The NFL will be without what had been its marquee game on Thanksgiving, but there are still two contests for fans to devour on Thursday.
The showdown between the Baltimore Ravens and undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers was postponed from the Thanksgiving evening slot to Sunday afternoon due to multiple positive COVID-19 tests from Ravens players. While that game was the most anticipated of the day, there will still be plenty of tradition to take in, as the two teams that annually host games on Thanksgiving (the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys) will still be in action. The first game could have coaching hot seat implications, while the latter will determine a new divisional leader.
Here’s everything you need to know for Thursday’s games:
Houston Texans (3-7) at Detroit Lions (4-6)
Kickoff time: 12:30 p.m. PT
TV channel: CBS
Odds (via BetMGM): Texans -3
Scouting report: The opening matchup features one team that already has fired its coach and another that could be trending toward a similar decision. The Texans have gone 3-3 since firing Bill O’Brien in October and installing Romeo Crennel as the interim head coach. The Lions, meanwhile, were shut out for the first time in 11 years last week, and Matt Patricia is just 13-28-1 since he arrived in Detroit.
Much of the focus Sunday will be on the two quarterbacks. In the last six games, Deshaun Watson has completed 71% of his passes with 14 touchdowns and just two interceptions. On the other side, Matthew Stafford is only two touchdown passes away from surpassing former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo as the NFL’s leader in scoring strikes thrown on Thanksgiving (the current mark is 18). Stafford is dealing with
Picks: Five of USA TODAY Sports’ seven panelists picked the Texans.
Washington Football Team (3-7) at Dallas Cowboys (3-7)
Kickoff time: 4:30 p.m. ET
TV channel: Fox
Odds (via BetMGM): Cowboys -3
Scouting report: First place in NFC East is on the line, as the winner of Thursday’s game will at least temporarily move ahead of the 3-6-1 Philadelphia Eagles. For both Washington and Dallas, a season that once seemed lost now has provided reason for hope.
Washington has started three different quarterbacks this season, using Dwayne Haskins and Kyle Allen before turning to Alex Smith. The veteran passer, coming off a nearly two-year comeback after a gruesome leg injury, has helped stabilize the offense and position Washington to make a postseason push. Dallas has been through its own quarterback carousel, starting four different ones in a five-week span. But Andy Dalton now is firmly in control as the replacement for Dak Prescott, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury on Oct. 11.
Washington stifled Dallas in a 25-3 win in Week 7, in which Dalton was knocked out of the game after he took a helmet-to-helmet hit from linebacker Jon Bostic. Running back Ezekiel Elliott rushed for just 45 yards on 12 carries that game, but the Cowboys have reason for optimism after he notched his first 100-yard outing of the season in last week’s win against the Minnesota Vikings. Zack Martin’s move to right tackle has also helped stabilize an injury-riddled offensive line that could have its hands full with the likes of Montez Sweat and Chase Young.
Picks:Four of USA TODAY Sports’ seven panelists picked the Cowboys.
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