Per usual, the American Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday begins from an NFL perspective from Detroit, with the Lions this year hosting the Houston Texans, who opened as 2.5-point favourites on the NFL odds with a total of 51.

NFL Week 12 Point Spread and Betting Analysis

These two franchises don’t have much in common but I can think of two things: They are two of four active teams (Browns and Jaguars the others) to never even play in a Super Bowl. The Texans one can somewhat understand as they have only been around since 2002. The Lions, though, are one of the NFL’s oldest franchises and have no excuse.

The second thing in common is neither team will have the same head coach Week 1 of the 2021 season than it did to start 2020. Houston fired Bill O’Brien following a Week 4 loss. The Texans have played a bit better under interim Romeo Crennel, and he might get the job for 2021 only as a bit of a transition year but at age 73 (oldest coach in NFL history) he’s not the long-term guy. Meanwhile, the only way Matt Patricia is back for a fourth season in 2021 is if the Lions somehow streak into the playoffs this winter. Highly unlikely.

This is the biggest annual home game for the Lions, but there will be no fans allowed at Ford Field with the coronavirus raging in Michigan. Houston defeated Detroit 34-31 in overtime in 2012 in the Texans’ first-ever Thanksgiving appearance and they have won each of the last three meetings in the series. The teams only play each other once every four years.

Houston Texans

Houston had been 2-0 vs. Jacksonville this season and winless against everyone else but upset the visiting New England Patriots on Sunday, 27-20. Deshaun Watson threw for 344 yards and two scores and also rushed for a touchdown. Watson tied a career high with his fifth game with 300 or more passing yards in a season.

The Texans played without Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil due to flu-like symptoms – there was a bug going around the team last week but all COVID-19 testing was negative. Receivers Randall Cobb and Kenny Stills both left injured and it’s too early to tell if either will get back by Thursday, but the quick turnaround obviously doesn’t help.

Detroit Lions

If the Lions were playing on Sunday in Week 12 instead of Thursday, Patricia might be fired today. His team looked absolutely disinterested in a 20-0 loss at Carolina on Sunday with the Panthers missing their starting QB and All-Pro running back. It was the first time the Lions had been blanked in 11 years.

Matthew Stafford played through a ligament injury on his throwing thumb and didn’t look good, completing 18 of 33 for 178 yards. Rookie running back D’Andre Swift didn’t play due to a concussion. Receivers Kenny Golladay (a Pro Bowler in 2019) and Danny Amendola also sat with injuries.

NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Texans vs. Lions?

• Regular Season

Texans Team Leaders

HOU

Touchdowns	David Johnson 8
Rushing	David Johnson 691
Passing	Deshaun Watson 4823
Receiving	Brandin Cooks 81
Sacks	J.J. Watt 5
Interceptions	Bradley Roby 1

DET

Touchdowns	D'Andre Swift 10
Rushing	Adrian Peterson 604
Passing	Matthew Stafford 4084
Receiving	Marvin Jones Jr. 76
Sacks	Romeo Okwara 10
Interceptions	Duron Harmon 2

• Regular Season

Lions Team Leaders

HOU

Touchdowns	David Johnson 8
Rushing	David Johnson 691
Passing	Deshaun Watson 4823
Receiving	Brandin Cooks 81
Sacks	J.J. Watt 5
Interceptions	Bradley Roby 1

DET

Touchdowns	D'Andre Swift 10
Rushing	Adrian Peterson 604
Passing	Matthew Stafford 4084
Receiving	Marvin Jones Jr. 76
Sacks	Romeo Okwara 10
Interceptions	Duron Harmon 2

Weather

temp	68
condition	dome
wind	West 12mph

Injuries

Houston

Daren Bates (LB)

Prob Sun Hip - 06 / 01 / 21

Keke Coutee (WR)

Ques Sun Foot - 30 / 12 / 20

Daren Bates (LB)

Ques Sun Hip - 30 / 12 / 20

Eric Murray (S)

Out indefinitely Illness - 27 / 12 / 20

Brent Qvale (T)

I-R Concussion - 27 / 12 / 20

Whitney Mercilus (LB)

I-R Illness - 26 / 12 / 20

Tytus Howard (T)

Out indefinitely Concussion - 20 / 12 / 20

Duke Johnson (RB)

Out Sun Neck - 19 / 12 / 20

Lonnie Johnson Jr. (CB)

Ques Sun Knee - 19 / 12 / 20

Cornell Armstrong (CB)

Ques Sun Hamstring - 17 / 12 / 20

Detroit

Joe Dahl (G)

Out Sun Back - 30 / 12 / 20

Matthew Stafford (QB)

Doub Sun Ankle - 26 / 12 / 20

Matt Prater (K)

Ques Sat Back - 24 / 12 / 20

Jayron Kearse (S)

day-to-day Hip - 24 / 12 / 20

Taylor Decker (T)

Ques Sat Groin - 22 / 12 / 20

Matthew Stafford (QB)

Ques Sat Ribs - 22 / 12 / 20

Jamie Collins Sr. (LB)

Out Sun Neck - 22 / 12 / 20

Mike Ford (CB)

Ques Sat Foot - 20 / 12 / 20

John Penisini (DL)

Ques Sun Shoulder - 17 / 12 / 20

Frank Ragnow (OL)

Out indefinitely Throat - 16 / 12 / 20

Injuries

Houston

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Daren Bates (LB)	Prob Sun	Hip - 06 / 01 / 21	0-0	0-0	+ -
Bates has a hip injury, but it is anticipated that he will be active versus the Ravens in the AFC Wild Card game.
Keke Coutee (WR)	Ques Sun	Foot - 30 / 12 / 20	0-1	1-0	+ -
Coutee is dealing with a foot injury, and it remains to be seen if he will line up against the Titans on Sunday.
Daren Bates (LB)	Ques Sun	Hip - 30 / 12 / 20	0-1	1-0	+ -
Bates is managing a hip injury, and it is uncertain if he will face the Texans on Sunday.
Eric Murray (S)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 27 / 12 / 20	1-1	1-1	+ -
Murray has been assigned to the COVID-19 list, and it is uncertain how long he will take to pass protocol.
Brent Qvale (T)	I-R	Concussion - 27 / 12 / 20	1-1	1-1	+ -
Qvale has landed on the injured reserve list with a concussion, and will be inactive for an unknown length of time.
Whitney Mercilus (LB)	I-R	Illness - 26 / 12 / 20	1-1	1-1	+ -
Mercilus has landed on the Injured Reserve/COVID-19 list, and it is unknown how long it will take for him to be cleared to return.
Tytus Howard (T)	Out indefinitely	Concussion - 20 / 12 / 20	1-2	1-2	+ -
Howard has popped up on the injured reserve list due to a concussion, and there is no timetable for return.
Duke Johnson (RB)	Out Sun	Neck - 19 / 12 / 20	1-2	1-2	+ -
Johnson has sat out the last two games due to a neck injury, and he will not take on the Titans on Sunday.
Lonnie Johnson Jr. (CB)	Ques Sun	Knee - 19 / 12 / 20	1-2	1-2	+ -
Johnson Jr. is tending to a knee injury, and his status for Sunday's matchup versus the Colts is in question.
Cornell Armstrong (CB)	Ques Sun	Hamstring - 17 / 12 / 20	1-2	1-2	+ -
Armstrong is hobbled by a hamstring injury, and it is up in the air if it will keep him off the field Sunday versus the Colts.

Detroit

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Joe Dahl (G)	Out Sun	Back - 30 / 12 / 20	0-1	0-1	+ -
Dahl is bothered by a neck injury, and he will not face the Vikings on Sunday.
Matthew Stafford (QB)	Doub Sun	Ankle - 26 / 12 / 20	0-2	1-1	+ -
Stafford left the last game with an ankle sprain, and he is not expected to take the field against the Vikings on Sunday.
Matt Prater (K)	Ques Sat	Back - 24 / 12 / 20	0-2	1-1	+ -
Prater has a sore back and it is unknown if he will be available to face the Buccaneers on Saturday.
Jayron Kearse (S)	day-to-day	Hip - 24 / 12 / 20	0-2	1-1	+ -
Kearse missed the last game with a hip injury, and it is up in the air if he will be good to go against the Vikings in Week 17.
Taylor Decker (T)	Ques Sat	Groin - 22 / 12 / 20	0-2	1-1	+ -
Decker is nursing a groin injury, and it remains to be seen if he will play against the Buccaneers on Saturday.
Matthew Stafford (QB)	Ques Sat	Ribs - 22 / 12 / 20	0-2	1-1	+ -
Stafford is hampered by injuries to his ribs and right thumb, and it has yet to be determined if he will participate in Saturday's matchup with the Buccaneers.
Jamie Collins Sr. (LB)	Out Sun	Neck - 22 / 12 / 20	0-2	1-1	+ -
Collins Sr. sat out the last game with a neck injury, and he will not participate in S unday's contest against the Vikings.
Mike Ford (CB)	Ques Sat	Foot - 20 / 12 / 20	1-2	1-2	+ -
Ford departed the last contest with a foot injury, leaving his availability against the Buccaneers on Saturday clouded.
John Penisini (DL)	Ques Sun	Shoulder - 17 / 12 / 20	1-2	1-2	+ -
Penisini has a shoulder injury, and it is unknown if it will keep him off the lineup card Sunday against the Titans.
Frank Ragnow (OL)	Out indefinitely	Throat - 16 / 12 / 20	1-2	1-2	+ -
Ragnow will miss an extended period due to a fractured throat.