There are a few necessities for every Thanksgiving celebration: turkey, family and NFL football. This year’s games provided quality entertainment for millions of families around the world. The day kicked off with an NFC North showdown as the Lions faced the Packers. Following that game, the Chiefs took on the Cowboys in the midday slot. Lastly, the Bengals battled the Ravens in an important AFC North matchup at night.
The Packers-Lions game is a time-honored Thanksgiving tradition. While the Packers hold the edge in the longtime rivalry, they are actually 9-12-1 against the Lions on Thanksgiving. The matchup is also the most frequently played Thanksgiving Day game, with 22 appearances. The NFC race is tight, making this game all the more meaningful. Entering the matchup, the Packers were 7-3-1 and the Lions 7-4. Detroit had struggled in recent weeks, losing to the Eagles in Week 11 and narrowly beating the Giants the following week. Injuries and inconsistent defense have plagued the Lions, while the offense has struggled in key moments — a difficult combination against a surging Green Bay squad.
When Jordan Love settles in early, he can be dangerous, and Detroit also had to contend with the disruptive pass-rush presence of Rashan Gary. The Lions lost star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown early to injury and later ruled out tight end Sam LaPorta for the remainder of the year. Detroit leaned heavily on its running back tandem of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, nicknamed “Sonic and Knuckles,” but managed only 119 rushing yards.
The game stayed close, but Love played lights out, throwing for 234 yards and four touchdowns as the Packers claimed a 31-24 win. The victory was crucial for Green Bay, who faces the NFC-leading Chicago Bears next week. The Lions, now 7-5, face a growing list of questions as they sit on the outside looking in at the NFC playoff picture.
It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without the Dallas Cowboys, who this year faced the struggling Kansas City Chiefs. Dallas has the second most Thanksgiving appearances (56), trailing only Detroit (85). Both teams have had surprising seasons. The Cowboys traded star pass rusher Micah Parsons ahead of the season, a move many thought would derail them. However, acquiring defensive lineman Quinnen Williams from the Jets and linebacker Logan Wilson from the Bengals at the trade deadline strengthened their defense. Adding wide receiver George Pickens in the offseason has also helped transform Dallas’ offense into one of the league’s best.
The Cowboys are pushing for a playoff berth behind Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Pickens. The Chiefs, meanwhile, are having their worst season with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback. Sitting at 6-6, they are outside the playoff picture and 0-5 in close games after going 12-0 in such games last season. A weak run game, inconsistent play on both sides of the ball and costly penalties have all contributed. Against Dallas, the Chiefs committed 10 penalties for 119 yards, including critical pass interference calls that extended Cowboys drives.
Lamb bounced back from a disappointing performance against the Eagles by catching seven passes for 112 yards and a touchdown. The Cowboys won 31-24 and now prepare for another big test against the Lions. First-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer has brought a level of discipline and toughness not seen in Dallas since the Jimmy Johnson era. If the Cowboys continue winning, they will be a dangerous opponent in January. The Chiefs, meanwhile, are in must-win territory as they try to stay alive in a competitive AFC race.
As Thanksgiving dinner wrapped up, the Bengals and Ravens were just getting started. The AFC North matchup marked the return of Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow, who had been out with a foot injury since Week 2. A win for Baltimore would have moved the Ravens ahead of the Steelers in the division.
Cincinnati entered the game without top edge rushers Shemar Stewart and Trey Hendrickson, making it difficult to pressure mobile Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. However, the Bengals relied on a familiar philosophy: with Joe Burrow under center, defense becomes less of a concern. Burrow threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns, energizing the Bengals’ offense and their playoff hopes. The Bengals’ defense stepped up as well, intercepting Jackson once and recording three sacks.
The game began with a rushing touchdown by Derrick Henry for Baltimore, followed by a Bengals field goal from Evan McPherson. Once the second quarter began, Cincinnati took control and never let up, as the Ravens found the end zone only once more. The Bengals won 32-14.
If Cincinnati continues playing at this level, a wild-card spot is within reach. Baltimore, now 6-5 after starting the season 0-5, still leads the AFC North thanks to the Steelers’ loss on Sunday. However, if the Ravens continue to perform as they did Thursday, their playoff run may be short-lived.
