Miami (4-6) at Detroit (2-8)
| SCOUTING REPORT |
Harrington facing former teamMiami's defensive stars have done a terrific job of leading the Dolphins' success, making enough plays to win the last three games. The Dolphins are the only team to defeat Chicago, as well as Minnesota on Sunday, giving Miami a 2-1 record against NFC North teams.
Quarterback Joey Harrington has been 3-3 as the starter and gets to return to play the Lions, wanting to play well against the team that drafted then cut him. Detroit has been playing well enough to compete most of the season, but just have not had what it takes to win the close games. Will the atmosphere of Ford Field be festive, providing some Thanksgiving magic and allowing the Lions to find a way to win? |
· Full Scouting Report 
|
| Matchup |
| | W-L | PF | PA | HOME | ROAD | DIV | CONF |
| MIA | 6-10 | 260 | 283 | 4-4 | 2-6 | 1-5 | 3-9 |
| DET | 3-13 | 305 | 398 | 2-6 | 1-7 | 0-6 | 2-10 |
| · Complete Standings |
| | Detroit Rushing | | | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | | Smith | 162 | 560 | 3.5 | 3 | | Morris | 38 | 141 | 3.7 | 1 |
|
| TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS |
| TEAM OFFENSE | TEAM | PER GAME AVERAGE |
| Total Yards | MIA | 310.0 |
| DET | 309.0 |
| Yards Passing | MIA | 205.4 |
| DET | 238.8 |
| Yards Rushing | MIA | 104.6 |
| DET | 70.6 |
| TEAM DEFENSE | TEAM | PER GAME AVERAGE |
| Yards Allowed | MIA | 289.1 |
| DET | 345.6 |
| Pass Yds Allowed | MIA | 187.9 |
| DET | 220.0 |
| Rush Yds Allowed | MIA | 101.1 |
| DET | 125.6 |
| HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001) |
| Miami leads 2-0 |
| Sep 8, 2002 | MIA 49, @DET 21 |
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Miami (4-6) at Detroit (2-8) Thursday 12:30 pm EST
DETROIT (Ticker) -- Joey Harrington played in a few Thanksgiving
games with the Detroit Lions. He returns for the Lions'
traditional holiday contest as the starting quarterback of the
Miami Dolphins.
Lions president Matt Millen signed quarterback Jon Kitna as a
free agent and then shipped Harrington to Miami last April for a
sixth-round pick in 2007.
The third overall pick in the 2002 draft, Harrington was a bust
in Detroit, compiling an 18-37 record as a starter. He threw
for 10,242 yards and 60 touchdowns with 62 interceptions for a
quarterback rating of 68.1
Last season, Harrington completed 57 percent of his passes for
2,021 yards, 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions for a rating of
72.0.
The Dolphins planned to use Harrington as an insurance policy
behind starter Daunte Culpepper, who was coming off
reconstructive right knee surgery after being acquired from
Minnesota in the offseason.
Culpepper started the first four games, but struggled with his
mobility and also suffered a shoulder injury after being sacked
21 times. Dolphins coach Nick Saban determined that Culpepper
needed more time to rehabilitate the knee and made Harrington
the starter.
After losing their first three games with Harrington at the
controls to slip to 1-6, the Dolphins have won three in a row.
Last week, Harrington completed 26-of-42 passes for 254 yards
and one touchdown with an interception in a 24-20 win over
Minnesota. But it was Miami's defense which accounted for two
scores on a 51-yard interception return by defensive end Jason
Taylor and a 48-yard fumble return by safety Renaldo Hill.
It was the second interception return for a touchdown this
season for Taylor and seventh of his career, tying George
Martin's NFL record for the most by a lineman.
Both of the Lions' wins this season have come at home. But they
have lost four of their last five Thanksgiving games, although
this will be the first for coach Rod Marinelli.
Former coach Steve Mariucci was fired last November, four days
after a 27-7 Thanksgiving loss to Atlanta.
The Dolphins have never played here on Thanksgiving. They last
played on the holiday in 2003, beating Dallas, 40-21.
The Lions may be without Kevin Jones, who suffered a sprained
ankle in the first quarter of last Sunday's 17-10 loss at
Arizona. Jones has rushed for 636 yards and six touchdowns this
season.
Arlen Harris will start if Jones is unable to play. Harris
rushed for 40 yards on 10 carries after replacing Jones last
week.
The possible absence of Jones will likely make Lions offensive
coordinator Mike Martz air it out. Roy Williams is enjoying a
Pro Bowl-type season with 54 receptions for 867 yards and four
touchdowns. Mike Furrey has been one of the league's better
complementary receivers with 49 catches for 583 yards and three
scores.
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Miami 27, 
Detroit 10