NFL Week 12
Thanksgiving weekend is among the best sporting weeks of this year. As has been the custom, the 2023 NFL season will have three NFL Week 12 matchups on Turkey Day. Those games this year will be sandwiched around college football this year. One thing the NFL will have to compete with it typically doesn’t is the World Cup.
The NFL matchups will show the league’s playoff race is also starting to heat up as well.
NFL Games of the Week
Thursday, Nov. 23rd
Green Bay Packers
vs
Detroit Lions
Washington Commanders
vs
Dallas Cowboys
San Francisco 49ers
vs
Seattle Seahawks
Friday, Nov. 24th
Miami Dolphins
vs
New York Jets
Sunday, Nov. 26th
Jacksonville Jaguars
vs
Houston Texans
New Orleans Saints
vs
Atlanta Falcons
Carolina Panthers
vs
Tennessee Titans
Pittsburgh Steelers
vs
Cincinnati Bengals
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
vs
Indianapolis Colts
New England Patriots
vs
New York Giants
Cleveland Browns
vs
Denver Broncos
Los Angeles Chargers
vs
Arizona Cardinals
Kansas City Chiefs
vs
Las Vegas Raiders
Buffalo Bills
vs
Philadelphia Eagles
Baltimore Ravens
vs
Los Angeles Chargers
Monday, Nov. 27th
Chicago Bears
vs
Minnesota Vikings
Here’s a look at some interesting facts about NFL Week 12 matchups.
Leave Detroit Alone
With no NFL championships since 1957 and no playoff wins since 1991, Detroit Lions fans have suffered enough over the past 60-plus years. Recent talk has been about removing the Lions from their traditional slot as the noon game on Thanksgiving. But this year’s against the Green Bay Packers without Aaron Rodgers can be a turn over game if they can manage to get the victory.
Detroit started its tradition of playing on Thanksgiving after the then-Spartans moved from Portsmouth, Ohio, to the Motor City in 1934. Rechristened the Lions, owner George Richards wanted to get more attention from the sports pages that typically went to the MLB’s Tigers, so he set up a Thanksgiving Day game with the Chicago Bears. The Lions sold out the University of Detroit’s 26,000-seat Stadium in what would be a 19-16 loss.
Detroit has played on the holiday ever since, save for a span of six years between 1939 and 1944. The Lions are 38-43-2 all-time on the holiday.
Other Important Matchups
- Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cincinnati Bengals: The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals are two of the most storied franchises in the NFL. The Steelers have won six Super Bowls, while the Bengals have won one. The two teams have met 150 times, with the Steelers holding a 90-57-5 advantage.
- Miami Dolphins vs New York Jets: The Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets are two AFC East rivals, and they have met 110 times, with the Dolphins holding a 58-56-1 advantage.
- Chicago Bears vs Minnesota Vikings: The Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings are two NFC North rivals, and they have met 124 times, with the Bears holding a 57-65-2 advantage. The Bears are coming off a disappointing 2022 season hoping to return to winning track this season.
