The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

rwells@tribunemedia.net

I KID you not. My struggles with picks over the last couple of weeks have been so severe that I have started to question the context in which I view sports, in particularly football.

Today is Thanksgiving, that I know. Thanksgiving in a football context usually marks the official start of playoff pushes across the National Football League. For me, today has to mark the start of my push to the top. Now at 86-70-2 and bottom of The Tribune’s experts picks competition, I feel the time is now to get right and, to be honest, be a little bit smarter in the choices I’m making.

Thanksgiving games

Minnesota Vikings (6-4) @ Detroit Lions (6-4)

Lions are at home, but the Vikings have a defence that can match up without that Lions’ explosive offence. The road to the NFC North crown starts with a win here.

VIKINGS

Washington Redskins

(6-3) @ Dallas

Cowboys (9-1)

Cowboys are hot. With credit to Naughty, his team is the unit that most of the league should fear.

The team’s style of play leads me to the conclusion that the Washington Redskins don’t possess the physicality to hang with the Cowboys for four long quarters.

COWBOYS

Pittsburgh Steelers

(5-5) @ Indianpolis

Colts (5-5)

In the last of the Thanksgiving Day match-ups, we have a meeting of two vastly different 5-5 teams.

The Steelers are certainly a team that has out-played its record, while the Colts, before Sunday’s win against the Titans, looked like a team playing for a top draft spot.

This game is in Indianapolis, but the Steelers travel well.

STEELERS

SUNDAY

1pm games

Tennessee Titans (5-6)

Chicago Bears (2-8)

Jay Cutler - done for the year, again.

TITANS

Jacksonville Jaguars

(2-8) @ Buffalo Bills

(5-5)

BILLS

Cincinnati Bengals

(3-6-1) @ Baltimore

Ravens (5-5)

No A J Green. Sorry Dalton.

RAVENS

Arizona Cardinals (4-5)

@ Atlanta Falcons (6-4)

If the Falcons are for real this time, it starts here.

FALCONS

New York Giants (7-3) @

Cleveland Browns (0-11)

The Browns are so terrible at football.

GIANTS

Los Angeles Rams (5-5)

@ New Orleans

Saints (4-6)

Defence, meet offence.

RAMS

San Francisco 49ers (1-9)

@ Miami Dolphins (6-4)

Miami are wildcard bound… wink.

DOLPHINS

San Diego Chargers

(4-6) @ Houston

Texans (6-4)

A Chargers win here wouldn’t be a surprise.

TEXANS

SUNDAY 4pm games

Seattle Seahawks (7-2-1)

@ Tampa Bay

Buccaneers (5-5)

The Bucs are proving that they can contend for a division crown, but the Seahawks look as if they are all the way ready for a return to the big game.

SEAHAWKS

Carolina Panthers (4-6)

@ Oakland Raiders (8-2)

The Panthers aren’t the same team from last year and they’re on the road this weekend.

RAIDERS

Kansas City Chiefs (7-3)

@ Denver Broncos (7-3)

Here is the Dolphins’ first chance to move closer to that wildcard spot they so covet. One of the two teams they are looking up at has to take a step back this weekend. The Broncos are struggling at quarterback and that could limit them down the stretch this season.

CHIEFS

Sunday night game

Patriots (8-2) @ New

York Jets (3-7)

No questions here.

PATRIOTS

Monday night game

Green Bay Packers

(4-6) @ Philadelphia

Eagles (5-5)

I want so badly to dismiss Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, but he is still a great quarterback. At some point, he is going to right that ship and get his team back on course in a division that isn’t that far out of reach. Here is to this week.

PACKERS