As fans celebrated Thanksgiving with family and food, the NFL provided a feast of football, with three exciting matchups across the day in Detroit, Dallas, and Green Bay. Each game had its own storylines, with teams celebrating hard-fought victories after their games, including the traditional postgame turkey-eating celebration. Let’s break down the action from the holiday games:
Missed Timeout Costs Bears Against Lions
The first game of the day saw the Chicago Bears suffer a heartbreaking loss to the Detroit Lions, 23-20, at Ford Field. Despite struggling early, trailing 16-0, the Bears made a valiant comeback. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams threw three touchdown passes to keep Chicago’s hopes alive. However, with under 30 seconds remaining and the Bears on their own 35-yard line, Williams’ potential game-tying drive was thwarted by a sack.
What made the defeat even more frustrating was the fact that the Bears still had a timeout left, which head coach Matt Eberflus failed to use in the final moments. Eberflus later took responsibility for the missed call but defended his decision, stating that the strategy was to get a play off, then call the timeout to set up a field goal attempt. Unfortunately, that strategy didn’t work, and the Bears lost their sixth straight game. Meanwhile, the Lions improved to 11-1, marking the best start to a season in franchise history.
Cowboys Keep Playoff Hopes Alive with Victory Over Giants
In the second Thanksgiving matchup, the Dallas Cowboys kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a 27-20 win over the New York Giants. This victory, their second straight, helped the Cowboys improve to 5-7. Despite being without star quarterback Dak Prescott, the Cowboys showed resilience with backup quarterback Cooper Rush leading the charge. Rush threw for 195 yards and a touchdown, while running back Rico Dowdle had a career-high 112 yards and a touchdown.
The Cowboys were able to overcome an early touchdown from the Giants, including a 23-yard pick-six by DeMarvion Overshown, and a solid overall performance from their defense. Dallas had a strong third quarter, scoring two touchdowns to take control of the game. Although the Giants made a late push, Dallas held on for the victory, and Micah Parsons echoed the team’s belief that they could still make a late playoff push. With the win, the Cowboys’ postseason chances are at 4%, but they remain hopeful for the games ahead.
Packers Dominate Dolphins in 30-17 Victory
The final game of the day saw the Green Bay Packers deliver a commanding 30-17 win over the Miami Dolphins at Lambeau Field. Quarterback Jordan Love threw two touchdown passes to rookie receiver Jayden Reed, while running back Josh Jacobs added another touchdown. Jacobs continued his impressive season, registering his fifth straight game with over 100 total scrimmage yards.
The Packers’ offense was firing on all cylinders, and their defense gave Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa fits all evening, sacking him four times and pressuring him consistently. By the third quarter, Green Bay had built a commanding 27-3 lead, and despite a late rally by Miami, the Packers held firm for the victory. This win brings the Packers to 9-3, setting up a crucial NFC North showdown with the Detroit Lions next week.
Conclusion
Thanksgiving Day in the NFL provided thrilling moments, from the missed timeout in Chicago to Dallas’ unexpected win and Green Bay’s dominant performance. These games highlighted the unpredictable nature of the league, with plenty of drama, upsets, and exciting action. As the playoff race continues, all three of these teams have significant storylines to follow in the weeks to come.
