Please, allow me to extend to you some traditional Canadian US-Thanksgiving hospitality.

Have a slice.

Maybe make a small plate and take it into your den, because I hope you’ve got room for one more game. Your old pal Roger has gifted you the Steelers & Colts. YINZERS & HUMPS, BAY-BEE!

News of note:

• Injuries:
  • HODOR is out. He couldn’t clear concussion protocol in time, which is also the euphemism Jim Irsay uses to explain why he can’t make a court-order drug test. So get ready, fantasy owners of the Steelers defence, it’s TOLZIEN TIME!!!
    • listed as questionable: Donte Moncrief (hamstring)
  • Steelers backup RB Karlos Williams has been suspended 10 games for a second substance-abuse violation this season.
    • will-play-but-injured: Sammie Coates (fingers)
• John Madden took a run at having Thursday football every week, and how it makes the games bad. Somehow, some way, Goodell is going to try and find a way to punish both NBC and MCI Coach. (FYI: Here’s a link to a story about the old Madden cruiser.)

Pittsburgh at Indianapolis – 8:30

On paper, this shouldn’t even be close. Luck is sharing pain meds with his owner, and one of his key receivers has a gimpy leg. Jim Irsay has probably been screaming Peyton’s name at Ryan Grigson all day, druggedly alternating between demanding he be signed by 5:00 and trying to force-feed their other quarterbacks Brain & Nerve Tonic to try and replicate what they did to Manning. Scott Tolzien is not a good quarterback, so the full “Blitzburgh” defence should be on display in order to keep him guessing and provoke numerous three-and-outs & more turnovers than a Sara Lee factory.

[FYI: Sara Lee is owned by Bimbo Bakeries USA, the American corporate arm of the Mexican multinational bakery product manufacturing company Grupo Bimbo. Make sure to point that out after racist Uncle Karl finishes his slice of pie.]

AND YET! We all know that this is the kind of game that also gives rise to the “Shitsburgh” moniker. Ben should be able to pass for 500 yards to AB et al, but yet something inside Mike Tomlin always seems to make him either take pity on the opposing team or try experimentation because it should be that easy, with both concepts ultimately leading to a Steelers 2-point loss. It’s the kind of game where he tries to use the wishbone formation with a flea-flicker thrown in. It’s maddening yet predictable. If Sill were still here, I know what he’d say

Anyway, enough talk.

Prediction: Steelers 38, Colts 10.

If they were at home, I’d take 14 points off the Steelers, because of the cuteness factor. But on the road Tomlin’s less likely to try the bullshit.

Hopefully, you’ve sent the relatives home and can enjoy the game on your own terms. Alcohol is mandatory. PANTS ARE OPTIONAL!