Thanksgiving Day means two things- turkey and pigskin. This year’s matchups are like a three course meal. The appetizer is the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears matchup at 12:30. Dinner is served at 4:30 when the Philadelphia Eagles face off against the Dallas Cowboys in an NFC East matchup. And finally, for dessert is a rematch of last year’s NFC Championship, featuring the Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks versus the San Francisco 49ers. Here’s a preview for the Thanksgiving Day games:

Detroit Lions vs Chicago Bears:
This is a marquee matchup between two NFC North rivals. Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson lead the 7-4 Lions to play the 5-6 Chicago Bears led by Brandon Marshall and Jay Cutler. Johnson has been bitten by the injury bug this season, but that hasn’t stopped the Lions from winning 7 out of their last 10 games. Lions will win this one without trouble and Stafford will continue his great season.
PREDICTION: Lions 27, Bears 13

Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions hopes to have a big game on Turkey Day against the Chicago Bears.

Photo courtesy of nydailynews.com

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys:
The 8-3 Cowboys, led by the pounding running attack of DeMarco Murray and injury-prone Tony Romo,  face off against LeSean McCoy and the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday. McCoy hopes to increase his rushing yards while only averaging 3.7 yards per carry. If he ends the season with those stats, it would statistically be his worst season ever as a pro. On the other hand, the Cowboys’ Murray is having a great season, surpassing his total number of yards from last season, 1,124 yards, to 1,233 yards this year. I believe the birds will fly on Turkey Day:
PREDICTION: Eagles 31, Cowboys 17.

The Dallas Cowboys are hungry for their third straight win and a chance to lead their division.

Photo courtesy of  theboysareback.com

San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks:

The game everyone has been waiting for.  A controversial rematch from the 2013 NFC Championship Game, the 7-4 Seattle Seahawks duel it out against the 7-4 San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, California – home of the 49ers. The bad blood is at a boiling point between these two teams as they fight for the NFC wild card spot and try to get into the playoffs. Controversy has surrounded the Seahawks lately as star running back Marshawn Lynch has complained about his role and contract with the team. To come down making a pick for this, it’s a coin flip, but I’m going with Seahawks here because their defense is intact, unlike the 49ers’.
PREDICTION: Seahawks 27, 49ers 24.

I don’t think the Eagles will be the only “bird team” to win on Thanksgiving. I’d like Richard Sherman and the Seahawks to gobble up the 49ers this Thursday.