It’s Thanksgiving week in the United States and that means NFL fans are treated to a full day of football on Thursday to kick off Week 12.
In addition to a weekday tripleheader, the league is introducing a game the following day on Black Friday.
Here’s a closer look at each of the four holiday games, all of which are divisional matchups with three NFC meetings Thursday before an AFC East contest sends us into the weekend.
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GREEN BAY PACKERS @ DETROIT LIONS (12:30 P.M. ET)
SPREAD: Packers (+7.5) at Lions (-7.5)
TOTAL: 46.5
STORYLINES TO FOLLOW: The Detroit Lions are accustomed to their place in the spotlight early on Thanksgiving, yet most years the fan base doesn’t have too much to be thankful for. This year is different with the team 8-2 and looking like they’ll qualify for the post-season for the first time since the Jim Caldwell era. The last year they made the playoffs was in 2016, which also happens to be the last time Detroit won on Thanksgiving.
The 2023 Lions have been running the ball effectively lately. The Lions beat the Packers 34-20 back in Week 4 when David Montgomery rushed for 121 yards and three touchdowns for the Lions and Jerry Jacobs intercepted Green Bay QB Jordan twice. Montgomery has scored in six of the seven games he has played this year. His backfield partner, rookie Jahmyr Gibbs, has at least 95 scrimmage yards and a touchdown in four consecutive outings.
Love is coming off a solid performance in a win over the Chargers and needs to be dialled in facing a Lions defence that can be stingy. Packers tight end Luke Musgrave is out with a lacerated spleen and running back Aaron Jones won’t suit up due to a knee injury, which means A.J. Dillon could be in for a big workload.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS @ DALLAS COWBOYS (4:30 P.M. ET)
SPREAD: Commanders (+12.5) at Cowboys (-12.5)
OVER/UNDER: 48.5
STORYLINES TO FOLLOW: Expect Washington to run frequently and/or have Sam Howell get rid of the ball quickly against the Cowboys, otherwise it could end up being a long afternoon for the Commanders quarterback. Howell has been sacked a league-high 51 times for a net loss of 343 yards and Dallas is tied with Cleveland for sixth in the NFL with 33 total sacks through 11 weeks.
Dallas has scored 30 or more points in six of their seven wins this season and have averaged 37 points per game since their Week 7 bye, while Washington has lost four of five and allowed at least 29 points against in three of the past four games. Dak Prescott is 9-2 all-time when facing Washington but lost and posted his lowest QB rating of 2022 in his lone game against Washington last season.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS @ SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (8:20 P.M. ET)
SPREAD: 49ers (-7.0) at Seahawks (+7.0)
TOTAL: 43.5
STORYLINES TO FOLLOW: Seattle is coming off a heartbreaking one-point loss to the Rams and they’ll continue a difficult scheduling stretch with two games against the 49ers sandwiching a road contest at Dallas and a mid-December showdown with the Eagles. This is Seattle’s first-ever home Thanksgiving game but they have a steep challenge in front of them with QB Geno Smith expected to play but not 100 per cent, while running back Kenneth Walker is not expected to suit up. The 49ers, meanwhile, are getting healthy and have looked dominant on their two-game winning streak that snapped their surprising three-game skid in October.
MIAMI DOLPHINS @ NEW YORK JETS (3:00 P.M. ET*FRIDAY)
SPREAD: Dolphins (-9.5) at Jets (+9.5)
TOTAL: 41.0
STORYLINES TO FOLLOW: The Jets’ offence is looking got rebound from a disastrous outing against Buffalo and it’ll be Tim Boyle leading the offence after Zach Wilson was demoted to third-string QB this week.
Among his many accomplishments, Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill is on the verge of breaking an impressive record. Hill is currently tied with Jerry Rice and Andre Johnson for the most total games in NFL history (regular- and post-season combined) with at least 10 catches, 140 yards and one touchdown. That trio is tied with 10 such games each and Hill has two this season (Week 1 at the Chargers and last week vs. the Raiders).
(Odds above via Covers as of Wednesday and subject to change)
