The Bears and Lions are two Thanksgiving staples that are already plucked and stuffed. Yes, even in the National Parity league, there are turkeys, and they do not always make for a tasty treat. So, the first game this Thursday is likely to interest only zealous denizens of those two cities. The tryptophan may wear off a little when the Cowboys and Raiders try to bounce off of their recent losses later in the day, but a sweet dessert is not guaranteed. Ditto for the Saints and Bills, whose offering is on the menu for Thursday night.

To be clear, the Cowboys and Bills are still leading their divisions and are almost a sure bet to garner at least a wild card. But the fact that all six Thanksgiving Day teams are coming off of losses makes us worry about the festivities . . . well, leaving a bad taste in our mouths?

If that happens, let's hope there are no leftovers!

This Sunday, the NFL fare looks a little more nourishing.  The Steelers visit the Bengals in what has suddenly turned into a divisional must-see. Meanwhile, the Dolphins try to get back into the playoff picture, hosting those suddenly-ferocious Panthers. And the Bucs try to tame the Colts, who are themselves bucking and kicking for the lead in their division, the AFC South.

Speaking of the AFC South, those stumbling giants in Titan-ville face a very hot Patriots team in Foxboro. Yes, I am looking for the Titans to rebound, but I know that the game could go either way.

In the feature race of the day, the Chargers and Broncos gallop toward the lead in the super-tough AFC West. And I certainly can't overlook the Rams and the Packers in one of the NFC's most anticipated power struggles — of not just this weekend, but this season.

So, dear fellow fans, the key to the weekend may well be to do your snoozing on Thursday afternoon, start your shopping on Thursday evening, and be rested and ready by Sunday. Last weekend, the shocking upsets continued, but I at least managed a winning record: 8-7.

Here are all the Week 12 matches — and my picks.

NFL Week 12
 
       Away               Home              My Pick
 
1.     Bears               Lions                Bears
2.     Raiders            Cowboys         Cowboys
3.     Bills                  Saints              Saints
4.     Steelers           Bengals            Steelers
5.     Panthers          Dolphins          Dolphins
6.     Eagles             Giants              Eagles
7.     Titans             Patriots           Titans
8.     Falcons            Jaguars            Falcons
9.     Buccaneers     Colts                Buccaneers
10.  Jets                  Texans             Jets
11.  Chargers          Broncos           Chargers
12.  Vikings             49ers               Vikings
13.  Rams               Packers            Rams
14.  Browns            Ravens             Ravens
15.  Seahawks        Washington    Washington.

If I don't get too stuffed on Thursday, there'll be room for beer and chips on Sunday. Either way, turkey sandwiches are out.