The Biggest NFL Match-ups and Schedule for Thanksgiving 2018
November 19, 2018
NFL Thanksgiving 2018:3 Big Games To Look Out ForWhat beats having your turkey with a side of touchdowns?Another Thanksgiving weekend has arrived, and not only will you feast on your favorite entrees, but you can also enjoy it with plenty of action on the gridiron.There are three key matchups taking place on Thanksgiving, and were here to give you the inside scoop on whos playing and what we can expect.
The Chicago Bears-Detroit Lions rivalry continues and it burns strong. First and foremost, this game is going to serve as a rematch of the tough-to-watch game from week 10, where the Bears bullied the Lions for most of the game (although Detroit made a close comeback).Both teams are in tough spots right now. Chicago doesnt have much wiggle room for them to win the division, making this matchup with the Lions a big one - they have to win. As for Detroit, whos been having a rough year with a record of 3-6, they tend to pull off some stellar performances on Thanksgiving. So, hopefully, they can turn things around this weekend.
The Washington Redskins rolled into Tampa last week and rocked them 16-3, even though they sacrificed 500 yards. Moving into Week 11, they were two games clear of their division rivals, and they look threatening enough to beat the Dallas Cowboys this Thanksgiving.What will be interesting to see is how these two go head-to-head considering theyre both defense-heavy. Dallas offense does have its strengths - namely, Amari Cooper and Ezekiel Elliott, but their defense has been their stronghold this season, especially thanks to rookie linebacker Leighton Vander Esch.The Redskins have the better defense, however. This is amplified even more by their offensive line which has been plagued by injuries. Adrian Peterson will likely put up a solid attack against the Cowboys given his history where he performs better against teams who have rubbed him the wrong way (we all know the Peterson-Dallas story).The game goes down in Arlington at AT&T Stadium.
Southern hospitality goes out the window when the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints go head-to-head. Were anticipating a pretty close matchup here due in part to their despising one another, which is a motivating factor. The Saints have played some incredible football over the past few weeks, and they truly deserve recognition considering the opponents theyve faced.With wins over the Ravens, Vikings, Bengals and the Rams, the Saints are in peak form right now. And with Drew Brees at the helm, theyll no doubt head into this game with a steely gaze of confidence.As for the Falcons, they havent hit the stride that we expected them to, which is partially the result of several injuries that have hampered their defensive line. Its also unfortunate because Matt Ryan is putting forth some great performances these days. Well give the Saints the upper-hand here, but, thats not to say that this game will be a walk in the park for Brees and the Saints.
Fill Your Plate, Grab Your Jerseys
Youve got a lot to look forward to this weekend, not only because of your Thanksgiving dinners, but also these three big games awaiting you. Were expecting all three to see some major plays (and hopefully some surprises). Whatever happens, well definitely be back next week to give you the highlights just in case you miss a beat.