagt's struggles, search for his name (CTRL-F) in my post following the Steelers-Colts game last season:

http://webjavaworld.blogspot.com/2006_01_01_webjavaworld_archive.html

2005 Playoffs - Steelers 20, Colts 17. MV missed way wide right at end of regulation (46 yds)
2004 Opener - Patriots 30, Colts 27. MV missed way wide right at end of regulation (44 yds)
2000 Playoffs - MV missed way wide right in overtime (42 yds).

Once, an isolated incident. Twice, a trend. Three times, ... Houston, we have a problem.

8:00 ET Denver 23 Kansas City 17. Al Davis can't be happy that the AFC West rivalry being showcased in this one doesn't involve his Raiders, but I can't remember the last time they won an AFC West game. OK, it was in the snow against the Broncos in 2004 (the snow is the only reason I remember that). The Broncos were ambushed by LaDanian Tomlinson and the Chargers in the second half last week, the East Coast newspaper audience had to think that the writers just changed some names and numebrs from the Cincinnati game the week before! QB Jake Plummer hasn't played well this season and needs to rediscover his 2005 form.

BCS - Michigan played well enough in my mind that they could end up behind USC, Florida, Arkansas, or maybe West Virginia should those teams win out. Unfortunately for the Wolverines, college football polling isn't like a golf competition where a low score can be posted early and hold up on its own merit. USC, Florida, and Arkansas all have games left against good (UCLA, Florida State) and excellent (Notre Dame, LSU, Ark-Fla: each other) teams on their schedule that offer the opportunity to leave a strong impression with the voters. The challengers to #2 ranked according to the probability they can pass Michigan:

USC - Still has to win two more games, and this team has been winning ugly. They called on a backup kicker to kick a 49-yard field goal to tie up Cal at 9-9 in the 3rd quarter. Their last TD came on a 4th and 2 downfield pass (I was happy to see a formation with WR's in it, unlike last year's alignment agianst Texas).

Fla - They cleaned up on Western Carolina last week. I-AA opponent? This week's game against FSU shouldn't be a difficult victory, even if it's a rivalry game.

WV - Their one loss was on the road to Louisville, stud RB Steve Slaton was injured in the second half, they fell behind while he was out. If they beat Rutgers at home they might (unlikely based on current BCS rankings) challenge the Wolverines.

Ark - They lost 50-14 to USC, and their SEC road wasn't as challenging as Florida's.

ND - They won't be able to overcome their 47-21 loss to Michigan; the Wolverines are in the BCS clubhouse ahead of the Irish.