Our Thanksgiving slate of games begins on CBS with the Minnesota Vikings (6-4) taking on the Detroit Lions (6-4) with the NFC North up for grabs. You can read my preview and pick here. So pull out that TV tray or put that plate on your lap, watch the game and hang out with me. If it’ll help you avoid political talk, this live blog will have more than served its purpose.
As always, scroll on down for the live blog. Keep reading for the press release from the NFL.
WEEK 12 KICKS OFF WITH THANKSGIVING TRIPLEHEADER
Week 12 begins on Thursday with a Thanksgiving tripleheader for the 11th consecutive year. Traditional competitors Detroit and Dallas will host games during the day followed by a primetime nightcap.
All six teams playing on Thanksgiving have a .500 or better record. It is only the second time in NFL history – and first since 1935 – in which the Thanksgiving schedule has at least three games and every team has a .500 or better record.
And, for only the third time in the past 20 years, every team playing on Thanksgiving won its preceding game (1998 and 2011).
A look at the three Thanksgiving games:
Minnesota (6-4) at Detroit (6-4) at 12:30 PM ET (CBS): The Vikings and Lions are tied for first in the NFC North. Minnesota defeated Arizona 30-24 last week and became the first team since the 1962 Dallas Cowboys to have a 100+ yard interception-return touchdown (XAVIER RHODES, 100 yards) and a 100+ yard kickoff-return touchdown (CORDARRELLE PATTERSON, 104 yards) in the same game. Detroit defeated Jacksonville 26-19 in Week 11 and is the first team in NFL history to have each of its first 10 games decided by seven points or fewer. Vikings Lions
Washington (6-3-1) at Dallas (9-1) at 4:30 PM ET (FOX): The Cowboys lead the NFC East with an NFL-best 9-1 record while the Redskins are in the middle of the NFC playoff race with a 6-3-1 mark. On Sunday night, Washington quarterback KIRK COUSINS passed for 375 yards with three touchdowns and rookie running back ROBERT KELLEY rushed for 137 yards with three TDs. The Cowboys have won nine consecutive games – the longest single-season winning streak in team history – and have gained at least 400 total net yards in eight games in a row, tied for the longest streak in NFL history (2007 New England and 2013 Denver). Dallas rookie quarterback DAK PRESCOTT is the only rookie in NFL history to pass for at least 300 yards and multiple touchdowns with no interceptions in back-to-back games. Vikings Lions
Pittsburgh (5-5) at Indianapolis (5-5) at 8:30 PM ET (NBC): The Steelers and Colts are in the thick of the AFC playoff picture. Pittsburgh is tied for first in the AFC North with Baltimore while the Colts are in second place in the AFC South one game behind Houston (6-4). The Steelers defeated Cleveland 24-9 last week as running back LE’VEON BELL gained 201 scrimmage yards (146 rushing, 55 receiving) and scored one touchdown. Colts quarterback ANDREW LUCK threw two touchdown passes in Indianapolis’ 24-17 win over Tennessee last week in a key divisional matchup.
After Thanksgiving, the week continues with a full slate of games on Sunday and concludes with a pair of primetime contests with postseason implications. On Sunday night (8:30 PM ET, NBC), the 7-3 Kansas City Chiefs will visit the 7-3 Denver Broncos in an important AFC West showdown. And on Monday night (8:30 PM ET, ESPN), the Philadelphia Eagles will host the Green Bay Packers in a matchup between two teams trying to remain in the thick of the NFC playoff race.
The game is on your local CBS affiliate at 12:30 p.m. Watch it with me.
