Thanksgiving NFL Clash: Playoff Hopes, Revenge Games, Rookie Breakouts

Thanksgiving NFL action this week is absolutely stacked with star power, tradition, and playoff implications. The first game kicks off Thursday, November 27, at 1 p.m. Eastern as the Detroit Lions host the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field, airing live on FOX and streaming via fuboTV and DAZN. The Lions sit at 6-4, tied atop their division, with Jared Goff steady at the controls. They’re still smarting from a rough loss to the Vikings but rebounded last week and have the league buzzing about rookie receiver Malik Benson, who has emerged as a crucial weapon in the slot. The Packers at 6-3-1 have Jordan Love gaining confidence with each week—Green Bay is talking playoffs again, but several outlets including CBS Sports point out the offensive line may be thin with injuries to both starting tackles.

Later, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern on CBS and streaming on Paramount Plus, the Dallas Cowboys, whose playoff dreams are hanging by a thread at 4-5-1, square off against the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs, currently at 5-5. This is Andy Reid’s return to Dallas and storylines are wild: The Cowboys lost CeeDee Lamb for at least two weeks to that awkward ankle injury last Sunday, and Micah Parsons missed practice Monday with a hamstring. Chiefs fans are holding their breath too, as Patrick Mahomes has been nursing a bruised throwing hand but is fully expected to start, according to team sources cited by ESPN. The big question: Can rookie Puka Nacua’s surprising breakout continue against Dallas’ defense, which is coming off its worst performance of the season? Vegas has the Chiefs favored by 3.5 points, with most experts pointing at Travis Kelce as the player to watch, especially with Parsons possibly limited.

The nightcap brings the AFC North fireworks as Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens (5-5) host Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals (3-7) at 8:20 p.m. on NBC and fuboTV. Rumors had Joe Burrow possibly returning from his hand injury but as of this morning, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport says Burrow will be a game-time decision, so we might see more Joe Flacco after his surprise start last week. The Ravens are clinging to wild card hopes, and this matchup consistently delivers late-season drama—DAZN calls it must-watch territory with high stakes and bitter history.

Recent headlines have focused on player health and revenge: The Chiefs want to bounce back after two tough losses, while the Lions are determined to shake off Thanksgiving blues after a series of holiday letdowns in previous years.

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