Week thirteen is almost in the books and the playoff contenders are starting to separate themselves from the playoff pretenders. No doubt this is probably the case in your fantasy leagues as well. No overtime games this week, but a couple went right down to the wire with the result of the game hanging in the balance right up to and including the last play of the game. Fantasy wise, a high scoring week as 44 players will make this week's story. Strong day for the running back, as 14 of those players getting a mention here will be from that position. Hopefully you had more guys mentioned here than your opponent and that you didn't eat too much at Thanksgiving dinner. Thanks, as always for reading, let's get right into the games.

at Detroit 22, Green Bay 14
There's something about the Lions playing at home on Thanksgiving that no matter how bad they have been, and no matter who the opponent is, they always rise to the occasion. Green Bay sort of sleep walked their way thru this one, yet they had a chance to take the game in the fourth quarter if they wanted it. After a Detroit interception early in the fourth quarter, Brett Favre (296 passing yards, 2 TD, 3 int) fumbled on the next play and the Lions converted that into yet another Jason "Returns" Hanson (5 FG, 1 PAT) field goal giving Detroit a lead they would not relinquish. Favre would be intercepted twice in the quarter, and Detroit was able to run just enough time off the clock to take the win. The Packers had advertised before the game that Ahman Green would get fewer touches due to the short week (wha?) and they didn't disappoint, which probably cost them the game. Shawn Bryson (75 total yards, TD) also gets a mention here in a winning effort.

Miami 30, at Dallas 21
In the afternoon set on turkey day, Miami scored on their opening drive (something no one had been able to do on Dallas all season) and ran away with a solid win. Chris Chambers (5 catches for 96 yards, 3 TD), Jay Fiedler (239 passing yards, 3 TD, 0 int, rushing TD), Miami D (5 turnovers, 5 sacks, return TD) and Ricky Williams (104 rushing yards) all get a mention here in a dominant team performance. The Cowboys got down and couldn't get back up in this one, despite the efforts of Quincy Carter (288 passing yards, 2 TD, 3 int) and Richie "Rich" Anderson (2 TD).

at Baltimore 44, San Francisco 6
Simply a rout. The "Quothe the" Raven D (4 turnovers, return TD, 6 points allowed) was back to their dominant ways, chipping in a return touchdown as the Ravens raced to a 24-6 lead at the half and never looked back. Matt "Hot" Stover (3 FG, 5 PAT) also did well for the winners while no Niner gets a mention here in defeat.

Philadelphia 25, at Carolina 16
In one of the marquis matchups on this day, it was the Eagles that get their seventh win in a row as they continue to be tied for the top spot in the conference. After turning the ball over on the first play of the game, the Eagles settled down to play efficient football in taking the nice road win. The offense was spread around so much that only David "Green" Akers (4 FG, 1 PAT) gets a mention in the winning effort. The difference in the game was probably the kickers, as John Casey not only missed three field goals, but also misfired on an extra point. Jake "E.T." Delhomme (216 passing yards, 2 TD, 0 int) the only Panther to get a mention here.

at Chicago 28, Arizona 3
Break up the Bears! With Anthony Thomas a late scratch with viral pneumonia, "Lou" Brock Forsey (134 rushing yards, TD) ran wild in the victory. Kordell "Beef" Stewart (284 yards passing, 2 TD, 0 int, rushing TD), filling in for the injured Chris Chandler, led Chicago to their most prolific offensive showing this season. With the struggles of the other teams in the NFC North, the Bears still have hope for making the playoffs. Nothing to report on the Cardinal side of the ball.

at Houston 17, Atlanta 13
Ho hum, looking for an angle to take in this one...Domanick Davis (101 rushing yards, 2 TD) the only player from either side to get a mention here as the Texans continue to impress this season. In QB news, Michael Vick got in for a couple of plays and word is he will be the starter next week. On the other side, Jeff Blake broke a bone in his hand forcing the return of David Carr. Zzzz.

New England 38, at Indianapolis 34
Another of the great matchups, this is a game that did not disappoint, probably one of the best games played all season. And while giving up 34 points usually means the defense was not good, in this case it was the Patriot defense that was the difference in this one. New England came out strong, running out to an early 17-3 lead. The Colts got into the end zone just before the half to close the gap, leaving only 12 seconds on the clock. That was plenty of time for Bethel Johnson to take the kickoff at his own 8 yard line, weave his way up the right side, and just when he looked like he was pinned, he kicked it into overdrive and outran everyone for the touchdown with no time on the clock. The Pats weren't done, they stopped the Colts to open the second half, then drove the field in pushing their lead to 31-10. When New England picked off a pass on the ensuing possession, it looked like this one was over, not so. New England continued to pass the ball, and on the second play of that drive, Tom Brady (236 passing yards, 2 TD, 2 int) was picked off. Indy drove the field, most of the damage on the ground with Edgerrin James (138 total yards), the drive capped off by Peyton Manning (278 passing yards, 4 TD, 1 int) clicking from 13 yards out on a clutch fourth down play. Again New England came out passing, and again Indy was happy to pick off another pass. Manning found Marvin Harrison (7 catches for 88 yards, TD) from 26 yards out on the first play of the drive and it was 'game on'.

Finally going conservative, the Patriot ground game went three and out, Indy went back to work on offense, and again Manning getting the tying score thru the air. With the game slipping away, Bethel Johnson returned the kickoff 67 yards and three plays later Brady tossed a touchdown pass of his own to put New England back on top. The Patriot defense forced the punt, but two plays later, Kevin Faulk fumbled the ball away on the New England 11 yard line. Again, the defense rose to the occasion and the Colts settled for a field goal with three and a half minutes to play. Incredibly, New England again went to the air, the result being a punt after chewing up less than 30 seconds of the clock. Manning and the Colt offense again wasted no time moving down the field, and before you knew it, they had second and one from the Patriot nine yard line. After getting the first down to the two yard line, they'd have four cracks at the winning score. James picked up one yard on first down and he was stuffed for no gain on second down. On third down, the Colts tried the air unsuccessfully, which set up fourth down from the one with 20 seconds to go. Again the ball went to James, and the Patriot defense held for the win. Two very good teams that both played well, the difference between winning and losing being one yard. Great game to watch, very few mistakes, penalties, etc, just good football.

Buffalo 24, at New York Giants 7
In a battle of New York coaches perhaps both on the chopping block, it was the Buffalo offense that finally performed like they did in the first two games of the season that was the difference in this one. Travis "Oh" Henry (113 rushing yards, TD) and Drew Bledsoe (252 passing yards, 2 TD, 0 int) were top performers for the winners while only Amani Toomer (3 catches for 110 yards, TD) gets a mention here in a losing effort. Let's just move on.

Cincinnati 24, at Pittsburgh 20
An extremely key game between these two division rivals, this was another game that came down to the wire. The Steelers really needed this one to get back into the race, but it was not meant to be. The Bengals held a slim 14-10 lead entering the fourth quarter, and the offenses on both sides went to work in that last frame. Pittsburgh was first to score in the quarter, closing the gap to 14-13. Cincinnati answered with a kick of their own to push it back to a four point game. A couple of punts later, and the Steelers put together what they hoped would be the winning drive. Hines "57" Ward (13 catches for 149 yards, TD) hauled in a 16 yard offering from Tommy Maddox (313 passing yards, 1 TD, 1 int) and with just over a minute to go, the home crowd was going nuts. Cincy got a nice 27 yard return of the kickoff, so they'd only need to go 52 yards, in less than a minute. Jon Kitna (271 passing yards, 3 TD, 0 int) went to work, and it only took him four plays to find Matt Shoebel in the back of the endzone for the winning score. "Hanging" Chad Johnson (6 catches for 117 yards, TD) also did well in a winning effort.

at St.Louis 48, Minnesota 17
Another matchup of top teams, the Rams scored early and often in this one, putting up 10 plus points in every quarter in this runaway. Marshall Faulk (108 rushing yards, 3 TD), Marc "Battle of the" Bulger (222 passing yards, 3 TD, 1 int, rushing TD) and the Ram Tough D (3 turnovers, 8 sacks, return TD) did most of the fantasy damage. On the other side, Randy Moss (10 catches for 160 yards, TD) and Duante Culpepper (330 passing yards, 3 TD, 1 int, 70 rushing yards) did their part, but it was not enough to overcome. Will the real Vikings team, please stand up?

Kansas City 28, at San Diego 24
A tough division battle, it was the Chiefs that prevailed though the Chargers did not go down without a fight. Both runners did well in this one, especially Player of the Week Priest Holmes (162 rushing yards, 2 TD). LaDainian Tomlinson (106 rushing yards, TD) did well on the other side of the ball, as did Doug Flutie (213 passing yards, 2 TD, 0 int, 53 rushing yards), but in the end Kansas City was too much. Tony Gonzalez (2 TD) scored the second of his touchdowns midway thru the fourth quarter to put the Chiefs up by eleven, a lead they would hold onto as San Diego did score a touchdown as time expired in order to anger gamblers everywhere by covering the spread.

Denver 22, at Oakland 8
Another battle of division rivals, Oakland got an early two run homer, blocking a Denver punt for the safety for the early two-nil lead. They'd push it to five-nil before Denver went to work on the ground. Clinton Portis (170 rushing yards, 2 TD) ran wild as the Broncos got two touchdowns in the second quarter and coasted from there. Once again the Raiders committed penalty after penalty as they gave themselves really no chance to win this one. No Raider gets a mention here.

at Seattle 34, Cleveland 7
Simply put, rout! Darrell Jackson (8 catches for 102 yards, 2 TD), Matt Hasselbeck (328 passing yards, 3 TD, 1 int) and Shaun Alexander "The Great" (127 rushing yards, TD) performed well and the Seahawks victory here was never in question. Cleveland finally got on the board in the fourth quarter, but by that time the game was long decided. No Brown here.

New Orleans 24, at Washington 20
Duece McAllister (165 rushing yards) was more than 50% of the Saint offense as once again the Redskins are unable to hold onto a fourth quarter lead. Aaron Brooks (121 passing yards, 2 rushing TD) got himself into the endzone twice, but it was his pass to Boo Williams in the fourth quarter that was the winning score. No Redskin gets a mention here in the close loss.

at Jacksonville 17, Tampa Bay 10
You would think that one of these weeks, the Defending Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Bucs will get back into form and start winning some games. After this tough loss, it may be too late for this season. This one was close throughout, and entering the fourth quarter, it was tied up at 10. Even though they were enjoying some momentum and the better of the field position, the Bucs were forced to punt early in the fourth. Two plays later, Jimmy Smith (10 catches for 136 yards, TD) made a great catch of a Byron Leftwich (224 passing yards, 2 TD, 0 int) pass for the 48 yard score. Tampa would have plenty of time, but their drive stalled out. The defense held, but once again the offense couldn't get it done and Jacksonville holds on for the win. Fred Taylor (118 rushing yards) also gets a mention here for the Jags while no Buc stops here.