The Cincinnati Bengals and their primadona wide receivers travel to the new Meadowlands Stadium to take on the New York Jets in the sole Thanksgiving evening NFL match-up in Week 12.

Fans attending the game may opt to BYOF (bring your own flashlight) after last week’s temporary power outage at the new Meadowlands Stadium in the 3rd quarter of the Giants - Cowboys game.

The Bengals Jets contest is the third of three games being played on Thanksgiving. The first kicks off at 12:30 pm with the New England Patriots visiting the Detroit Lions. Then, in the mid-afternoon 4:15 start; the New Orleans Saints take on Jerry Jones’s Dallas Cowboys in Texas.

BENGALS JETS: GAME DAY PARTICULARS
Visitors	Cincinnati Bengals (2-8)
Home	New York Jets (8-2)
When	Thursday Nov 25 08:20 pm EST
Where	Meadowlands Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Weather	Rain, Drizzle 40º F
TV	NFL Network
Favorite	Jets -9
Under/Over	43.5

BENGALS JETS PREVIEW
Although the New York Jets share the lead with the Patriots in the AFC East they’ve had to pull out last minute wins in their previous 3 games against teams with a combined record of 9-21.

The Jets needed a field goal as time expired in regulation to beat the Detroit Lions (2-8) on Nov 7. They needed an overtime TD pass from Sanchez to Holmes to beat the Cleveland Browns (3-7) 26-20. And last week, the Jets needed 20 4th quarter points, including a touchdown pass with 6 seconds remaining to beat the 4-6 Houston Texans 30-27.

There’s really nothing to talk about on the other side. Going into NFL Week 12, the Bengals are 2-8, having lost their last seven games. Their last win goes all the back to September 26 against the 1-9 Carolina Panthers. The Bengals lack of success against the run has been the contributing factor to their dismal record in 2010.

But the Bengals do have a pair of primadonna wide receivers in Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens, but the Jets counter these passing threats with a less obnoxious but super-talented defensive duo in Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie.

BENGALS JETS INJURIES

Cincinnati Bengals Injury Notables
Player	Pos	Injury	Status
Tank Johnson	DT	Right Knee	Injured Reserve
Antwan Odom	DE	Wrist	Out
Cedric Benson	RB	Foot	Questionable
Rey Maualuga	LB	Thigh	Questionable

New York Jets Injury Notables
Player	Pos	Injury	Status
Dwight Lowery	CB	Concussion	Out
Marquice Cole	CB	Hamstring	Out
Jerricho Cotchery	WR	Groin	Out

* Players listed as Probable not listed

BENGALS JETS ANALYSIS
The most glaring statistic is the Lions lack of rushing yards per game. If the Bengals can’t run against the Jets, forget about it. The dynamic defensive duo of Revis and Cromartie are more than enough to stop Ochocinco and Owens in the air.

Injuries shouldn’t be a big factor. The Jets will be without WR Jerricho Cotchery but it shouldn’t make a big difference since the Jets will win this game on the ground.

As for Cincinnati, QB Carson Palmer and the rest of the Bengals offense will be stymied by the Jets defense. However, the Jets defense has given up more points than most analysts and experts expected.

Bengals OFFENSE Ranking		Jets DEFENSE Ranking
Rush Yds/Gms	96.6 23rd	Rush Yds/Gms	90.3 5th
Pass Yds/Gms	249.6 8th	Pass Yds/Gms	220.0 16th
Tot Yds/Gms	346.2 14th	Tot Yds/Gms	310.3 7th

Jets OFFENSE Ranking		Bengals DEFENSE Ranking
Rush Yds/Gms	145.9 4th	Rush Yds/Gms	118.3 23rd
Pass Yds/Gms	220.0 17th	Pass Yds/Gms	223.0 18th
Tot Yds/Gms	365.9 9th	Tot Yds/Gms	341.3 18th

BENGALS JETS GAME PREDICTION
The Bengals will be in for a long night. The Jets rushing attack, lead by Ladainian Tomlinson (153 Att, 692 Yds. 5 TDs) and Shonn Greene (122 Att, 505 Yds, 1 TD), will allow the Jets to dominate the time of possession and give the Jets the points they need to beat the spread.

The nflthisweek.com predicts the Jets will win outright and the spread.
Take the Jets (-9) and the Over (43.5)

JETS 28  17

Source: foxsports.com

The NFL this week starts on Thursday, Nov 25. Thanksgiving Day the New England Patriots travel to the Motor City to play against the Detroit Lions.

PATRIOTS LIONS: GAME DAY PARTICULARS
Visitors	New England Patriots
Home	Detroit Lions
When	Thursday Nov 25 12:30 EST
Where	Ford Field, Detroit
Weather	Sunny 39º F
TV	CBS
Spread	Patriots -7
Under/Over	51.5

PATRIOTS LIONS PREVIEW
On paper, the Lions look like cooked turkeys ready to be gobbled up by the almighty Pats. The Lions are 2-8, sit alone in the NFC North cellar and are coming off a disappointing 35-9 road loss against the Cowboys in week 11.

The Patriots, on the other hand, are tied for the lead with the New York Jets in the AFC East with an 8-2 record.

But these statistics can be deceiving! New England’s defense has been pitiful. Only the Houston Texans have given up more points this 2010 NFL season.

The Lions have lost 5 games by 5 points or less and have are 2-2 at home. In addition, playing at home on Thanksgiving every year is an advantage. Something even the Patriots head coach Bill Belichick admits to:
”It’s great to be in this routine,” he said. ”Having been in Detroit for two years, it was a game that you knew every year was your game. You knew you were going to be playing at home.
”It was something you were comfortable with and you actually looked forward to and (you) didn’t have to travel, all those kinds of things. I think it’s a great game for Detroit, the Lions, the city and for football.”

PATRIOTS LIONS INJURIES
Detroit Lions kicker, Jason Hanson will not play due to a right knee injury. Both New England Patriots offensive right guards Stephen Neal and Rich Olrnberger are questionable.

Detroit Lions Injury Notables
Player	Pos	Injury	Status
Jason Hanson	K	Right Knee	Out
Matt Stafford	QB	Right Shoulder	Out
Cliff Avril	DE	Quadricep	Out
Kevin Smith	RB	Thumb	Out
Isaiah Ekejiuba	LB	Knee	Questionable
Tony Scheffler	TE	Shoulder	Questionable

New England Patriots Injury Notables
Player	Pos	Injury	Status
Stephen Neal	RG	Shoulder	Questionable
Rich Ohrnberger	RG	Illness	Questionable
Jarrad Page	SS	Calf	Questionable
Mron Pryor	DT	Back	Questionable
Brandon Tate	WR	Illness	Questionable
Fred Taylor	DT	Toe	Questionable
Jonathan Wilhite	CB	Hip	Questionable

PATRIOTS LIONS ANALYSIS
The most glaring statistic is the Lions offensive passing yards per game versus the Pats defense against the pass.

Patriots OFFENSE Ranking		Lions DEFENSE Ranking
Rush Yds/Gms	112.8 16th	Rush Yds/Gms	130.6 26th
Pass Yds/Gms	226.6 16th	Pass Yds/Gms	214.6 13th
Tot Yds/Gms	339.4 17th	Tot Yds/Gms	344.2 19th

Lions OFFENSE Ranking		Patriots DEFENSE Ranking
Rush Yds/Gms	80.5 31st	Rush Yds/Gms	108.66 17th
Pass Yds/Gms	255.9 6th	Pass Yds/Gms	289.6 31st
Tot Yds/Gms	336.4 19th	Tot Yds/Gms	398.4 30th

PATRIOTS LIONS PREDICTION
The combination of the Lions impressive passing game with the Pats pathetic passing defense should keep the score close.
Expect the Lions to try and take advantage of the Patriots injuries at right guard. If they can pressure Tom Brady, he may make some mistakes.

The nflthisweek.com predicts the Patriots will win outright but NOT cover the spread.

PATRIOTS 28 LIONS 24

Source: foxsports.com

Detroit Lions new head coach, Jim Schwartz, has announced that rookie quarterback Matt Stafford will start Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints. Stafford and veteran Daunte Culpepper had been battling all pre-season for the job. Swartz stated that Stafford won the job outright and not a case of Culpepper losing it.

“I was very pleased with what (Stafford) did in the preseason, going back to rookie minicamp and straight through,” Schwartz said. “I think he’s proven every step along the way that he’s ready.”

When asked if he was committed to the bumpy road ahead with a starting rookie QB. Schwartz said “This isn’t an internship, this isn’t a trial basis”. “He’s our starting quarterback.”

The decision to start Stafford is a risky one, but coming off an 0-16 season, what is there to lose? In fact, the decision should help rejuvenate the football club and give the Motor City fans something to be excited about this 2009 NFL football season.

Stafford was taken with the first pick of the April NFL draft by the Lions. Stafford and the Lions reached a contract agreement and tied the knot when Stafford signed a six-year, $72 million contract with the Lions.

Stafford’s first NFL start will come against the much improved New Orleans Saints, in New Orleans, on Sunday, September 13 2009 at 1:00 pm EST.