close
close

2024 NFL Thanksgiving Schedule, Picks, Odds, Injuries


2024 NFL Thanksgiving Schedule, Picks, Odds, Injuries

The schedule for Week 13 of the 2024 NFL season begins with a wide range of Thanksgiving matchups, and we’ve got you covered with everything you need to know for the three matchups this holiday.

Our NFL Nation reporters bring us the biggest keys to every game and analysis writer Seth Walder makes a bold prediction for each contest. The ESPN research team provides extensive statistics and a betting nugget for each game, while our Football Power Index (FPI) delves into the numbers with a match prediction. Fantasy analyst Eric Moody finds fantasy football X-factors and three analysts – Moody, Walder and Kalyn Kahler – give us final score tips for each game. We’ll also look at the best moments from each team’s Thanksgiving history.

Let’s start with the bears and lions, who meet for the 20th time on Türkiye Day.

Jump to a matchup:
CHI-DET | NYG DAL | MIA GB

12:30 p.m. ET | CBS | ESPN BET: DET-10 (48.5 O/U)

Bears story to watch: Wide receiver DJ Moore increased his average from 9.8 air yards per target in Weeks 1-10 to 1.9 after the Bears named Thomas Brown their offensive coordinator in Week 11. Moore caught all seven of his targets that were behind the line of scrimmage against the Packers and Vikings for 96 yards and a touchdown. He has rushed for 120 yards after catch, which is a league high in the last two weeks. Detroit’s defense has allowed 4.3 yards per score on passes behind the line of scrimmage, the fourth-lowest average in the league, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. –Courtney Cronin

The history of the Lions to watch: Can the Lions get their first Thanksgiving win since 2016 on a short week? Despite having their best start in 90 years, Detroit will look to limit distractions during the annual holiday game as coach Dan Campbell’s message this week has been to rest, recover and focus on the work at hand. The Lions have scored over 40 points in three straight home games and will look to maintain that pace. “We haven’t won on Thanksgiving in a long time, and we want to change that,” quarterback Jared Goff said after Sunday’s win over Indianapolis. –Eric Woodyard

Statistics you should know: The Lions will become the seventh team in the last 40 seasons to play on Thanksgiving as the NFL’s highest-scoring offense. Each of the previous six teams won their games.

Bold prediction: Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson will intercept Goff. Johnson is having another great season with 0.9 yards per cover snap allowed, well below the 1.2 average for outside corners (according to Next Gen Stats). — Walder

Injuries: Bears | Lions

Fantasy X Factor: Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Detroit’s offensive line ranks 12th in run-block win rate, and the team ranks third in rushing attempts per game. With David Montgomery dealing with a shoulder injury on a short week, the Lions will likely be able to rely even more on Gibbs. The Bears’ defensive front ranks 26th in run-stop win percentage, so Detroit’s ground game could have a field day. See week 13 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: The Bears are 1-4 against the spread (ATS) in their last five games, and four of their last five games have fallen below the total. Read more.

Kahler’s choice: Lions 28, Bears 21
Moody’s selection: Lions 30, Bears 17
Walder’s choice: Lions 27, Bears 20
FPI forecast: DET, 76.2% (average 11.0 points)

Thanksgiving review: After the 22 meetings between the Packers and Lions, this is the second most matchup on Thanksgiving Day. Chicago leads the Thanksgiving series 11-8, including three straight wins in 2018, 2019 and 2021. Detroit last won in 2014, when Calvin Johnson recorded 146 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Read more.

Matchup must-reads: Caleb Williams improves under OC Thomas Brown… Cairo Santos accepts blame for ‘stink’ with blocks… How the Lions went from perennial underdogs to sports betting’s worst enemy


4:30 p.m. ET | FOX | ESPN BET: DAL -4 (37.5 O/U)

Giants storyline to watch: The Giants are reeling and on the verge of implosion. They have lost six straight and players described their performance as “weak” in the 30-7 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday after the bye week. New York was outscored 148-74 in that stretch and relied on Tommy DeVito, previously the third-street quarterback, last week. DeVito has been sacked four times and is now ruled out for Thursday’s action due to a forearm injury. This means Drew Lock is about to make his first appearance with the Giants. – Jordan Raanan

The history of the Cowboys to watch: Can they go on a winning streak? Can they actually win a home game? The Cowboys most recently won back-to-back in Weeks 4 and 5 and have yet to win a game at AT&T Stadium this season. They trailed by more than 20 points in each of their last six home games, including the playoffs, an NFL record. But these are the Giants, who put together an embarrassing performance in Week 12. And the Cowboys have won seven straight games against them at AT&T Stadium. –Todd Archer

Statistics you should know: Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II had nine sacks in Week 7, the most in the NFL. He has recorded zero sacks since then, but one more would make him the third Giants player with double-digit sacks in 12 games in the last 15 seasons.

Bold prediction: Malik Nabers will record over 90 receiving yards. He still has an open score of 99, the highest possible, according to ESPN’s Receiver Score, meaning he’s doing his job to get open regardless of whether his quarterback can get him the ball or not. I think Lock-Start is a good thing (compared to DeVito) for Nabers, especially after he complained last week about not scoring in the first half. — Walder

Injuries: Giant | Cowboys

play

7:12

Can Mike McCarthy save his job and is Bill Belichick a good fit for the Cowboys?

Stephen A. Smith, Shannon Sharpe and Tedy Bruschi discuss whether Mike McCarthy can still save his job or whether Bill Belichick would be a good fit for the Cowboys.

Fantasy X Factor: Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. In regular-season games without quarterback Dak Prescott, Lamb averaged 12.0 goals and 16.8 fantasy points per game. With Rush under center, he should turn a lot of heads, especially since the Giants have allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete 70.8% of their passes. See week 13 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: Unders are 5-0 when the Giants play teams with a losing record this season. Read more.

Kahler’s choice: Cowboys 17, Giants 12
Moody’s selection: Cowboys 26, Giants 19
Walder’s choice: Cowboys 19, Giants 16
FPI forecast: DAL, 52.6% (average 1.2 points)

Thanksgiving review: In 1993, Cowboys defensive tackle Leon Lett tried to recover a blocked field goal attempt. The ball was kicked forward by Lett and recovered by the Dolphins at the 2-yard line. Miami connected on its next field goal attempt and won 16-14. Read more.

Matchup must-reads: Eli Manning is destined for the Hall of Fame, but when? … Is the Cowboys’ wild win a springboard for a late playoff push? … Inside the Wild Cowboys win against the Commanders


8:20 p.m. ET | NBC/Universo/Peacock | ESPN BET: GB -3.5 (46.5 O/U)

Worth seeing storyline of the dolphins: The Dolphins are winless under coach Mike McDaniel in temperatures below 40 degrees – and temperatures in Green Bay are expected to drop below freezing. McDaniel said his team is aware of the narrative that it is unable to play in cold weather. But Miami brings one of the most efficient offenses of the last month to this matchup. No NFL team has scored on a higher percentage of its drives since Week 8 than the Dolphins (56.3%). — Marcel Louis Jacques

Packers storyline to watch: The Packers may have finally solved their red zone woes. In Sunday’s win over the 49ers, they scored touchdowns on all five red zone drives (including three scoring runs by Josh Jacobs) after ranking 27th in touchdown percentage inside the 20 before the game. With the Dolphins ranking seventh in red zone defense, this Thanksgiving contest could reveal whether that’s real or a fluke. – Rob Demovsky

Statistics you should know: The Packers forced three or more takeaways against the 49ers for the sixth time this season, which is the most in the NFL. They scored 22 points off turnovers, their most in a game since Week 17 of 2022.

Bold prediction: Dolphins edge chop Robinson will record two or more sacks. The rookie pass rusher has been putting in some really strong performances lately. In Week 12, he led edge rushers in pass rush win rate for the second straight week (42.1%). — Walder

Injuries: dolphins | packer

Fantasy X Factor: Dolphins running back De’Von Achane. He is crucial in this game, which Miami must win as it aims to get back into the AFC playoff race. Why not rely on one of its most dangerous playmakers? Achane has scored more than 20 fantasy points in four of his last five games. The Packers’ defense has allowed the ninth-most receiving yards per game to running backs this season, making his dual-threat abilities particularly valuable. See week 13 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: The Packers are 8-3 overall and ATS in games where it is 32 degrees or below under coach Matt LaFleur, including the playoffs. Read more.

Kahler’s choice: Packers 28, Dolphins 27
Moody’s selection: Packers 34, Dolphins 28
Walder’s choice: Packers 24, Dolphins 20
FPI forecast: UK, 66.3% (average 6.5 points)

Thanksgiving review: This is only the third time the Packers have played at home on Thanksgiving. The other meetings were a win over the Hammond Pros in 1923 and a 17-13 loss against the Bears in 2015. Against Chicago, Green Bay was fourth and scoreless with 22 seconds left in regulation. Read more.

Matchup must-reads: Tyreek Hill’s traffic charges dismissed after officers fail to appear… McDaniel hints at tantrum to avoid trade for Calais Campbell… Jacobs and his quick play give the Packers something to rely on

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *