Earlier, I mentioned the four Fs of Thanksgiving in our culture — feasts, family, friends … and football.  Mom’s not the only one giving us a full plate — or three! — on the holiday.  The NFL has three big games on tap, two of which are key division-rivalry games that might make a difference in the playoff hunt.  Let’s take a look at each, and see whether my recent string of good fortune can be extended today, although last week’s 4-2 was a little off my pace for the previous five weeks:

• Texans at Lions (CBS, 12:30 ET) – The Lions are still an improving franchise, and playing in the dome at home gives them an advantage over teams that don’t play well on the road.  Houston, however, is not one of those teams. They haven’t lost a road game yet, and they’re not likely to do so today.  Houston wins 27-20 over a tough but not quite ready Detroit team.
• Redskins at Cowboys (Fox, 4:25 ET) – Washington passed a big test last week against the Philadelphia Eagles, and at 4-6 are not out of the division hunt yet.  They have to get past the Dallas Cowboys, though, who are 5-5 and have an opportunity to get above .500 and compete with the New York Giants for the division.  This should be a close game, with plenty of offense, but I have to go with Dallas at home.  Cowboys edge the ‘Skins, 33-28.
• Patriots at Jets (NBC, 8:20 ET) – Rex Ryan’s Team Green came up big against St. Louis last week, offering a balanced attack and remarkably gaffe-free performance on the road.  Today they host the New England Patriots, who just scored 59 points against the Indianapolis Colts.  The Pats won’t have their mighty TE Rob Gronkowski, who had to have surgery on his broken forearm after last week’s game.  I want to pick the Jets, who so often look like they’re on the cusp of respectability, but with all apologies to Jazz, I don’t think it’s going to happen today.  Patriots 35-24 over the Jets.