The Detroit Lions used to take a lot of pride in playing on Thanksgiving.
Lately, the Lions have been getting embarrassed when the nation tunes in to watch them.
Aaron Rodgers matched a career high with three touchdown passes and Charles Woodson grabbed two of his team's four interceptions, giving the Green Bay Packers a 34-12 win over Detroit.
The Lions have lost six straight games on the holiday, setting a franchise record, by an average of 23.2 points and eight of nine in the showcase game. The latest loss was an emotional setback for Detroit (2-9) four days after Matthew Stafford's gutsy play capped its biggest comeback win since 1957.
"It's a different feeling in this locker room -- especially on national television to come out like that," Detroit center Dominic Raiola said.
Before its recent slide, Detroit won four straight and nine of 12 on Thanksgiving before ex-general manager Matt Millen arrived in 2001 and made a lackluster franchise awful.
Green Bay (7-4) has won three straight since losing to Tampa Bay to improve its postseason prospects.
"We can't talk about the playoffs yet," Packers receiver Donald Driver said.
Stafford, playing with a sore non-throwing shoulder, threw one touchdown pass and four interceptions. He threw five TD passes in Sunday's win over Cleveland after trailing by 21.
"When you've got to throw the ball every down to try to get back into it when you're behind, guys are going to be all over it," Stafford said.
Kevin Smith's longest run was 6 yards and he finished with 43 on 18 carries for the Lions.
"This is the type of game that you hit your head on a wall about," Smith said.
The Lions looked as if they were building off their rare momentum by recovering a fumble on the opening kickoff and with Stafford's TD pass to Calvin Johnson.
But the Packers scored 27 unanswered points in the second and third quarters to turn the game into a familiar rout.
"We had to dig deep," Rodgers said. "There's a lot of resolve in this team and I'm confident in our team moving forward."
The Packers have won nine straight against the Lions overall, and coach Mike McCarthy is 8-0 against them.
Woodson returned his second interception for a score late in the game and struck a Heisman Trophy pose in the end zone.
"Being here in Michigan with all the fans I know I still have here," Woodson said. "I just wanted to remind those guys what it was like back when I was in school."
Woodson also forced and recovered a fumble and had a sack, capping an afternoon that included an announcement of his $2 million gift to the new University of Michigan Mott Children's Hospital.
"It was a good day," Woodson said with a grin.
It was for Rodgers, too, as usual against the Lions.
Rodgers was 28 of 39 for 348 yards and connected with Driver, Donald Lee and James Jones for scores. He has played Detroit four times and those passing totals rank among the top eight in his career.
Driver had seven receptions for 142 yards, including a 68-yard catch, and a TD that gave the Packers a 20-7 lead midway through the third quarter.
Rodgers and Driver both credited their much-maligned offensive line.
"There were a couple times when I held the ball for 4 or 5 seconds -- maybe more," Rodgers said. "When you have that kind of time with the kind of players that we have, we feel like we're going to make plays."
Green Bay played without cornerback Al Harris and linebacker Aaron Kampman, both of whom had season-ending knee injuries in last week's win.
"Our defense was huge," McCarthy said. "That was the No. 1 factor in our success."
Stafford was only 20 of 43 yards for 213 yards, and his four interceptions were one fewer than he had earlier this season. He was listed as doubtful for the game because of his shoulder injury, but his decision-making seemed to be more of a problem than his health.
"I don't think [the injured shoulder] was a factor at all," Stafford said.
Johnson, who was questionable with hand and knee injuries, only had a 9-yard catch to go with his 1-yard score. - Gambling Online
In Detroit's last game, Stafford broke an NFL rookie record with 422 yards passing, became the youngest player to throw five TD passes in a game and drew praise for playing with a dislocated, non-throwing shoulder on the final untimed play.
"I told him after the game, 'Around the league, we respect a guy who will come in hurt,'" Woodson said.
Detroit rookie TE Brandon Pettigrew, a first-round pick, hurt his left knee on the first drive and did not return. .. Green Bay OT Chad Clifton (hamstring) and Jordy Nelson (shoulder) were injured during the game. ... Stafford joined Dan Marino, Dave Krieg and Vince Ferragamo as the four QBs who have thrown four INTs a game after throwing at least five TDs since 1970, according to STATS, LLC. ... The Lions are 33-35-2 on Thanksgiving. Sports Gambling
Friday, November 27, 2009
NFL 2009: NY Giants vs Denver Broncos – 2009 Thanksgiving Day Football Game Live Streaming
Online Betting - NY Giants vs Denver Broncos is the third game set to kick off this Thanksgiving Day. The game will be seen live on NFL Network. It will be held at NY Giants Stadium at 8:20 PM EST.
Last week, Denver Broncos were drubbed 32-3 by San Diego Chargers at home, so they fall into 80-50 ATS angle. On December 6, 2009, the Broncos will be facing Kansas City at the Arrowhead Stadium while the New York Giants will be back immediately on action this November 29, as they face Carolina Panthers.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Thanksgiving Day NFL Previews: NFL 2009 Previews & Picks
The Annual Turkey Day trio of NFL games that kicks off the Week 12 card is setup to help the sports betting community ease into the action, starting with a NFC North divisional game between the Green Bay Packers (6-4) and Detroit Lions (2-8). Online sportsbook have listed the Packers (-10.5) as a double-digit favorite and the Over/Under is set at 47.
If it’s beginning to feel like a tradition for Thanksgiving’s first game of the day to seem a little meaningless, as far as playing a part in shaping the playoff picture, it’s because the Lions have only come into this game with a winning record once in the past nine years.
Detroit did excite fans at Ford Field last Sunday with a 38-37 come from behind victory against the Cleveland Browns but QB Matt Stafford was injured on the game’s final drive and has been all but ruled out of this contest vs. Green Bay. Lions head coach Jim Schwartz said Stafford is in incredible pain and that Daunte Culpepper is going to be the starter.
The Packers lead this series 87-64-7 all-time and even when provided with a generous line from oddsmakers the Lions are 0-4 ATS in 2009 against divisional opponents.
Oakland Raiders vs. Dallas Cowboys
Midday action pits the Oakland Raiders (3-7) against the Dallas Cowboys (7-3) and while this game is viewed by many as a token trip to Jerry Land for a Raiders team that has set records for futility, the underdog has been the one getting the Online betting action in this one so far. Online sportsbook SPORTSBETTING.com reported that over 60% of the volume at -14 was on the Raiders. Since the line move to -13.5, the wagering activity has balanced off on both teams.
Originally sets as a two-TD favorite, Dallas has been bought off the key number down to -13.5 points at sportsbooks. After a Week 2 loss to the New York Giants the Cowboys played three games on home turf, posting a perfect 3-0 ATS record. When the Washington Redskins paid a visit in Week 11 the betting trends were on the road team and the Skins nearly won the game straight-up.
Dallas does not seem content to rest on the laurels of its one-point victory and during its three-game win streak at home the Cowboys did cover the spread by an average of more than 11 points per game. Oakland has gained confidence under the leadership of newly named starting QB Bruce Gradkowski and is playing off a 20-17 upset win over Cincinnati.
It’s the third time the Raiders have surprised an opponent this year, getting a straight up win. However, it is worth noting that after their first two wins they have not performed well in their next start, going 0-2 straight and up and against the spread and it wasn’t even close, as the Raiders were beaten by 20 and 38 points.
NY Giants at Denver:
The New York Giants (6-4) are in Denver (6-4) for the nightcap and just four days after ending a losing streak that lasted 42 days, the G-Men are laying points on the road. Lines opened at Giants -5 but New York seems like the consensus best bet as they have been bet as high as -7 at several betting outlets.
New York has scored an average of 26.6 points per game this year compared to the Broncos average of just 17, but the Giants also allow more than five points per game more than Denver on the defensive side of the ball. - Betting Online
Favs and dogs have split the first two Thursday night matchups this season and both games have stayed under the posted total. That’s a sharp contrast to 2008 when Thursday night primetime games produced six overs to just one under. The total in Denver is 42.
Enjoy all the Thanksgiving Day NFL action.
If it’s beginning to feel like a tradition for Thanksgiving’s first game of the day to seem a little meaningless, as far as playing a part in shaping the playoff picture, it’s because the Lions have only come into this game with a winning record once in the past nine years.
Detroit did excite fans at Ford Field last Sunday with a 38-37 come from behind victory against the Cleveland Browns but QB Matt Stafford was injured on the game’s final drive and has been all but ruled out of this contest vs. Green Bay. Lions head coach Jim Schwartz said Stafford is in incredible pain and that Daunte Culpepper is going to be the starter.
The Packers lead this series 87-64-7 all-time and even when provided with a generous line from oddsmakers the Lions are 0-4 ATS in 2009 against divisional opponents.
Oakland Raiders vs. Dallas Cowboys
Midday action pits the Oakland Raiders (3-7) against the Dallas Cowboys (7-3) and while this game is viewed by many as a token trip to Jerry Land for a Raiders team that has set records for futility, the underdog has been the one getting the Online betting action in this one so far. Online sportsbook SPORTSBETTING.com reported that over 60% of the volume at -14 was on the Raiders. Since the line move to -13.5, the wagering activity has balanced off on both teams.
Originally sets as a two-TD favorite, Dallas has been bought off the key number down to -13.5 points at sportsbooks. After a Week 2 loss to the New York Giants the Cowboys played three games on home turf, posting a perfect 3-0 ATS record. When the Washington Redskins paid a visit in Week 11 the betting trends were on the road team and the Skins nearly won the game straight-up.
Dallas does not seem content to rest on the laurels of its one-point victory and during its three-game win streak at home the Cowboys did cover the spread by an average of more than 11 points per game. Oakland has gained confidence under the leadership of newly named starting QB Bruce Gradkowski and is playing off a 20-17 upset win over Cincinnati.
It’s the third time the Raiders have surprised an opponent this year, getting a straight up win. However, it is worth noting that after their first two wins they have not performed well in their next start, going 0-2 straight and up and against the spread and it wasn’t even close, as the Raiders were beaten by 20 and 38 points.
NY Giants at Denver:
The New York Giants (6-4) are in Denver (6-4) for the nightcap and just four days after ending a losing streak that lasted 42 days, the G-Men are laying points on the road. Lines opened at Giants -5 but New York seems like the consensus best bet as they have been bet as high as -7 at several betting outlets.
New York has scored an average of 26.6 points per game this year compared to the Broncos average of just 17, but the Giants also allow more than five points per game more than Denver on the defensive side of the ball. - Betting Online
Favs and dogs have split the first two Thursday night matchups this season and both games have stayed under the posted total. That’s a sharp contrast to 2008 when Thursday night primetime games produced six overs to just one under. The total in Denver is 42.
Enjoy all the Thanksgiving Day NFL action.
Friday, November 20, 2009
NFL Underdogs – Strength in Numbers – NFL Live Streaming
While overall, the numbers when betting home dogs this year show a subpar 20-24 ATS (against the spread) record, stats from the past seven weeks alone can be looked at in a different light. In Week 7, road favorites went 7-0 straight up and ATS, but from Week’s 4 through 10 (not including the seven wins from Week 7), road favorites were just 11-11 straight-up, covering the spread only seven out of 22 times.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Three-way tie for 2009 Delta River title
Pleasant Grove High School needed a win last Saturday at Jesuit’s Loyola Field to claim a share of the 2009 Delta River League title for a third consecutive season.
They did win, thus splitting the honor with Folsom and Monterey Trail, but it wasn’t easy. Pleasant Grove had to overcome injuries and an inspired Jesuit defense for a 21-14 win.
Pleasant Grove grabbed its third straight DRL championship in the process, but it took a Mark Jenkins six-yard run with only 1:03 left in the game to clinch the win.
“He’s our JV running back and he’s a good one,” Pleasant Grove head coach Joe Cattolico said. “We ran out of healthy varsity running backs.
“That’s been the story of our football betting program,” he continued. “We’ve had so many injuries we’ve lost lots of kids. There’s been several sophomores off our JV team step up and do a great job. We’ve been plucking kids off our JV team all season and they’ve played some critical roles for us.”
Jenkins responded to his first and only varsity start with 220 yards on 34 carries and three touchdowns.
Now, Jenkins may be the man called upon to run the ball at tailback Friday when the Eagles open the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs against Franklin, the Delta Valley Conference’s second-place team.
All-purpose back Jalen Saunders was held out of action in the first half because of a deep thigh bruise. Cattolico was forced to use Saunders on some offensive plays in the second half because of the close score.
“We tried to hold him out of the game, but the situation didn’t allow us to do that,” Cattolico said.
Quarterback
Taylor Congdon, who was held out of the second half of the Folsom game the week prior due to injury, did play Saturday. He threw for 117 yards.
But, out of the playoffs and playing in its final regular season game
, Jesuit played inspired football, especially on defense. Safety Brian Celsi led the Marauders with 11 tackles, while defensive lineman Joshua Hines added nine tackles and a diving interception of a Congdon pass in the third quarter.
Pleasant Grove scored on its opening possession of the game with Jenkins capping an eight-play, 65-yard drive with a three-yard run. The Eagles tacked on a 71-yard drive in six plays midway through the second quarter. Jenkins scored his second touchdown from three yards out.
Trailing 14-7 at the half, Jesuit drove 80 yards in 15 plays and consumed 6:30 off the clock to tie the game on Jackson Welch’s four-yard run.
On the Eagles’ next drive, Hines’ interception gave Jesuit the ball back at its 27. But, Pleasant Grove’s defense tightened and forced the Marauders to punt after cornerback Zan Bell came up with a key deflection of a Nicolas Norris pass.
Defensively, Jonathan Bias led Pleasant Grove with 12 tackles and also had a fumble recovery with only 33 seconds left in the game to preserve the Eagle win.
Devin Young added nine tackles and a half sack. Safety Kyle Castro had seven tackles.
In total, four of the six DRL teams qualified for the postseason. Because of its enrollment numbers, Folsom will compete in Division II. The Bulldogs got a fourth seed with its 9-1 record but is in the same division with Grant, Del Oro, Rocklin and St. Mary’s, the defending Division I section champion.
Grant is the defending state champion - Betting Guide
“Because of the quality of our league, Jesuit’s record is misleading,” Cattolico said. “They are a better football team
than many clubs in other leagues with better records.”
Pleasant Grove, the reigning Division I runner-up, earned the seventh seed and will host No. 10 Franklin.
Monterey Trail was seeded fourth in Division I and will host Pitman on Friday night. Sheldon, which got an 11th seed, will travel to Oak Ridge.
They did win, thus splitting the honor with Folsom and Monterey Trail, but it wasn’t easy. Pleasant Grove had to overcome injuries and an inspired Jesuit defense for a 21-14 win.
Pleasant Grove grabbed its third straight DRL championship in the process, but it took a Mark Jenkins six-yard run with only 1:03 left in the game to clinch the win.
“He’s our JV running back and he’s a good one,” Pleasant Grove head coach Joe Cattolico said. “We ran out of healthy varsity running backs.
“That’s been the story of our football betting program,” he continued. “We’ve had so many injuries we’ve lost lots of kids. There’s been several sophomores off our JV team step up and do a great job. We’ve been plucking kids off our JV team all season and they’ve played some critical roles for us.”
Jenkins responded to his first and only varsity start with 220 yards on 34 carries and three touchdowns.
Now, Jenkins may be the man called upon to run the ball at tailback Friday when the Eagles open the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs against Franklin, the Delta Valley Conference’s second-place team.
All-purpose back Jalen Saunders was held out of action in the first half because of a deep thigh bruise. Cattolico was forced to use Saunders on some offensive plays in the second half because of the close score.
“We tried to hold him out of the game, but the situation didn’t allow us to do that,” Cattolico said.
Quarterback
Taylor Congdon, who was held out of the second half of the Folsom game the week prior due to injury, did play Saturday. He threw for 117 yards.
But, out of the playoffs and playing in its final regular season game
, Jesuit played inspired football, especially on defense. Safety Brian Celsi led the Marauders with 11 tackles, while defensive lineman Joshua Hines added nine tackles and a diving interception of a Congdon pass in the third quarter.
Pleasant Grove scored on its opening possession of the game with Jenkins capping an eight-play, 65-yard drive with a three-yard run. The Eagles tacked on a 71-yard drive in six plays midway through the second quarter. Jenkins scored his second touchdown from three yards out.
Trailing 14-7 at the half, Jesuit drove 80 yards in 15 plays and consumed 6:30 off the clock to tie the game on Jackson Welch’s four-yard run.
On the Eagles’ next drive, Hines’ interception gave Jesuit the ball back at its 27. But, Pleasant Grove’s defense tightened and forced the Marauders to punt after cornerback Zan Bell came up with a key deflection of a Nicolas Norris pass.
Defensively, Jonathan Bias led Pleasant Grove with 12 tackles and also had a fumble recovery with only 33 seconds left in the game to preserve the Eagle win.
Devin Young added nine tackles and a half sack. Safety Kyle Castro had seven tackles.
In total, four of the six DRL teams qualified for the postseason. Because of its enrollment numbers, Folsom will compete in Division II. The Bulldogs got a fourth seed with its 9-1 record but is in the same division with Grant, Del Oro, Rocklin and St. Mary’s, the defending Division I section champion.
Grant is the defending state champion - Betting Guide
“Because of the quality of our league, Jesuit’s record is misleading,” Cattolico said. “They are a better football team
than many clubs in other leagues with better records.”
Pleasant Grove, the reigning Division I runner-up, earned the seventh seed and will host No. 10 Franklin.
Monterey Trail was seeded fourth in Division I and will host Pitman on Friday night. Sheldon, which got an 11th seed, will travel to Oak Ridge.
