Indianapolis (7-3) at Detroit (4-6)
• Time: 12:30 p.m.
• TV: WUSA-9, WJZ-13
| _____ Week 12 Schedule _____
Sunday
• Pittsburgh 16, Washington 7
• New England 24, Baltimore 3
• Philadelphia 27, N.Y. Giants 6
• Minnesota 27, Jacksonville 16
• San Diego 34, Kansas City 31
• Houston 31, Tennessee 21
• Cincinnati 58, Cleveland 48
• Carolina 21, Tampa Bay 14
• Atlanta 24, New Orleans 21
• Buffalo 38, Seattle 9
• Miami 24, San Francisco 17
• N.Y. Jets 13, Arizona 3
• Oakland 25, Denver 24
Monday
• Green Bay 45, St. Louis 17
Thursday
• Indianapolis 41, Detroit 9
• Dallas 21, Chicago 7
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• Last meeting: Colts beat Lions, 30-18, on Oct. 29, 2000, at Indianapolis.
• Last week: Colts beat Bears, 41-10; Lions lost to Vikings, 22-19.
The Colts will try to keep pace in the tight AFC playoff chase. They are one of seven teams in the conference with seven or more wins, and they are a game ahead of the Jaguars for first place in the AFC South. They have won three straight and have scored more than 30 points in four consecutive games. Quarterback Peyton Manning has 35 touchdown passes, 13 shy of Dan Marino's single-season NFL record. Manning has had at least four touchdown passes in each of his last four games; no quarterback in NFL history has had five straight games with at least four touchdown passes. Running back Edgerrin James is coming off a 204-yard rushing performance in Sunday's win at Chicago. The Colts lead the NFL with a plus-12 turnover margin but have the league's 31st-ranked defense.
The Lions have lost four straight games after a 4-2 start and are 1-3 at Ford Field. Quarterback Joey Harrington has thrown only two touchdown passes and three interceptions in the last three games, and has been put on notice by Coach Steve Mariucci that he could be benched in favor of backup Mike McMahon. Wide receiver Roy Williams needs two touchdown catches to tie the team's rookie record of nine, and rookie running back Kevin Jones has rushed for 181 yards in the last two games. The Detroit defensive line has the ability to pressure Manning, with 22 1/2 of the club's 29 sacks. The Lions have won 10 of their last 15 Thanksgiving games.
Chicago (4-6) at Dallas (3-7)
• Time: 4:30 p.m.
• TV: WTTG-5, WBFF-45
• Last meeting: Bears beat Cowboys, 13-12, on Oct. 18, 1998, at Chicago.
• Last week: Bears lost to Colts, 41-10; Cowboys lost to Ravens, 30-10.
The Bears are coming off a 41-10 loss to the Colts that ended a three-game winning streak and was the first defeat in four starts for rookie quarterback Craig Krenzel. The fifth-round draft pick out of Ohio State had four turnovers against the Colts and has thrown six interceptions, lost six fumbles and been sacked 21 times in 4 1/2 games since replacing Jonathan Quinn, who had inherited the job from the injured Rex Grossman. Chad Hutchinson is next in line if Krenzel continues to falter. The Bears are playing their 32nd Thanksgiving game, third in the league to the Lions' 65 and the Cowboys' 37.
The Cowboys are 22-13-1 on Thanksgiving, including 1-0 against the Bears (beating them in 1981). Coach Bill Parcells changed the team's Thanksgiving week practice schedule from last year, when the club lost to the Dolphins, 40-21. Rookie quarterback Drew Henson is scheduled to make his first NFL start. He lost a fumble on his first play but completed all six of his passes in his debut in Sunday's loss at Baltimore. Rookie Julius Jones has taken over at running back for veteran Eddie George. Jones ran for 81 yards on 30 carries against the Ravens in his first game since suffering a broken shoulder blade in Week 2. Today he faces his older brother, Bears running back Thomas Jones. The Cowboys have lost six of their last seven games, with the last four losses by at least 20 points. The Dallas defense ranks 25th in the league after ranking first last season.
-- From News Services
