NFL Thanksgiving picks: Lions, Giants can cover big spreads
Jamaal Williams #30 of the Detroit Lions celebrates a rushing touchdown against the New York Giants at MetLife on Sunday, Nov 20, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey Credit: Mike Stobe
BUFFALO (7-3) AT DETROIT (4-6)
TV: CBS, 12:30 p.m.
Buffalo by 9.5; O/U: 54.5
Every Thanksgiving I ask myself the same questions: Should I trust the Lions on Turkey Day . . . and should I have that third helping of stuffing? Detroit, which has lost five in a row on Thanksgiving, enters on a three-game win streak as it hosts a team that just used its building as a weekend getaway. Let’s recap Buffalo’s last few days: Arrive in Detroit Saturday night after escaping the snow, beat the Browns on Sunday, head home and now back in Detroit. I’m tired just writing that. The hungry Lions won’t be an easy out, not with No. 2 overall pick Aidan Hutchinson making big plays and an offense with multiple playmakers. This is going to be a fun game. Scoop up all those points (and pass the stuffing).
The pick: Detroit
GIANTS (7-3) AT DALLAS (7-3)
TV: Fox, 4:30 p.m.
Dallas by 9.5; O/U: 45.5
The Cowboys just had an out-of-this-world win at Minnesota and the Giants had a back-to-Earth loss to the Lions at home. Not many want to pick Big Blue, but I will. The Giants lost to the Cooper Rush-led Cowboys, 23-16, in Week 3, so why would I back them on the road against Dak Prescott? In a word: coaching. The overmatched, undermanned Giants will find a way to keep this game in the 20s. This is Brian Daboll’s first time facing an opponent twice as Giants coach, and I expect a smart game plan that features a big helping of Saquon Barkley. Dallas was gashed on the ground two weeks ago at Green Bay. The Cowboys have lost three in a row on Thanksgiving, including last year as a 7.5-point favorite against the Raiders. Dallas could be flat in the first half after feeling full off its 40-3 win.
The pick: Giants
NEW ENGLAND (6-4) AT MINNESOTA (8-2)
TV: NBC, 8:20 p.m.
Minnesota by 2.5; O/U: 42.5
The Vikings should be thankful for the short week, a chance to erase the bad taste of Sunday’s home drubbing by the Cowboys. After their seven-game win streak was snapped, expect a bounce-back performance. The Patriots’ defense will keep this close, but the Vikings will be able to do what they’ve done best this season: win a close game. New England has won five of six, but two were fluky results against the Jets and the one loss (33-14 to Bears) was more eye-opening than the wins.
The pick: Minnesota
STAFF PICKS
Tom Rock: Buffalo, Dallas, Minnesota
Al Iannazzone: Buffalo, Dallas, Minnesota
Joe Manniello, an editor on the sports copy desk, has written the NFL picks column since 2015. Manniello joined Newsday in 2004. He graduated from St. John's.
