Before we get into the meat of what transpired week 12 lets pay homage to one of the greatest to ever carry a football, Barry Sanders. Here is a Lions Thanksgiving day game where Barry destroyed the Bears defense for 3 TDs. He only ran the ball 19 times but had 167 yards. That was the year before he retired and he finished with over 2,000 yards rushing in 1997. Barry was special and hung it up too soon.
Thanksgiving football, Barry Sanders, and, Calvin Johnson, to millenials, are the only things that come to mind when you think of the Detroit Lions. The Lions and Cowboys gave up 41 points apiece on Thanksgiving. It’s too bad that the best game scheduled for Thanksgiving was pushed to Tuesday due to Covid-19 risks. The Lions have lost 4 straight games on Thanksgiving. Watson torched the Lions for 4 TDs and over 300 yards passing. Wide Receiver Will Fuller was the prime recipient for Watson with over 170 yards and 2 TDs.
The Cowboys defense was throttled on the ground and was bottled up on Offense. Rookie Running Back Antonio Gibson had 120 yards and 3 scores. How can you not pull for Alex Smith and Ron Rivera? They are overcoming serious obstacles. We are all struggling in 2020 but watching Rivera battle through Cancer treatments and Alex Smith come back from a career-ending-type of injury two years ago. It’s why we love Sports. However, saying you are going to win the NFC East is like saying you won the Pac 12 Conference Championship in football. It’s just a bad division. The Giants and Washington are on top of the division at 4-7. If you play for a Ron Rivera led team you will be a defensive minded team. Which is no surprise they drafted the best defensive player in the draft with Ohio State Chase Young. The defense plays with a mean streak and Defense does win championships after all everyone knows that.
The Broncos and Saints get into a battle through the air with both quarterbacks lighting it up for a total of 91 yards passing. Taysom Hill, filling in for Drew Brees threw for 78 yards and added 2 rushing TDs. But the major story was the QB situation in Denver. They had no active QBs until a day before the game. Their savior at Quarterback was a Practice squad Wide Receiver. Kendal Hinton was 1 for 9 for 13 yards but you can’t help but respect the man. Two days earlier you are busting it in practice to make the NFL roster as a Wide Receiver but instead you have to run the offense on Sunday? Hinton earned some respect around the league for even going out there against the tough Saints D.
Barring any setbacks the Chiefs are on cruise control to a second consecutive Super Title for Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. Mahomes lit up the Buccaneers defense for 462 yards and 3 TDs. Tyreek Hill can’t be stopped that is a fact. He had 13 grabs for 269 yards and 3 TDs. Those are video game-type numbers meaning they aren’t real!
Going into the 2020 season the Chargers biggest question mark was at the QB position with Tyrod Taylor. Philip Rivers, the long-time face of the franchise is gone and we’re going out with a conservative QB with tons of weapons to air it out to. Well, the Justin Herbert era has begun a little earlier than expected and he has broken rookie records in the process. He’s the only rookie in NFL history with 300+ pass YPG (Yards Per Game) and a 100+ Passer Rating. So, with that being said, Anthony Lynn’s decision-making and clock management has the Chargers at 3-8 and bottom of the division. There is too much talent on this team to be 3-8. After watching Joey Bosa’s game against the Bills you can’t help but feel bad for him. He had 3 sacks, 5 QB hits, and a fumble recovery. A lot of his damage came in critical situations. When they needed a big play he came up with it. It’s too bad to see those performances happen in losing efforts. Lynn looked confused out there and unsure of himself. Chiefs Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy would be the best scenario for Herbert in his 2nd season if Tom Telesco would to part ways with Lynn.
Other News and Scores
- -Raiders get dropped by the Falcons in true Raider fashion. They lost 43-6 vs. the Dirty Birds in the ATL.
- -Derrick Henry, or in the league we call him King Henry. He pummeled the leagues best defense for 170+ yards and 3 TDs vs. the Colts. Titans won 45-26.
- -A Game-Winning Field Goal as time expired from kicker Nick Folk, and Arizona Wildcat alumn, to put the Patriots over Kyler Murray and the Cards. Cars lose 20-17.
- -49ers show life with a Game-Winning Field Goal as time expired to put them over the Rams 23-20.
BigCatSports 
Well Done Nick, I just hope you are not looking past the growing pains that a young, yet proven, QB brings to the table, Herbert has the size and arm strength, if he can stay healthy, we may have a great prospect for a legendary NFL career. Keep up the good work.
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