Thanksgiving is quickly approaching and the time has come to spend some quality time with family. Whether it’s cooking together or going Black Friday shopping, this holiday is a great time to chow down on some turkey and enjoy the company of family. In some households, the tradition of eating in the diner room table is the norm, but it my household the tradition is to gather around the television to watch the NFL Thanksgiving games. This year the match-ups will include the once-again the Detroit Lions, but this time playing the Minnesota Vikings. The Dallas Cowboys will also be playing again but will be battling the Washington Redskins. And last but not least, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be playing the Indianapolis Colts. Three big games playing back-to-back-to-back will be out most enjoyable on Turkey Day.
Minnesota Vikings VS Detroit Lions
The first NFL Thanksgiving game of the day will be between the Vikings and the Lions. This particular match-up will be interesting to watch because each team is fighting for the number one spot in the NFC North. Last year, the Lions dominated in their last Thanksgiving game, beating the Eagles 45-14. With the Vikings as the reigning champs of the division, gives Matthew Stafford a great deal of pressure to secure a win. With Calvin Johnson missing the Thanksgiving game, the Lions may have some trouble on offense. Johnson was a key player on offense last year, with Megatron scoring three touchdowns and breaking his own Thanksgiving record with a total of 11 touchdowns. Now the Lions must depend on Golden Tate to rack up on the offensive board if they want a chance to compete with Teddy Bridgewater and the Vikings.
Washington Redskins VS Dallas Cowboys
The second game on this holiday will be between longtime rivals, Washington and Dallas. Unlike the match-up above, the two teams won’t be playing for the number spot in their division but is still a great game to watch during Thanksgiving. The last time these two teams played in a Thanksgiving game was back in 2012, where the Redskins won 38-31. The only difference in this game would be the change in quarterbacks. With Dak Prescott and Kirk Cousins making their Thanksgiving Day debut as starting quarterbacks, we will see which quarterback can handle the pressure of millions of viewers watching them and achieving a win. Especially for Dallas, taking a tough loss last year to the Carolina Panthers, losing 33-14.
Pittsburgh Steelers VS Indianapolis Colts
The last game to end your Thanksgiving Day will be a match-up between the Steelers and the Colts. This game isn’t a divisional match-up, but it doesn’t mean the game won’t be exciting. Pittsburgh and Indianapolis both have the same record going into the game, with each team trying to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Pittsburgh Steelers are one game behind the Ravens, while the Colts trail in the number third spot in their select division. This particular match-up will depend of the quarterbacks, Ben Roethlisberger and Andrew Luck to make big plays on offense to secure the victory. Both quarterbacks have similar skills in their throwing offensive stats and will be stimulating to see which quarterback outshines the other.