DALLAS, TX, Sporting Alert – Three games are listed on the NFL schedule for Thanksgiving Day and they will all be available to watch and stream live on Week 12.
GAME OF THANKSGIVING?
The Minnesota Vikings (8-2) will hunt their seventh consecutive win in the league this season when they travel to Detroit to take on the Lions at Ford Field in the opening game of the day.
Live coverage of this game will be on FOX and should be available on FOX Sports GO, with kick-off time set for 12:30 pm ET.
Minnesota enters in this encounter with a 53 percent chance to extend its winning streak, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index, but let’s be reminded that the last team to be the Vikings was Detroit, which has beaten them three straight times in this series.
It is also worth noting that the Lions (6-4) have won four straight Thanksgiving Day games at Ford Field and the hosts are looking forward to sweeping their rivals in this NFC North showdown and secure their fourth win in a row on the term.
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford
“Playing meaningful football on Thanksgiving is a whole lot of fun,” quarterback Matthew Stafford said.
“This year should be no different. Any time you win on Thanksgiving, it’s a blast. The turkey tastes a whole lot better.”
Will Field Goals Decide This One Again?
The last time these two clubs met, Matt Prater kicked two field goals in a 14-7 win at Minnesota on Oct. 1 and it could very well be another tight game.
Prater also made three field goals in a 16-13 victory for Detroit on Thanksgiving Day last year, and Vikings coach Mike Zimmer is hoping his side can get going on offense this time around.
“We haven’t scored enough points,” he admitted. “We had 16, 13 twice and kicked a 60-yard field goal once. Last (time) 14-7.
“We turned the ball over three times last game and we got in the red zone and haven’t converted.”
Meanwhile, Lions coach Jim Caldwell isn’t buying into the pundits’ game time build-up and predictions.
“They’re a very good team. They’re on a roll,” Jim Caldwell said. “But we’re not worried about ramifications.
“We’re not worried about all of the build-up and things of that nature. We’re worried about how we play, and that’s what our goal is — to get focused in on our preparation, and get ready to play a tough, hard-fought game.”
MORE THANKSGIVING DAY FIXTURES
In the meantime, the two other NFL games on Thanksgiving Day will see the Dallas Cowboys hosting the Los Angeles Chargers and the New York Giants playing at the Washington Redskins.
Eli Manning of the New York Giants
The Cowboys (5-5) are coming off two stinging defeats and need a win against the Chargers (4-6) at AT&T Stadium to help ease some of the pressure off head coach Jason Garrett.
A 27-7 defeat to the Atlanta Falcons was followed by a 37-9 loss at home to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday for Dallas, but ESPN’s Football Power Index is backing the Texas-based side to return to winning ways.
“I think the biggest thing is you have to go back to work,” Garrett said. “The challenge of the National Football League is real, play after play, game after game.
“Sometimes you have success and you have to build on that but also learn from what happens.”
Despite the recent setbacks, Garrett informs his players that they can peak at the right time as everything is “all in front of us.”
Jason Garrett, the Dallas Cowboys football head coach
“We’re 5-5 right now,” he said. “We can be anywhere from 11-5 to 5-11 and everywhere in between.
“Really the focus is trying to become 6-5 and the way you do that is focus on today and do what you need to do in the preparation on a short week.”
Meanwhile, Los Angeles ran up the scoreboard at the weekend after it ended a two-game skid with a 54-24 victory over the Buffalo Bills to show itself as a potential playoff team, but will need to keep winning.
The Chargers have won four of their last six games, but will need some help to catch AFC West leaders Kansas City Chiefs and others who are chasing a possible wild-card berth.
At the FedEx Field in Landover in the Thanksgiving night prime time kick-off, the Washington Redskins will entertain the New York Giants live on NBC in an NFC East matchup that neither team can afford to lose.
The prime time battle will kick-off at 8:30 PM ET with the Redskins (4-6) aiming to snap a two-game losing streak, while the Giants (2-8) are seeking to build on their surprised victory over Kansas City last time out.
ESPN’s Football Power Index is giving Washington the edge with a 68 percent chance of winning the game.
The Redskins are being affected by major injury problems with coach Jay Gruden revealing that there could likely be seven or seven or eight game time decisions.
NFL Thanksgiving Day Fixtures
Thursday, November 23
Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions 12:30 PM FOX | FOX Sports GO
Los Angeles Chargers at Dallas Cowboys 4:30 PM CBS | CBS All Access
New York Giants at Washington Redskins 8:30 PM NBC | NBC Live Stream
