The turkey has been carved, household soccer video games within the yard have been gained, and the NFL has ripped via a wild Thanksgiving slate. Coming into Thursday, the league’s triple-header was described as monumental, and for good purpose. This wasn’t your typical vacation slate with one recreation standing above the remainder, as each recreation carried with it a large weight when it comes to the playoff image.
We started the day with the Packers heading into the Motor Metropolis and taking down the Lions, whereas wrapping issues up with the Bengals upsetting the Ravens in Baltimore. Sandwiched in between these two divisional matchups was the Chiefs and Cowboys squaring off in what was primarily a do-or-die contest for every of their playoff hopes, and Dallas coming away victorious.
NFL Thanksgiving grades for Week 13: Cowboys ace take a look at towards Chiefs, Bengals earn ‘A’ for surprising win
John Breech
Naturally, there are many storylines that’ll come out of this trio of video games from the vacation. However which storylines ought to we take a face worth and which ought to we shrug off as nothing greater than an overreaction? Fortunately, we’re right here to assist slice via these storylines and decide simply that.
Detroit’s playoff hopes are dashed
Overreaction or actuality: Overreaction
The Lions are most likely feeling dejected popping out of Thanksgiving, and for good purpose. Their probabilities of profitable the NFC North doubtless went up in smoke with their loss to the Inexperienced Bay Packers at Ford Discipline. That accomplished the season sweep for the Packers, and dropped the Lions to a mere 1-3 file throughout the division. Whereas that creates a near-impossible hill to climb for the NFC North crown, all shouldn’t be misplaced when it comes to the Lions stepping into the playoffs. They’re on the surface wanting in on the playoff image for the time being and have zero margin for error, however there’s nonetheless a path for them to get in at this present snapshot. In the event that they handle enterprise over the following two weeks towards the Cowboys and the Rams (no small activity), they might play themselves again within the image with some outdoors assist.
Chiefs must win out
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
Issues are getting fairly bleak for the Chiefs, who at the moment are 6-6 on the season after a loss to the Cowboys. Not solely does that dig them right into a deeper gap within the AFC West race, however Kansas Metropolis’s playoff hopes are remarkably dwindling. In the mean time, they’re the No. 9 seed within the convention. With the principle Week 13 slate nonetheless on deck, groups just like the Houston Texans (6-5), Buffalo Payments (7-4), and Jacksonville Jaguars (7-4) may all push additional forward of them with wins on Sunday. Talking of the Payments and Jaguars, Kansas Metropolis would want to complete the yr not less than one recreation above them as they every personal the head-to-head tiebreaker. The identical may very well be mentioned for the Texans by the tip of Week 14 after they go to the Chiefs at Arrowhead. If the Chiefs lose that recreation or every other contest over their last 5 video games, it’ll doubtless be curtains for his or her playoff hopes.
Cowboys are going to make the playoffs
Overreaction or actuality: Overreaction
The Dallas Cowboys are immediately one of many hottest groups within the NFL. Jerry Jones’ membership is using a three-game profitable streak, and the earlier two wins embrace each golf equipment that had been within the Tremendous Bowl a season in the past. Whereas that has Dallas rightfully flying firstclass on cloud 9, these wins don’t essentially point out that they’re a shoo-in for the playoffs. At 6-5-1, there may be nonetheless loads of work that must be completed. If we strictly have a look at the wild card race, the Cowboys must catch the likes of the Packers (8-3-1), 49ers (8-4), or Seahawks (8-3). Inexperienced Bay already gained its Week 13 recreation, whereas San Francisco and Seattle are each favored to win their matchups on Sunday, probably pushing them to 9 wins on the yr. That creates fairly the hole for Dallas. Is it not possible? No, however not a lock as it could really feel on this second.
Packers are the actual crew to beat within the NFC North
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
Thursday’s win over the Lions didn’t transfer the Packers into first place within the NFC North, however it could as effectively have. Having the ability to go into Detroit and pull out a win in that atmosphere additional confirmed that Inexperienced Bay is the crew to beat on this division, even when they’re momentarily wanting up on the Chicago Bears. The Packers accomplished the season sweep of the Lions and have each of their contests towards the Bears nonetheless left on the docket, giving them a possibility to leap atop the NFC North by season’s finish. Already, Inexperienced Bay is 3-0 within the division and is the extra proficient membership when firing on all cylinders. Sure, they generally play right down to their competitors, however because the stakes rise as we head down the ultimate few weeks of the common season, I feel their play will stage up as effectively.
Bengals will make playoffs with Joe Burrow again
Overreaction or actuality: Overreaction
Cincinnati is now 3-0 when Joe Burrow begins for them this season. The membership was actually glad to welcome him again below middle on Thanksgiving as he helped pave the best way to a pivotal win over the Ravens in Baltimore. Seeing No. 9 slinging it for 2 touchdowns has the Bengals dreaming of creating the playoffs, however that’s no assure. Even when they finish the common season on fireplace as they did a yr in the past, they might, in a similar way, nonetheless miss out on the postseason. This victory pushes the Bengals to a 4-8 file on the season. With groups just like the Payments and Jaguars coming into Week 13 at 7-4, there’s a hefty hole for them to notch a wild-card spot. Their greatest path could be to win the AFC North, the place they now personal a 3-1 file. That would show beneficial in tiebreaker eventualities, but it surely additionally includes each the Steelers and Ravens cratering. It’s attainable a kind of groups falls by the wayside, however Cincinnati would additionally must win out. Even with their protection enjoying effectively on Thursday evening, that facet of the ball remains to be prone to costing them key video games and dashing their playoff hopes.
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
Lamar Jackson isn’t proper. Even because the Ravens had been on their five-game profitable streak heading into Thanksgiving, the offense didn’t precisely look proper, and Jackson, particularly, appeared out of sync. He hadn’t thrown a landing within the two video games getting into Week 13, and never solely did he fail the discover the tip zone once more, however he additionally tallied three giveaways (one interception and two fumbles). In all, Jackson has 5 turnovers over his final three video games with zero whole touchdowns. No matter whether or not it’s health-related or not, if Jackson isn’t capable of flip the tide quickly, it may put the Ravens’ playoff hopes in danger.
