This week played out like the typical Thanksgiving weekend. It started Thursday with a trio of blowouts. The Tennessee Titans, Dallas Cowboys, and Philadelphia Eagles put their opponents to shame like the Grandma’s mashed potatoes did to the new wife’s attempt to cook and contribute to the family.

Then Sunday laid a few eggs. The 49ers-Bills, Colts-Browns, and Dolphins-Rams games felt like the receivers and running backs were carrying about as much weight as the linemen. You can credit the scores to defense all you want, but I do not think anybody can deny that the Bills should have had a second consecutive 50-point game ran against the San Francisco D, Peyton Manning should have picked apart the Browns instead throwing two interceptions, and Miami’s wildcat formation should have had more high school-esque highlights a paltry Rams team.

There were still plenty of good games to watch though. The Carolina Panthers 35-31 victory over the Green Bay Packers could have held any lingering effects of tryptophan at bay. DeAngelo Williams was a touchdown machine with four and Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdowns to keep the Land of Cheese off his back as Brett Favre continues to look ageless as the New York Jets quarterback (though he looked human again in the Jets loss to the Denver Broncos).

Elsewhere, Adrian Peterson was busy running over the Bears like they were his 12-year old cousins playing in the annual holiday game for the first time, the Redskins could take advantage of the New York Giants latest distraction (Plaxico Burress…concealed fire arm…night club…what could go wrong), and the Pittsburgh Steelers dismissed the Patriots despite an underwhelming fantasy performance by Ben Roethislberger.

The first holiday weekend is over. The four day break began strong and ended with a few naps on Sunday, but the weeks ahead will build to frenzy as the best teams in the league hope to receive a Super Bowl trip for Christmas.