A Year of New York Football Turkey Plus Five Must See NFL Games

If you are looking for the biggest turkey's this Thanksgiving holiday look no further than the sports teams that comprise the New York area market.

Yes, we might have had our version of the Turkey Bowl back on October 29 when the Jets somehow inked out a 13-10 overtime win over the Giants, but let's get real, that was only just the appetizer.

Both Jets and Giants fans came into this 2023 season with high expectations. Some might say unreasonably high expectations.

Jets fans thought Aaron Rodgers would lead them to a Super Bowl berth, exercising 54 years of misery, but the ghosts of Jets past took out Rodgers Achillies, and with it, slowly but surely, the Jets season went with it.

Now the Jets have bench quarterback Zach Wilson after weeks of less than mediocre play by the offense. What took so long to make this decision? In the end, Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas have cranberry sauce all over the face with this one. Another turkey of a season for Jets fans.

The Giants haven't been much better. A playoff team a year ago, the wheels came of in a 40-0 loss on Opening Day to Dallas. It's been downhill since.

We have seen Brian Daboll raising fits on the sideline. Daniel Jones played poorly, then getting injured ... twice. He's now out for the year with a ACL tear.

Back-up Tyrod Taylor was lost with a rib injury, and the Giants are now looking to the Jersey boy, Tommy DeVito to save face at 3-8.

At least the G-Men have a Pro Bowler and definite First Team All Pro in linebacker Kayvon Thibadeaux who leads the team with 10.5 sacks this season.

Pass the side dishes for some NFL Turkey picks.

Remember when people would roll their eyes with the Lions on Thanksgiving? It was like having your smelly aunt come over for Thanksgiving and grab your face like you were still 5-years old. But that was then, this is now.
The Lions are 8-2 and are must see TV. They are off to their best start in over 60 years with head coach Dan Campbell hitting all the right buttons.
They face a Packers team that has played better of late, but this is a coming out party and a statement game for Detroit.
PICK: LIONS 34 - PACKERS 21.

There is always that one game on Thanksgiving that is boring, forgettable, and just on for background noise. This is that game. The Commanders are bad, their offensive line even worse. Look for Dallas' D to throw it back to September when Mikah Parsons and Co. were wreaking havoc on the league.

PICK: COWBOYS 38 - COMMANDERS 10

The 49ers are suddenly on a roll again. Wins over the Jaguars and Bucs have people believing in Brock Purdy and the Niners again. It helps that the San Fran's defense continues to be one of the best in football. Tough test on Thursday night. Divisional game in Seattle. The Seahawks always tune it up for the 49ers, but have been in a slump losing two of their last three. This is a must win for the Seahawks to stay in the divisional and wild card races.

PICK: 49ers 27 - SEAHAWKS 24

Nothing screams Black Friday more than the Jets -- dressed in all black -- trotting out Tim Boyle as its starting quarterback. Got a feeling Amazon wishes they never got this game on their schedule. Expect the Dolphins to slap around the Jets offense as Tim Boyle flounders in his Jets starting debut. New York's defense will keep it close for a period of time before Tua Tagovailoa hits Tyreek Hill on a game-breaker.

PICK: DOLPHINS 26 - JETS 13

This match-up went from Super Bowl to Ooof Bowl. It's hard to believe it has been 12 years since these same two franchises met in Super Bowl XLVI, but here we are. The only face from that game that is still here is Pats coach Bill Belichick. Billy would love nothing more than to return to MetLife Stadium and beat his other former team, the Giants, with whom he was defensive coordinator with in the 1980's.

What will Belichick have in store for Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito is a question. And does anyone believe in Mac Jones?

PICK: GIANTS 17 - PATRIOTS 13

After Monday night's 21-17 win over Kansas City it is hard to imagine the Eagles not getting to or even winning the Big Game. I know, blasphemy! But each time the Eagles opened a season at 9-1 they went to the Big Dance. Sunday they host inconsistent Buffalo Bills down in Philly. Expect the Bills to hang around, but eventually the Eagles will prove to be too much to handle.

PICK: EAGLES 26 - BILLS 21.