Three games are on the schedule as Week 12 in the NFL gets underway on Thanksgiving Day. All the teams in action today are still in contention for the playoffs, with six weeks remaining in the season after today.

Bills Face Lions In Second Straight Game In Detroit

The Buffalo Bills make another trip to Ford Field in Detroit to face the Lions in the first game featured today. Buffalo is playing the second straight game here after their home game against the Cleveland Browns was moved to Detroit during last weekend’s record snowfall. After starting the season 6-1, the Bills have lost two of their last three games and are tied with the Miami Dolphins at the top of the AFC East with a 7-3 record. 

The Lions had the opposite start to their season, with a 1-6 record. However, they’ve won three straight, including their last two on the road against the Chicago Bears and New York Giants.

Their 4-6 record puts them in second place in the NFC Central, just ahead of the Green Bay Packers. Detroit has lost five straight games on Thanksgiving and 15 in a row as underdogs on Turkey Day. 

Buffalo wins to go to 4-2 on the road.

Giants Face Cowboys For 2nd In NFC East 

The New York Giants versus Dallas Cowboys is the most anticipated game of the day. They are tied for second place in the division with 7-3 records behind the 9-1 Philadelphia Eagles. New York lost to the Cowboys in their first meeting at home 23-16. They’ve also lost two of their last three games, the most recent being a 31-18 loss to the Detroit Lions at home last weekend. 

The Cowboys were dominant last week in their 40-3 win over the Minnesota Vikings on the road. They gained 458 yards as Dak Prescott had his best game of the season, going 22-25 for 276 yards and two touchdowns. Dallas has also averaged over 35 points in the four games since they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles and must win today if they want to be considered contenders once the postseason starts in January. 

Dallas wins convincingly at home. 

Patriots Seek Fourth Straight Win In Minnesota

The New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings wrap up the Thanksgiving schedule tonight from U.S. Bank Stadium. The Patriots started the season 1-4 but have turned that around to win five of their last six. New England got its second win in three games over the New York Jets last Sunday, 10-3, in an ugly game for both offenses. Neither team scored a touchdown on offense as the Patriots’ Marcus Jones returned a punt 84 yards for a score with five seconds to go in the game to give them the win.

The Vikings are first in the NFC North with an 8-2 record and have a comfortable four-game lead over the second-place Lions. They had a seven-game win streak snapped last week against the Cowboys, losing 40-3 at home.

Minnesota is the only division leader in the league that has been outscored by its opponents this season. They’ll have a challenge tonight against a Patriots defense that is fourth in the league, allowing 302.8 yards per game. The Vikings have lost their last five matchups against New England. 

Minnesota gets the home victory for its ninth win.