Thanksgiving 2020 will bring with it different circumstances for family gatherings, but the football remains. There will be just two games this year, but the action kicks off at 12:30 P.M. Eastern.
The Early Game
The 3-7 Houston Texans take on the 4-6 Detroit Lions in the early game on CBS. The host Lions are a Thanksgiving regular, although they haven’t won since 2016. The Texans come in fresh off a 27-20 win over the New England Patriots. Meanwhile, the Lions are coming off an embarrassing 20-0 shutout loss to the Carolina Panthers.
The Texans are three-point road favorites in this one.
Houston should have opportunities to pass the ball against a porous Detroit secondary. Quarterback Deshaun Watson has completed nearly 70% of his passes this year for 2,883 yards, 20 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. His leading targets are receivers Will Fuller V (708 yards, six touchdowns) and Brandin Cooks (634 yards). Keep an eye on both if placing player props.
The Lions will be without star wideout Kenny Golladay for the fourth straight game, while rising rookie runner DeAndre Swift is questionable.
Houston’s defense has been poor all year, but without their top weapons, Detroit's offensive efforts may match last week's disappointing performance.
First Place in the NFC East is Up for Grabs
In what has been a laughable NFC East this year, first place in the division is for the taking on Thanksgiving afternoon. The 3-7 Washington Football Team heads to Dallas to take on the 3-7 Cowboys. The winner will move to four wins in the win column and overtake the 3-6-1 Philadelphia Eagles.
Both teams won this past Sunday as they prepare to make it two straight on Thanksgiving. Washington topped the Cincinnati Bengals 20-9, while the Cowboys took down the Minnesota Vikings 31-28. The Cowboys are currently 3-point favorites at home.
Quarterback Andy Dalton is back for the Cowboys as they take on a stronger-than-you-think Washington secondary.
Washington has journeyman Alex Smith at quarterback. Smith is aided by a pair of rising stars for Washington in running back Antonio Gibson and wide receiver Terry McLaurin.
Gibson has 742 total yards and ten touchdowns this year, while McLaurin has 62 receptions for 871 yards. Both players should have chances to make plays against a weak Dallas defense.
Washington and Dallas will start up at 4:30 P.M. EST.
Late Game Postponed
Unfortunately, the marquee matchup of the day between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers was postponed to Sunday afternoon. The Ravens have had seven players test positive for covid-19 this week, prompting the league to push out this AFC North battle.
The 6-4 Ravens are looking for revenge against the still unbeaten Steelers (10-0). The game was set to kick off at 8 P.M. EST, but will now take place Sunday at 1:15 P.M.
The NFL on Thanksgiving Day has been a tradition since the league’s inception in 1920 and will continue on again in what should be a pair of entertaining games.
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