The turkey has been carved, household soccer video games within the yard have been gained, and the NFL has ripped by means of a wild Thanksgiving slate. Coming into Thursday, the league’s triple-header was described as monumental, and for good cause. This wasn’t your typical vacation slate with one sport standing above the remainder, as each sport carried with it an enormous weight when it comes to the playoff image.
We started the day with the Packers heading into the Motor Metropolis and taking down the Lions, whereas wrapping issues up with the Bengals upsetting the Ravens in Baltimore. Sandwiched in between these two divisional matchups was the Chiefs and Cowboys squaring off in what was basically a do-or-die contest for every of their playoff hopes, and Dallas coming away victorious.
NFL Thanksgiving grades for Week 13: Cowboys ace check in opposition to Chiefs, Bengals earn ‘A’ for stunning win
John Breech
Naturally, there are many storylines that’ll come out of this trio of video games from the vacation. However which storylines ought to we take a face worth and which ought to we shrug off as nothing greater than an overreaction? Fortunately, we’re right here to assist slice by means of these storylines and decide simply that.
Detroit’s playoff hopes are dashed
Overreaction or actuality: Overreaction
The Lions are most likely feeling dejected popping out of Thanksgiving, and for good cause. Their probabilities of profitable the NFC North doubtless went up in smoke with their loss to the Inexperienced Bay Packers at Ford Area. That accomplished the season sweep for the Packers, and dropped the Lions to a mere 1-3 document throughout the division. Whereas that creates a near-impossible hill to climb for the NFC North crown, all just isn’t misplaced when it comes to the Lions stepping into the playoffs. They’re on the surface wanting in on the playoff image for the time being and have zero margin for error, however there’s nonetheless a path for them to get in at this present snapshot. In the event that they care for enterprise over the subsequent two weeks in opposition to the Cowboys and the Rams (no small job), they may play themselves again within the image with some outdoors assist.
Chiefs have to win out
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
Issues are getting fairly bleak for the Chiefs, who at the moment are 6-6 on the season after a loss to the Cowboys. Not solely does that dig them right into a deeper gap within the AFC West race, however Kansas Metropolis’s playoff hopes are remarkably dwindling. For the time being, they’re the No. 9 seed within the convention. With the primary Week 13 slate nonetheless on deck, groups just like the Houston Texans (6-5), Buffalo Payments (7-4), and Jacksonville Jaguars (7-4) may all push additional forward of them with wins on Sunday. Talking of the Payments and Jaguars, Kansas Metropolis would wish to complete the 12 months at the very least one sport above them as they every personal the head-to-head tiebreaker. The identical might be mentioned for the Texans by the top of Week 14 after they go to the Chiefs at Arrowhead. If the Chiefs lose that sport or some other contest over their ultimate 5 video games, it will doubtless be curtains for his or her playoff hopes.
Cowboys are going to make the playoffs
Overreaction or actuality: Overreaction
The Dallas Cowboys are immediately one of many hottest groups within the NFL. Jerry Jones’ membership is driving a three-game profitable streak, and the earlier two wins embody each golf equipment that had been within the Tremendous Bowl a season in the past. Whereas that has Dallas rightfully flying top quality on cloud 9, these wins do not essentially point out that they’re a shoo-in for the playoffs. At 6-5-1, there may be nonetheless loads of work that must be accomplished. If we strictly have a look at the wild card race, the Cowboys have to catch the likes of the Packers (8-3-1), 49ers (8-4), or Seahawks (8-3). Inexperienced Bay already gained its Week 13 sport, whereas San Francisco and Seattle are each favored to win their matchups on Sunday, probably pushing them to 9 wins on the 12 months. That creates fairly the hole for Dallas. Is it inconceivable? No, however not a lock as it might really feel on this second.
Packers are the true group to beat within the NFC North
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
Thursday’s win over the Lions did not transfer the Packers into first place within the NFC North, however it might as properly have. With the ability to go into Detroit and pull out a win in that setting additional confirmed that Inexperienced Bay is the group to beat on this division, even when they’re momentarily wanting up on the Chicago Bears. The Packers accomplished the season sweep of the Lions and have each of their contests in opposition to the Bears nonetheless left on the docket, giving them a possibility to leap atop the NFC North by season’s finish. Already, Inexperienced Bay is 3-0 within the division and is the extra gifted membership when firing on all cylinders. Sure, they often play all the way down to their competitors, however because the stakes rise as we head down the ultimate few weeks of the common season, I believe their play will degree up as properly.
Bengals will make playoffs with Joe Burrow again
Overreaction or actuality: Overreaction
Cincinnati is now 3-0 when Joe Burrow begins for them this season. The membership was actually comfortable to welcome him again underneath heart on Thanksgiving as he helped pave the way in which to a pivotal win over the Ravens in Baltimore. Seeing No. 9 slinging it for 2 touchdowns has the Bengals dreaming of constructing the playoffs, however that is no assure. Even when they finish the common season on hearth as they did a 12 months in the past, they may, similarly, nonetheless miss out on the postseason. This victory pushes the Bengals to a 4-8 document on the season. With groups just like the Payments and Jaguars coming into Week 13 at 7-4, there is a hefty hole for them to notch a wild-card spot. Their finest path could be to win the AFC North, the place they now personal a 3-1 document. That would show worthwhile in tiebreaker situations, however it additionally entails each the Steelers and Ravens cratering. It is attainable a kind of groups falls by the wayside, however Cincinnati would additionally need to win out. Even with their protection taking part in properly on Thursday evening, that aspect of the ball remains to be susceptible to costing them key video games and dashing their playoff hopes.
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
Lamar Jackson is not proper. Even because the Ravens had been on their five-game profitable streak heading into Thanksgiving, the offense did not precisely look proper, and Jackson, particularly, appeared out of sync. He hadn’t thrown a landing within the two video games coming into Week 13, and never solely did he fail the discover the top zone once more, however he additionally tallied three giveaways (one interception and two fumbles). In all, Jackson has 5 turnovers over his final three video games with zero whole touchdowns. No matter whether or not it is health-related or not, if Jackson is not in a position to flip the tide quickly, it may put the Ravens’ playoff hopes in danger.
