It’s the American Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, meaning a three-course meal of NFL games. In addition, there are no byes this week.
Here’s a quick look at all the Week 12 matchups with Sports Interaction’s NFL odds. Games Sunday unless noted.
Houston Texans at Detroit Lions, Thursday
The Lions host the early game every American Thanksgiving, but this isn’t exactly a glamorous matchup. Detroit was shut out Sunday for the first time in 11 years, and it frankly looked like the players didn’t care at all. Coach Matt Patricia is a 100 percent goner when the season ends if not sooner. Houston was a 27-20 upset winner over New England on Sunday behind four total touchdowns from Deshaun Watson.
Pick ATS: Houston
Washington Football Team at Dallas Cowboys, Thursday.
The Cowboys host the mid-afternoon game every American Thanksgiving. Washington goes for the season sweep as it beat visiting Dallas 25-3 in Week 7. Cowboys QB Andy Dalton was knocked out of that due to a concussion on a pretty dirty hit (he’s back now). Washington rushed for 208 yards. Both teams come off wins Sunday and are in the NFC East race despite 3-7 records.
Pick ATS: Dallas
Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Thanksgiving night game has no set teams and changes every year. Pittsburgh could all but wrap up the AFC North title by sweeping the Ravens. The Steelers prevailed 28-24 in Baltimore in Week 8. They forced Lamar Jackson into four turnovers. Ben Roethlisberger hit Canadian rookie receiver Chase Claypool on the winning TD pass midway through the fourth.
Pick ATS: Baltimore
Las Vegas Raiders at Atlanta Falcons
The Raiders nearly swept the season series with the Super Bowl-favoured Kansas City Chiefs but allowed a late touchdown to lose 35-31 in a terrific game Sunday night. Atlanta came out of its bye week and laid a giant egg in a 24-9 loss in New Orleans, which won’t help interim coach Raheem Morris’ chances of getting the full-time job. The Falcons had just 248 yards of offence.
Point spread: Raiders -3
Pick ATS: Atlanta (alternate line of +3.5)
Los Angeles Chargers at Buffalo Bills
Very interesting matchup between good young quarterbacks in the Chargers’ Justin Herbert and Bills’ Josh Allen, both of whom can run. Buffalo comes off its bye week in control of its destiny to win the AFC East for the first time in decades. The Chargers actually managed to not lose a close game for once Sunday, edging the Jets 34-28 behind three more TD passes from Herbert.
Pick ATS: Buffalo
New York Giants at Cincinnati Bengals
The Giants come off their bye week playing easily their best football of the season and right in the thick of things in the NFC East. When QB Daniel Jones doesn’t turn the ball over, they are decent. The Bengals lost to Washington on Sunday and more important lost excellent rookie quarterback Joe Burrow to a season-ending torn ACL.
Pick ATS: Cincinnati
Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts
An Indy win here would give the Colts a huge head-to-head tiebreaker over the Titans because Indianapolis was a 34-17 winner in Nashville on Thursday night in Week 10. The Titans led 17-13 at the half, but their special teams especially fell apart after intermission. Both teams got big wins over good opponents Sunday to remain tied atop the division at 7-3.
Pick ATS: Indianapolis
Carolina Panthers at Minnesota Vikings
Carolina was without starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey on Sunday yet still blew out Detroit. Pretty good chance both are back for this one. The Vikings had a three-game winning streak snapped in a 31-28 home loss to Dallas that largely kills Minnesota’s playoff chances.
Pick ATS: Minnesota
Arizona Cardinals at New England Patriots
Arizona on extra rest as it lost 28-21 in Seattle last Thursday. Kyler Murray had a solid game passing but was shut down running-wise. When Murray is held to fewer than 30 rushing yards, the Cardinals are 1-8-1 all-time. New England’s playoff hopes took a major hit with a 27-20 loss in Houston on Sunday. The last time the Patriots lost six games in a season as they now have was in 2009.
Pick ATS: Arizona
Miami Dolphins at New York Jets
The Dolphins try for the season sweep as they were 24-0 home winners over the Jets in Week 6. That was the last game Ryan Fitzpatrick started for Miami and he had three TD passes but also two interceptions. Joe Flacco was predictably awful for the Jets; not clear yet if it will be him or injured Sam Darnold this week under centre after Darnold missed Week 11 due to injury. Fins coach Brian Flores pulled struggling rookie Tua Tagovailoa from Sunday’s loss in Denver but said Tua remains the starter.
Pick ATS: New York (alternate line of +7.5)
Cleveland Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars
This will be Cleveland’s first road game in more than a month. The Browns played without Defensive Player of the Year candidate Myles Garrett on Sunday in a 22-17 win over the Eagles as he was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, but he will be back this week assuming negative tests (he didn’t test positive). The Jags lost their ninth straight game Sunday, 27-3, and appear to have mailed it in for the rest of 2020.
Pick ATS: Cleveland
New Orleans Saints at Denver Broncos
The Saints will be without QB Drew Brees again with ribs and lung injuries. Taysom Hill made his first NFL start in place of Brees on Sunday and rushed for two touchdowns in 24-9 win over Atlanta. Denver was a 20-13 upset winner over Miami. The Broncos’ defence was terrific in holding the Dolphins to 223 yards. Melvin Gordon rushed for two scores.
Pick ATS: Denver
San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams
The Niners come out of their bye week with very slim playoff hopes and still without numerous key players due to injury, including QB Jimmy Garoppolo. It’s a short week for the Rams as they played at Tampa Bay on Monday. L.A. lost at San Francisco 24-16 in Week 6. Garoppolo was healthy then and threw three TD passes.
Point spread: Rams -7 (may change after Monday)
Pick ATS: Los Angeles (alternate line of -6.5)
Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
One of the most anticipated matchups of the season between Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady and possibly a preview of Super Bowl 55, which will be held in Tampa. Barring a playoff matchup this season or next, it would be the last time Mahomes and Brady do play one another presuming Brady retires after 2021. It’s a short week for the Bucs after hosing the Rams on Monday to conclude Week 11.
Point spread: Chiefs -3
Pick ATS: Kansas City (alternate line of -2.5)
Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers
Sunday night game and Chicago has all sorts of offensive problems. Will starting QB Nick Foles play? He was injured in the final seconds of the Bears’ Week 10 home loss to Minnesota, Chicago’s fourth straight pitiful offensive effort and loss. Green Bay lost in overtime at Indianapolis on Sunday but still controls the NFC North. The Packers have dominated this rivalry in recent years and swept in 2020. The teams play again Week 17.
Point spread: Packers -7.5
Pick ATS: Green Bay (alternate line of -7)
Seattle Seahawks at Philadelphia Eagles, Monday
Rematch of a Wild-Card Round playoff game last season Philadelphia, won 17-9 by Seattle. The Eagles lost QB Carson Wentz to a first-quarter injury. Quite possible these two could play again in a Wild-Card Round game this January. Philly dropped its second in a row Sunday but still leads the NFC East despite a 3-6-1 record. Seattle beat visiting Arizona last Thursday.
Pick ATS: Philadelphia
