Thanksgiving and football are as American as apple pie, and the NFL Thanksgiving Games 2024 delivers three mouthwatering matchups that will shape playoff races. This year’s holiday games feature historic rivalries, superstar quarterbacks, and teams fighting for postseason positioning.
In this comprehensive Thanksgiving NFL preview, we’ll break down:
✔ Complete 2024 Thanksgiving game schedule
✔ Key storylines for each matchup
✔ Expert predictions and score projections
✔ Best betting picks and prop bets
✔ Fantasy football players to start/sit
✔ Historical trends that could decide games
2024 NFL Thanksgiving Game Schedule
Game 1: Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions (12:30 PM ET, FOX)
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Location: Ford Field, Detroit
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Spread: Lions -6.5
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Total: 48.5 points
Game’s 2: Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys (4:30 PM ET, CBS)
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Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington
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Spread: Cowboys -9
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Total: 51 points
Game 3: New England Patriots vs. Minnesota Vikings (8:20 PM ET, NBC)
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Location: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
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Spread: Vikings -3
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Total: 42.5 points
Game-by-Game Breakdown & Predictions
Bears vs. Lions: NFC North Showdown
Why This Game Matters:
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Lions looking to maintain division lead
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Caleb Williams’ first Thanksgiving start
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Jared Goff’s perfect 5-0 record on Thanksgiving
Key Matchup:
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Bears secondary vs. Amon-Ra St. Brown
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Detroit’s O-line vs. Montez Sweat
Prediction:
Lions 31, Bears 24 – Detroit’s experience in holiday games proves decisive
Commanders vs. Cowboys: NFC East Rivalry
Why This Game Matters:
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Dallas fighting for #1 seed in NFC
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Jayden Daniels’ first Cowboys showdown
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Mike McCarthy’s job security implications
Key Matchup:
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Micah Parsons vs. Commanders rookie OT
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CeeDee Lamb vs. Commanders’ young CBs
Prediction:
Cowboys 34, Commanders 20 – Dallas dominates at home
Patriots vs. Vikings: QB Duel
Why This Game Matters:
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Drake Maye vs. J.J. McCarthy rookie battle
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Both teams fighting for wild card spot
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Bill Belichick’s defensive gameplan
Key Matchup:
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Justin Jefferson vs. Christian Gonzalez
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Vikings pass rush vs. Pats O-line
Prediction:
Vikings 23, Patriots 17 – Minnesota’s weapons make the difference
Best Thanksgiving NFL Bets
Top Spread Picks
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Lions -6.5 – Chicago struggles on road
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Vikings -3 – Belichick keeps it close but falls short
Smart Moneyline Plays
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Cowboys ML (-400) – Near lock at home
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Lions ML (-250) – Worth the juice
Player Prop Bets to Target
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Amon-Ra St. Brown OVER 89.5 receiving yards
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CeeDee Lamb anytime TD scorer (-120)
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Justin Jefferson longest reception OVER 27.5 yards
For live odds updates and expert betting analysis, visit NFL NewsZ.
Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice
Must-Start Players
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Jared Goff (QB, DET) – Thanksgiving specialist
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CeeDee Lamb (WR, DAL) – Primetime performer
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T.J. Hockenson (TE, MIN) – Pats weak vs. TEs
Risky Starts
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Drake Maye (QB, NE) – Tough road environment
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Commanders RBs – Dallas run defense stout
Sneaky Plays
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Romeo Doubs (WR, CHI) – Lions vulnerable to big plays
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Ty Chandler (RB, MIN) – Increased workload coming
Historical Thanksgiving NFL Trends
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Home teams are 12-4 ATS last 5 years
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Unders hit in 7 of last 10 Thanksgiving night games
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Lions have covered 4 straight Thanksgiving games
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Cowboys are 7-3 SU last 10 Thanksgiving appearances
How to Watch 2024 Thanksgiving Games
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TV Channels: FOX, CBS, NBC
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Streaming: NFL+, YouTube TV, FuboTV
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Radio: Westwood One national broadcasts
For complete coverage of all Thanksgiving NFL action, bookmark NFL NewsZ.
Final Thoughts: Thanksgiving NFL Preview
The 2024 Thanksgiving NFL slate delivers compelling matchups with playoff implications:
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Can the Lions continue their holiday dominance?
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Will the Cowboys crush another Thanksgiving opponent?
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Which rookie QB (Maye or McCarthy) steps up?
Our predictions:
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Lions win but Bears cover
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Cowboys roll big at home
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Vikings grind out close win
Enjoy the games, the food, and the football! For last-minute injury updates and betting line moves, check NFL NewsZ throughout Thanksgiving day.
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