Week 12 will be full of turkey, shopping, and football. The NFL’s annual Thanksgiving tradition is back and better than ever. The NFL has prepared three intriguing games for Turkey Day, and the league is introducing a new tradition with a game on Black Friday – the day following Thanksgiving, known for blockbuster deals in the shopping world.
Thanksgiving and Black Friday Showdowns in NFL Week 12
Thursday will feature three divisional battles with the Packers-Lions, Commanders-Cowboys and 49ers-Seahawks. Washington visiting Dallas stands out as the weakest game among the three. However, this is a rich rivalry, so who knows what happens? This level of intensity can lead to surprising results.
For years, many fans griped about Detroit annually hosting a game on Thanksgiving. It makes sense, the Lions have been one of the NFL’s worst teams for years. However, the 2022 season showed Detroit was changing. It took the Buffalo Bills to the wire on Thanksgiving. Now the Lions will play host to the Packers in a must-see rivalry. This will be the final meeting between the two this season. The NFC North could be anyone’s down to the final week of the regular season. This game could have a huge impact on who wins the North.
The nightcap between San Francisco and Seattle ends the day with an excellent matchup. NFL lines had the 49ers and Seahawks as the favorites to win the NFC West entering the season. This division has been viewed as a two-horse race, meaning head-to-head matchups could decide the division. This is the first of two meetings between San Francisco and Seattle over the next three weeks. There could be a clear frontrunner in the West following the two meetings.
Black Friday Showdown – Dolphins vs Jets
The Miami Dolphins will visit the New York Jets on Black Friday. This should be an exceptional game with plenty of star power. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers will face one of the NFL’s best secondaries, which includes cornerbacks Xavien Howard and Jalen Ramsey. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill and cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner will also renew their ultra-competitive battles.
The wide receiver-cornerback matchups will be must-see TV. NFL odds for Week 12 offer props for the one-on-one clashes. Which wideouts will get open and total impressive stat lines?
The intriguing matchups don’t stop there. Sunday’s first round of games includes the Saints-Falcons and the Steelers-Bengals. New Orleans and Atlanta were labeled as the frontrunners to win the NFC South in the offseason. This will be a key battle in the divisional race. Pittsburgh-Cincinnati is always an intense rivalry, but the Bengals’ star power could be too much.
The Buffalo Bills against the Philadelphia Eagles takes the cake for the best game in the second round of Sunday matchups. Both teams are viewed as contenders with a solid chance of reaching Super Bowl 58. Quarterbacks Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts are among the MVP Award favorites, and both defenses possess star power. NFL lines will likely favor the Eagles at home, but this could close as one of the smallest point spreads of the week.
Sunday Night Football – Ravens vs Chargers
The Baltimore Ravens visit the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night Football. This is yet another exceptional matchup that includes two star QBs in Lamar Jackson and Justin Herbert. This could be a playoff preview as both teams appeared in the 2022 postseason.
Another divisional rivalry caps the week with the Chicago Bears facing the Minnesota Vikings. The NFC North is in the spotlight with the Packers-Lions on Turkey Day and the Bears-Vikings on Monday Night Football. The North will start and finish one of the best weeks of the 2023 season.
If you like rivalries, this is the week to watch. College football is packed with rivalries in the final week of the regular season. The NFL has followed suit, featuring three divisional battles on Thanksgiving and two more on Friday and Monday.
Looking ahead to NFL Week 13 Odds, the intensity only amplifies as teams strive to solidify their positions and make their push for the playoffs. With every game taking on heightened significance, the stage is set for heart-stopping moments and unexpected twists.
