NFL Thanksgiving Day Triple Header

Thanksgiving offers three choices for NFL sports betting online

Thanksgiving.  A moment for all of us to take a step back from the break-neck pace of modern life and enjoy.  Enjoy our good fortune, whether that be health, wealth or wisdom.  So while we're stuffing our faces with carved turkey, oyster dressing, mashed potatoes,  and pecan pie, the fine folks at the NFL has given us another holiday treat....three games....more than ample opportunity to get comfortable in your favorite recliner and settle in for a NFL marathon.

New England Patriots vs Detroit Lions

The Lions playing on Thanksgiving day is as much a tradition as families arguing at the dinner table.  At 12:30 PM they host the New England Patriots who look to feast on generous servings of touchdowns, field goals, sacks and interceptions.

Tom Brady and the 8-2 Patriots will look to exploit the 2-8 Lion's defense both on the ground and through the air.  Detroit's rush defense ranks 26th in the NFL, allowing over 130 yards per game.  A healthy dose of BenJarvis Green-Ellis, who averages 4.3 yards per carry with 7 TDs, should be enough to open up the passing game for Brady and the New England receivers.  Brady has thrown for 19 TDs, 2362 yards and only 4 INTs, owning a QB rating of 100.6.

On offense, Detroit possesses a fairly potent air attack of their own.  Unfortunately, that will most likely not be on display against the Patriots since the former Georgia Bulldogs' quarterback, Matthew Stafford, is not available due to a shoulder injury.  Filling in for Stafford will be 9th year veteran, Shaun Hill, who has passed for 12 TDs and 9 INTs in 2010.

Tom Brady did not practice and is listed as questionable for the game, however, look for a steady serving of tight-end Gronkowski and running back Green-Ellis, and the Pats easily cover as -6 1/2 point favorites.

New Orleans Saints vs Dallas Cowboys

The New Orleans Saints are the defending Super Bowl Champions and are a respectable, if not dominating 7-3, good for 2nd place in the NFC South.  The Dallas Cowboys have lost Tony Romo to a broken collar bone, fired their head coach and are in last place of the NFC East at 3-7.  They are also winners of two consecutive games under interim head coach Jason Garrett and their 38 year old backup quarterback, Jon Kitna.

Over his last three starts, Kitna amassed an average passer rating of 106, by throwing 7 TDs, 3 INTs and averaging 9 yards per pass.  Repeating that success may prove difficult against the Saints who possess the 2nd best pass defense in the NFL.

New Orleans plays a mean defense, forcing turnovers at every opportunity and limiting teams to 17 points per game, 4th best in the league.  Strong safety Roman Harper, a 5th year player out of Alabama, has 5 forced fumbles and 1 interception.  Middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma, the former Miami Hurricanes standout, has 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 1 interception for the defending champs.

On offense, the Saints are without their normal fire-power.  Jeremy Shockey, Pro-Bowl tight end and former teammate of Vilma at Miami when the Hurricanes won the national title in 2001, is questionable for Thursday's game with a rib injury suffered during a TD catch.  Former Heisman trophy winner Reggie Bush is also listed as questionable, still recovering from an injured fibula.  Not available to play on Thanksgiving day are running backs Ladell Betts and  Pierre Thomas.

The Cowboy's defense must take advantage of New Orleans' injuries.  The Saints have the 3rd best passing attack in the NFL, while Dallas brings up the rear across the board on defense, ranking 21st against the pass and 22nd against the run.  Dallas may also end up choking on the proverbial wishbone, comprised of celebratory, spiked footballs in the end-zone.  The Cowboys allow on average 27.1 points per game, 28th in the league.

Online sportsbooks have the Saints listed as -3 1/2 point favorites.  Can Dallas avoid a stampede and round up a third consecutive victory?

Cincinnati Bengals vs New York Jets

I just love it when a plan comes together.  Can you guess which team is thinking that?  Here's a hint.  It's not a black and orange clawless cat, meowing its way beyond mediocrity to another season of bitter disappointment and fan alienation.

The Bengals are 2-8, rank 20th in points scored and 23rd in rushing yards per game.  QB Carson Palmer, the former USC Trojan star, has raked in 2,625 passing yards and 18 touchdowns.  However, he has also given away 13 interceptions and been sacked 17 times.  Things won't get any easier against the cardiac kids.

The Jets come through in the clutch.  And while they rank middle of the pack against the pass, 16th in the league, opponents have little hope of establishing a running game against New York's 5th ranked rush defense.  Putting points on the board is no easy feat either.  The Jets allow under 18 points per game, good for rank of 5th best in the league.

On offense the Jets are a bone-crunching rushing machine, averaging 146 yards per game.  LaDainian Tomlinson has 5 TDs and averages 4.5 yards per carry.  His career breathing second life since moving to the east coast from San Diego, Tomlinson shares the backfield with Shonn Greene, the 2nd year running back out of Iowa who is averaging 4.1 yards per carry.

The Bengals will have their paws full trying to stop the run, a goal they have not achieved so far this season.  Cincinnati allows 118 yards per game, 23rd in the NFL.  The Jet's last three games have been nail biters, and Tomlinson has failed to score a rushing TD in each.  If the Bengals defense can somehow limit the run, they can focus on the small task of stopping Mark Sanchez, Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes and Dustin Keller.  /sarcasm.

The Jets are 8-2, tied with New England at the top of the AFC East, and listed as -9 point favorites for Thursday's NFL sports betting.  They host a Cincinnati Bengals team on Thanksgiving day that will more than likely be the prey rather than the predator.