Scott Garceau: NFL Top 3 In Week 12
This is exactly the way the NFL brass wants it, as we approach Thanksgiving there are very few turkeys in the NFL. Oh sure, the Raiders, Jags and a few others have been stuffed and consumed but through the first 11 weeks, there are 21 teams either in or within one game of a playoff spot. Teams in the hunt mean butts in the seats and eye-balls on TV's. The Golden Goose lives! With so few teams out of it most of the games have meaning.
Here are 3 of the best this Sunday:
DETROIT LIONS (7-3) at NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (8-2)
(Sunday, FOX, 1:00 PM ET)
Two of the NFL's best in Foxboro, Detroit is tied with Green Bay in the NFC North and New England has the best record in the AFC and a 2-game lead over Miami in the East. New England won its sixth straight with a 42-20 win at Indianapolis Sunday night. They were led by Jonas Gray a former member of the Ravens practice squad. In his 4th NFL game Gray ran for 199 yards and four touchdowns. Gray became the first player since 1921 to score his first four career rushing touchdowns in a single game. New England is second in the league averaging 32.3 points per game while Detroit is allowing just 15.6 points per game, best in the NFL.
CINCINNATI BENGALS (6-3-1) at HOUSTON TEXANS (5-5)
(Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)
Raven fans will be keeping an eye on this game. Both teams are coming off impressive road wins. The first place Bengals went into New Orleans and spanked the Saints 27-10 while the Texans picked up a 23-7 road win at Cleveland. The Bengals have found a winner in running back Jeremy Hill. Last Sunday the rookie from LSU rushed for 152 yards. Hill, who rushed for 154 yards in Week 9, is one of only seven rookies in NFL history to have at least two 150-yard rushing games in a calendar month. Sunday Hill will run into J.J. Watt who's having an MVP caliber season. Sunday against the Browns Watt had a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a two-yard touchdown reception. He's the only player to accomplish that in a game since the sack became an official statistic in 1982.
ARIZONA CARDINALS (9-1) at SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (6-4)
(Sunday, FOX, 4:05 PM ET)
Seattle needs this one, a loss would have them 4 games behind Arizona with 5 to play and not in the best shape in the wild card battle. All Arizona does is win, Todd Bowles's defense and enough offense get it done. Carson Palmer is done so quarterback Drew Stanton throws a couple of touchdown passes and the Cardinals' beat the Lions. Stanton is now 3-1 this season as the Cardinals' starting quarterback. The Seahawks have won 21 of their past 23 games at home, including the playoffs but one of those losses came to Arizona. The Super Bowl champs have their backs to the wall.
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