The NFL is the biggest show in American professional sports, and Thanksgiving Thursday helps bring family, food, and playoff anxiety to millions nationwide.
The 2023 edition will have an NFC feel, as the scheduled slate of games will begin with the Green Bay Packers taking on the Detroit Lions, an NFC North rivalry that has been a feature of Thanksgiving Day football for decades.
The eating portion of the day (4:30) features NFC East rivals the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders meeting for the final time this season.
If you’re still awake and festive for the nightcap, fans will get a critical NFC West showdown between the Seattle Seahawks and rival San Francisco 49ers, who are both vying for the top spot in the division.
Green Bay Packers 4-6 AT Detroit Lions 8-2
The Packers are coming off a win over the fading Chargers, while the Lions overcame three Jared Goff interceptions to defeat the Bears last week.
Detroit (8-2) is one game behind Philadelphia (9-1) and has remaining matchups scheduled with the Saints, Bears, Vikings (2x), Broncos and Cowboys down the stretch.
Root for Packers
Washington Commanders 4-7 AT Dallas Cowboys 7-3
Commanders Sam Howell has been sacked 51 times so far, putting him on track to set a single-season record. The talented second-year quarterback isn’t the same when he’s being battered.
Howell has 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions on the season, but he has just 7 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in games where he’s been sacked 5+ times this season, with Washington getting outscored 157-105.
Dallas on the other hand has sacked the opposing signal-caller 5+ times in just three games, but they’ve hammered teams, 122-27 in games where they pressure and sack the quarterback.
The Cowboys (7-3) are two games behind the Eagles in the NFC East, and sit in the fifth playoff spot currently. A Washington win would go a long ways toward giving Philadelphia back to back division titles.
Root for Commanders
San Francisco 49ers 7-3 AT Seattle Seahawks 6-4
Seattle quarterback Geno Smith is questionable but expected to play, while 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has struggled against Pete Carroll in his career (including a 2-4 mark in Seattle).
San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy is a perfect 2-0 against the Seahawks, and it’ll be the first of two meetings sandwiched between the 49ers facing the Eagles and Seattle facing Dallas.
The 49ers are third in the NFC playoff picture, while the Seahawks occupy the sixth spot.
Root for Seahawks
