NEW YORK (AP) — Having just escaped their own month of misery, the New York Giants understand the seething frustration and loss of poise among the Denver Broncos.
The Broncos have lost four in a row and blown their AFC West division lead. The Giants snapped their own four-game slump, which cost them the NFC East lead, by beating Atlanta in overtime last Sunday.
The teams meet on Thursday when the Broncos host their first Thanksgiving Day game since 1963.
Also playing on the national holiday are Detroit vs. Green Bay, and Dallas vs. Oakland.
Denver has been abuzz this week about the head coach's cockiness and the ugly sideline spat between running back Knowshon Moreno and wide receiver Brandon Marshall last weekend, and Tuesday's players-only meeting.
"It's an emotional sport, we have a lot of emotional players," coach Josh McDaniels said. "I show a lot of emotion sometimes and I think we've just got to understand what's good and what's not good in terms of showing that and letting that out."
He declined again to discuss his own exchange of pre-game trash talk on Sunday with some San Diego Chargers linebackers. It backfired, as the Chargers won 32-3.
Lately, the Broncos have been talking a good game but playing bad ones. Their offense has been stuck in low gear, their defense is springing leaks, especially against the run, and their special teams are dreadful.
Sounds a lot like the Giants before they snapped out of their funk.
Defensive end Osi Umenyiora said New York's first win in 42 days felt like a brick wall was lifted off their backs.
"We were getting killed around here," he said. "Coming to work wasn't as much fun as it used to be when you were winning. Nobody likes to lose. We are accustomed to winning as of late. It was very, very important and we are happy to get that done."
The Green Bay Packers are hoping to bolster their playoff chances with a win at Detroit, where recent history suggests the Lions will be accommodating hosts.
Detroit has lost five straight games on the holiday by an average of 23.4 points.
The Lions, though, are feeling good after rallying from a 21-point deficit to beat Cleveland last Sunday for the team's biggest comeback victory since 1957.
"Our locker room is on a high right now," Detroit center Dominic Raiola said. "We're motivated to keep it that way after we were embarrassed at Green Bay (26-0 last month). We have something to prove to the Packers."
Detroit's chances to win — or at least be entertaining — will be directly tied to the health of quarterback Matthew Stafford (shoulder) and receiver Calvin Johnson (hand knee). The last time both didn't play for the Lions was the Packers whitewash.
Under new starting quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, the Oakland Raiders upset division-leading Cincinnati last Sunday, and they have a chance to knock off another division leader as the Dallas Cowboys are vulnerable, too.
The Cowboys have been shut out over the first three quarters in their last two games, a loss at Green Bay and a 7-6 win at home over Washington. Quarterback Tony Romo was kneed in the back by Washington and is still sore. He also might be without his favorite target, tight end Jason Witten, questionable with a sprained left foot.
