TODAY’S GAMES

Green Bay (6-3) at Detroit (0-9)

9:30 a.m., Channel 11

The line: Green Bay by 61/2.

Story line: It has been a hard-knock season for the Lions, who have lost their last seven games by an average of 4.3 points. Detroit goes into their traditional Thanksgiving Day matchup without a win for the first time since they started playing the game in 1934. The Lions haven’t won a game in 11 months. What is wrong with the Packers lately? They are 3-3 after starting the season 3-0. This will be the 16th Thanksgiving Day game between the teams.

Keys to the game: Brett Favre needs to cut down on costly errors. Favre has thrown seven interceptions in the Packers’ three losses compared with six interceptions in their six wins. Packer running back Ahman Green had 157 yards rushing and two touchdowns vs. the Lions in the first matchup. Charlie Batch is 3-0 at home all-time vs. Packers, completing 38 of 61 passes (62.3 pct.) for 636 yards with seven touchdowns, three interceptions and a 115.2 passer rating. Batch needs healthy receivers, as the Lions are so thin at the position that backup quarterback Mike McMahon was lining up in the slot in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals.

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The pick: Detroit in an upset. The Lions have won seven of the last eight regular season games at the Silverdome.

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Denver (5-5) at Dallas (2-7)

1 p.m., Channel 2

The line: Denver by 61/2.

Story line: From Quincy Carter to Anthony Wright to Clint Stoerner to Ryan Leaf, one thing the Cowboys aren’t thankful for this fall is efficient play from their plethora of awful starting quarterbacks. Last Sunday’s 36-3 loss to the Eagles was the worst by the Cowboys since a 43-3 home loss to Minnesota on Nov. 13, 1988. Throughout this season the Broncos have been wildly inconsistent and undisciplined on offense and defense, something previously unheard of for a team coached by Mike Shanahan.

Keys to the game: The Cowboys may be catching the Broncos at the right time. Denver quarterback Brian Griese leads the AFC with 18 touchdown passes, but he is rapidly running out of offensive weapons as running back Terrell Davis and receivers Rod Smith, Kevin Kasper and Scottie Montgomery are battered and bruised. The Cowboy coaching staff has raved about Leaf’s new-found attitude and work ethic, but it’s too bad it hasn’t trickled down to his arm; he has thrown three costly interceptions over his two starts. In a telling statistic, Dallas running backs Emmitt Smith and Troy Hambrick have combined for a respectable 932 yards rushing, yet neither has scored a touchdown.

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The pick: Denver. While the Cowboy defense has been showing up dressed for battle, the offense has been wearing prom dresses.

Compiled by Roy Jurgens