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Every year, the NFL and Thanksgiving form an iconic duo. They bring American families together around two key traditions: turkey and football matches. A tradition that dates back to 1934, when George A. Richards, owner of the Lions, launched the idea of this special game to attract more spectators. A meeting was then organized between his Lions and the Chicago Bears, an event which was a success beyond all expectations. Since then, the Lions have played a home game every year on Thanksgiving Day, imitated by the Dallas Cowboys since 1966. A now immutable NFL tradition.
In addition to these two teams, each against a divisional opponent, the NFL has two other matchups in store for us. No less than 4 matches will be played between Thursday and Friday. Open your stomach, the menu promises to be copious.
The entrance: Cornish Pasties from Michigan to whet your appetite
Kick-off Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
Detroit Lions (10-1) – Chicago Bears (4-7)
The great Thanksgiving tradition to whet your appetite, head to Michigan for the original Lions-Bears. A historic match therefore, since it will be the twentieth time that these two teams will face each other on this date, for a record of 11-8 in favor of the Bears before this meeting.
But watch out, because the Lions are now the hottest team in the NFL. By beating the Indianapolis Colts, Detroit won its ninth consecutive victory and brought its record to 10-1. Only the Chiefs are doing this well. Fiery attack, iron defense, Detroit’s confidence is at an all-time high before facing the Bears in freefall. After a successful start to the season (3-2), Chicago just lost five straight gamesincluding two on the wire in weeks 11 and 12. The first against the Green Bay Packers (19-20), the second against the Minnesota Vikings (27-30), two other division opponents. Now last in the NFC North and with Caleb Williams on alternating current, the Bears seem to be out of the playoff race. All they have left is pride to avoid the eternal “never two without three”.
The prediction: Detroit Lions
The dish: red turkey or from Italy?
Kick-off Thursday at 10:30 p.m.
Dallas Cowboys (4-7) – New York Giants (2-9)
The Cowboys and Giants are each having a nightmare season in their own way. While having at least one thing in common: the two teams are no longer led by the quarterback from the start of the season. Exit Dak Prescott (injured) and Daniel Jones (cut and since become a Viking), place for an unexpected duel between Cooper Rush and Tommy DeVito.
For the locals, the objective will be to win two matches in a row for the second time this season (only). Coming off a nice 34-26 victory over the Commanders while New York lost for the sixth time in a row, the task seems within their reach. However, the lights are far from being green. Firstly because they have yet to win a single home match this season. Then, because Tyrone Tracy Jr. (HB) panics the counters on the New York side. Averaging 5.1 yards per carry, he will face a Cowboys defense that ranks second to last in rushing EPA. Well, because the Cowboys have a plethora of injuries to deal with, especially on the offensive line. With the Giants’ biggest strength being their pass rush, Cooper Rush will surely be eager to get home to eat his turkey.
The prediction: Dallas Cowboys
The accompaniment: zucchini from Wisconsin
Kick-off on the night of Thursday to Friday at 2:20 a.m.
Green Bay Packers (8-3) – Miami Dolphins (5-6)
To end this Thanksgiving day, the Packers welcome the Dolphins to Lambeau Field. A match which will be played in the evening in the United States, the opportunity to finish the remains of the day.
After starting with a worrying 2-6, record weighed down by the injury of Tua Tagovailoa, the Dolphins have won three straight games since their quarterback’s return. The Packers, for their part, have won five of their last six matchesincluding a resounding victory last Sunday over the 49ers. If both teams seem in great shape, beating the Packers (8-3) will not be an easy task for the Floridians. Especially since freezing cold (or even snow) is expected in Green Bay. When we know that Tagovailoa is 0-7 when the temperature is below 4 degreesthis is not a good omen. Opposite, Josh Jacobs seems to be the man in good shape of the moment. After running for three touchdowns last weekend, he will want to confirm against a top 10 defense in this area.
Le pronostic : Green Bay Packers
Dessert: a Gooey Butter Cake, a Missouri specialty
Kick-off Friday at 9:00 p.m.
Kansas City Chiefs (10-1) – Las Vegas Raiders (2-9)
Didn’t you have enough? Here are some more. For the second year in a row, Thanksgiving weekend will feature a Black Friday game. So head to Missouri for an AFC West showdown between Chiefs and Raiders.
With a record of 10 wins and 1 loss, the Chiefs currently hold the best record in the AFC and are likely to make the playoffs for the tenth consecutive time. But after a 30-21 defeat against the Bills in week 11, the defending champions had all the difficulty in the world to defeat the modest Panthers. Facing them are the Raiders, a team they already defeated in week 8 on their home field (20-27). Already off to a very poor start this season, they are also suffering from numerous major injuries in the squad. Worse still, the name of their quarterback is not yet known, between a Aidan O’Connell returning from injury and Desmond Ridder far from flamboyant. An opponent who should not pose a problem for the Chiefs, but watch out for slackening as the latter have shown more weaknesses than their 10-1 record would suggest.
Le pronostic : Kansas City Chiefs
## World-Today-News Thanksgiving NFL Special
**Host:** Welcome back to World-Today-News. Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and with it comes a beloved tradition: NFL football! Today we have two esteemed guests to discuss this year’s exciting Thanksgiving Day matchups.
Let’s welcome [Guest 1 Name], a renowned sports analyst, and [Guest 2 Name], a die-hard NFL fan.
**(Welcome guests and briefly introduce their expertise.)**
**Section 1: The History and Significance of Thanksgiving Football**
* **Host:** Thanksgiving and football are practically synonymous. Can you both speak to the historical significance of this tradition and what it means to America?
* **(Guest 1) ** [Expected response: Elaborate on Detroit Lions’ role in initiating the tradition]
* **(Host)** [Guest 2], what are your personal memories and emotions associated with watching football on Thanksgiving?
**(Allow for a brief personal anecdote from Guest 2.)**
**Section 2: Previewing the Matchups**
**Host:** Let’s dive into this year’s exciting matchups!
* **Host:** (Referring to Lions-Bears) Detroit seems unstoppable with 10 wins. Can they keep the momentum going against a struggling Bears team?
* **(Guest 1)** [Expected response: Analysis of both teams’ strengths, weaknesses, and potential outcome]
* **Host:** (Referring to Cowboys-Giants) This game features unexpected starting quarterbacks. How will this influence the outcome?
* **(Guest 2)** [Expected response: Opinion on the backup quarterbacks and their potential impact]
**Host:** The Green Bay-Miami game has a fascinating weather factor. How will the cold potentially impact Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins?
* **(Guest 1)** [Expected response: Discuss Tagovailoa’s performance in cold conditions and Miami’s overall strategy]
* **Host:** the Chiefs against the Raiders on Friday. Is there any chance for an upset, or will Kansas City continue their dominant season?
* **(Guest 2)** [Expected response: Offer an opinion on the Raiders’ potential, even with their struggles, against the powerhouse Chiefs]
**Section 3: Wider Implications and Fan Engagement**
* **Host:** Thanksgiving football is a major cultural event.
How do you think it impacts fan engagement and the overall popularity of the sport?
* **(Guest 1)** [Expected response: Discuss how Thanksgiving games draw in casual fans and contribute to overall NFL viewership trends]
* **Host:** What are your predictions for the playoff race and who are you rooting for?
* **(Guest 2)** [Expected response: Offer personal predictions and favorite teams]
**Final Thoughts**
* **Host:** Thank you both for sharing your insightful perspectives. Happy Thanksgiving to all our listeners, and enjoy the games!
**(Outro and closing remarks.)**
