Quarterback Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys (4) runs the ball against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field.(Photo: Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports)

A packed list of NFL parties features a team with the NFL's second-best scorecard, three top teams in their respective divisions, and a battle that will determine which team will be at the top of its division at the end of the day.

Here are three keys for each Thanksgiving game:

Bear (7-3) in Lions (4-6) (12:30 ET, CBS)

1. Daniel in turn

Just two weeks ago, these two teams played in Chicago, with a 34-22 win over the Bears. But quarterback Mitchell Trubisky is unsure for the Bears with a shoulder injury, leaving Chase Daniel likely to assume the base role. A 10-year veteran, Daniel has only two starts and 78 pass attempts in his career. If he manages to find his pace within the offensive (he knows Matt Nagy's attack after serving as a substitute in Kansas City), Daniel could have a favorable arrangement against Detroit. Receiver Allen Robinson II (six catches of 133 yards, two touchdowns) had his best performance of the season at the first meeting with the Lions.

2. The Detroit Ground Game

Rookie Kerryon Johnson (641 yards and three touchdowns on 118 runs) was an asset to the Lions. But he suffered a knee injury and coach Matt Patricia said he was out of the game on Thursday. Detroit's options to replace him are not great, LeGarrette Blount – the next rookie – having only 183 yards this season.

3. Slow down the Chicago Pass race

The Bears are tied for fifth place in the NFL with 32 sacks this season (linebacker Khalil Mack has a quarter). The hasty pass sets the tone for the entire defense and allows the secondary player to take action to counter targets. The Lions offensive gave 30 sacks of the season. Limiting pressure and disruption will be essential for Detroit.

Cowboys Redskins (6-4) (5-5) (4:30 pm ET, FOX)

1. McCoy needs to handle the game

With Alex Smith missing for the season, Washington's hopes in the playoffs rest on Colt McCoy's right-hand man, who has not started a match since the 15th week. Coaches expressed confidence in their ninth year veteran. He is mobile, knows the system of coach Jay Gruden and is precise enough, but he must first protect the ball.

2. Fastest pass Prescott

Largely because of injuries, the Dallas offensive line has not reached the level it had reached previous seasons. The Cowboys are tied for 29th in the NFL with 34 bags allowed, but they only dropped two last week against the Falcons. Nevertheless, quarterback Dak Prescott has the third best time of the NFL, it took him on average 2.97 seconds to release the ball. To alleviate the difficulties of the O-line, faster passes would be useful.

3. Force on strength

Dallas has the fourth-best NFL offense (133.3 yards per game). Washington ranks sixth (95.7) in stopping the race. And as the Cowboys offensive is exerted between the legs of the half-offensive Ezekiel Elliott, if Washington manages to stifle what Dallas does on the field (after maintaining the former 33 yards in 15 races in the first match of the season), he could prompt Prescott to force throws on the ground. Receiver Amari Cooper opened the offensive, but it was the Cowboys' hasty attack that probably determined the outcome of the battle for first place in the NFC.

Falcons (4-6) to Saints (9-1) (8:20 pm ET, NBC)

1. hands in the air

Quarterback Saints Drew Brees had the fastest release (2.57 seconds on average) of the NFL. He launched 25 touchdowns and one interception. The saints have allowed nine bags of the League. The best shot in Atlanta to disrupt the passing game is to knock down the passes on the line of scrimmage.

2. Slow down

The Falcons have a strong offensive, but they will have trouble following New Orleans (NFL best score with 37.8 points per game) in a competition. The problem is that the Saints also lead the league in possession time (33:34) and rank sixth in the floor race (131.4 yards per game). Atlanta's ground game was not good (29th with 88.8 yards per game) and the Saints finished second at 77.9. A quick passing game could help move the chains and keep the ball out of Brees range.

3. Special teams and turnovers

Falcons must protect football. But if they can force New Orleans to provoke turnarounds, it will be imperative to turn those opportunities into points. Atlanta will also need to try to create scoring opportunities in the punt return and punt return match – that is – if the Saints hit at all. Thomas Morstead has collected 21 kickoffs and played two games this season, which New Orleans has never played.

Follow Lorenzo Reyes on Twitter @ LorenzoGReyes.

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