NFL Games on Thanksgiving Day

The NFL Week 12 schedule begins with some great Thanksgiving Day football. Our NFL Nation reporters bring us the keys to every game, bold prediction for every game, and final scoring choices.

Additionally, ESPN Stats & Information provides a stat worth knowing for each match, and the Football Power Index (FPI) enters the numbers with a match rating (on a scale of 1 to 100) and game projection. Kyle Soppe from ESPN Fantasy and Dave Bearman from ESPN Chalk also hand out helpful nuggets. Everything is here to help you get ready for a busy day of NFL football.

Let’s get into the full slate of Thanksgiving Day, including a huge AFC North showdown.

Go to a match:
HOU-DET | WSH-DAL | BAL-PIT

12:30 pm ET | CBS
Match Note: 24.2 | Propagated: HOU -3 (51.5)

To monitor: Is this Matt Patricia’s last position as Detroit coach? After three double-digit losses in the Lions’ last four games (and a 21-point lead in the team’s lone win in that span), things are pretty dire for the third-year coach. How Detroit reacts, knowing how hot their coach’s seat is – in their only domestic televised game of the season – is the biggest storyline for either team in an otherwise forgettable game. – Michael Rothstein

Bold Prediction: Texas running back Duke Johnson will rush for a record 75 yards. The Texans’ running game has struggled all season, and in its two games starting for injured David Johnson, Duke Johnson had 69 yards on 24 carries. But this week, the Texans face the 30th running defense in the NFL, with the Lions allowing an average of 139 rushing yards per game. – Sarah Barshop

Stat namely: Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson has already played five games with at least 300 passing yards this season, tied for the most in a single season of his career (2018). Only Matt Schaub has had more such games in a single season in Texans history (nine in 2009 and seven in 2010).

Injuries: Texans | the Lions

What you need to know for fantasy: Duke Johnson’s Week 11 production was underwhelming, but the fact that he got 76.9% from the Houston backer looms large as the Texans face the league’s worst defense against the fantastic RBs. this season. See the ranking of week 12.

Paris nugget: Detroit is 6-2 ATS (ATS) in its last eight Thanksgiving games (covered last season). Read more.

The Barshop’s choice: Texans 24, Lions 17
Rothstein’s choice: Texans 31, Lions 17
FPI prediction: HOU, 56.1% (by an average of 2.1 points)

Return of Thanksgiving Day: The Texans and Lions met on Thanksgiving in 2012 in a game remembered for some controversy. Texans running back Justin Forsett scored an 81-yard touchdown despite reruns showing several Lions players tackling him and his knee and elbow touching the ground near midfield. But a challenge flag from Detroit coach Jim Schwartz overruled the scoring game’s automatic pit examination, and the Texans won 34-31 on an overtime basket from Shayne Graham.

Matchup should read: The Texans’ defense has “a full big game” against the Patriots … Where are the Lions under Patricia? No improvement, no progress, no response either … The “Bassfield Boys” met in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day … Analysis of the defense against the Detroit area

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4:30 p.m. ET | Fox
Match Note: 12.9 | Propagated: FROM -2.5 (46.5)

To monitor: With the NFC East’s top spot at stake – at least until Sunday – which team will make the fewest mistakes? The Cowboys have had at least one turnover in every game since Game 1 of the season and are 21 on the season, second in the league. Washington has 17 gifts, which is tied for fifth. While the teams’ records of 3-7 indicate how badly the season has gone, there is still a chance to advance to the playoffs by winning the division. Taking care of the ball is even more important when the margin for error is so small. – Todd Archer

Bold Prediction: In three home games against Washington, Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott averaged 113.3 yards and 1.3 touchdowns. So naturally, he’ll rush for 113 yards and a touchdown on Thursday. Washington’s run defense has been inconsistent at best, in part because some of its linemen continue to use two-spread techniques in a one-spread system and linebackers don’t attack often enough. Quarterback Alex Smith will keep Washington in this game, but when Elliott hits 100 yards, Dallas is 23-4. – John Keim

Stat namely: Washington wide receiver Terry McLaurin has received 120 receptions in 24 career games. McLaurin needs 11 against Dallas to have the most 25 games in franchise history in Washington. The Ohio State product is currently third on the list behind Jordan Reed (130) and Gary Clark (122).

Injuries: Washington | Cowboys

What to know for fantasy: In the past three weeks, Washington’s Antonio Gibson and JD McKissic are both in the top 10 running backs. See the ranking of week 12.

Paris nugget: Dallas is 1-8 CEP in its last nine Thanksgiving games. Read more.

Keim’s choice: Cowboys 27, Washington 24
The choice of the archer: Cowboys 27, Washington State 17
FPI prediction: WSH, 54.8% (with an average of 1.7 points)

Return of Thanksgiving Day: In 1974, alternate quarterback Clint Longley came in for an injured Roger Staubach with the Cowboys behind Washington 16-3. Longley rallied Dallas to a win, completing 11 passes for 203 yards. He capped the comeback with a 50-yard touchdown pass to Drew Pearson with 28 seconds left, and the extra kick gave the Cowboys a 24-23 victory.

Matchup should read: Smith’s calming influence gives Washington hope … McCarthy inspired Cowboys by smashing watermelons

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8:20 p.m. ET | NBC
Match Note: 90.1 | Propagated: PIT -4.5 (45)

To monitor: The Steelers insist they don’t have Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson’s number, but they forced him to return the ball four times in the previous meeting and throw three interceptions in their only. 2019 game (Jackson was ruled out of Week 17 game). The Ravens were still able to race anywhere in Pittsburgh earlier this month, but the Steelers’ pressure and their ability to make Jackson uncomfortable is very effective. Look for them to redial it. – Brooke Pryor

Bold Prediction: Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be throwing four touchdown passes. Since 2013, he’s been 4-1 against the Ravens at Heinz Field, throwing 13 touchdowns and three interceptions (odds of 104.0 passers). And in Baltimore’s four losses this season, the defense gave up 10 touchdown passes and recorded one interception. – Jamison Hensley

Stat namely: The Steelers are the 14th team since the introduction of the 16-game schedule (1978) to start with a 10-0 record, and only one of those teams finished with less than 13 wins (the 2015 Patriots went 12- 4). Pittsburgh can clinch a playoff berth in Week 12 with a win Thursday and losses to the Raiders and Dolphins on Sunday. This would be the first deciding game since the 12-team playoffs in 1990 (now 14 teams), but only one of the six teams that landed a spot in Week 12 won the Super Bowl (Washington in 1991).

Injuries: Ravens | Steelers

What you need to know for fantasy: Baltimore wide receiver Marquise Brown has seen her fantasy point total decline in each of her last five games. See the ranking of week 12.

Paris nugget: Pittsburgh is 8-2 ATS this season, the best score in the NFL. Read more.

Hensley’s choice: Steelers 31, Ravens 23
Pryor’s choice: Steelers 34, Ravens 31
FPI prediction: PIT, 53.8% (1.3 points on average)

Return of Thanksgiving Day: A 2013 game – the only other such encounter between these teams at Thanksgiving – ended in a failed 2-point conversion attempt for Pittsburgh, resulting in a 22-20 Ravens victory. But we remember the game for a 73-yard kickoff return. Jacoby Jones, a Baltimore returner, sprinted down the left side and looked destined to take him home, but he almost ran into Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, who was very close to the playing field. did not score and the practice ended with a basket. Tomlin was fined $ 100,000 for this incident.

Matchup should read: Ravens reeling after another painful and embarrassing collapse against the Titans … Returning Player of the Year? Roethlisberger of the Steelers is also pushing for the first MVP … From scary to simple: Jackson and Ravens attack free fall … How good are the Steelers? Pittsburgh standings against other teams 10-0