With the postseason race tightening, the NFL’s Thanksgiving lineup gives us three heavyweight matchups that double as playoff barometers.
The day kicks off in Detroit, where the Lions get another shot at Green Bay after the Packers blew them out in Week 1. Detroit hasn’t always thrived on Turkey Day, but a revitalized roster and a noisy Ford Field could tilt the rematch as both teams jockey for NFC North leverage.
In Dallas, the Cowboys host the Chiefs in what’s almost guaranteed to be the most-watched game of the regular season. Even with Dallas scraping the playoff bubble, the combination of Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and two massive fan bases makes this must-watch TV.
The nightcap brings fireworks of its own: Bengals–Ravens in Baltimore, a divisional duel that delivered two of last year’s most exciting games. Cincinnati is targeting Joe Burrow’s return for Week 13, and if he’s back under center, the AFC North race instantly gets more chaotic. Even if he’s not, a feisty Bengals offense has kept games interesting, while the Ravens continue to grind through one of the league’s toughest schedules.
