Flashscore's NFL Thanksgiving matchup picks

Detroit Lions players celebrate Thanksgiving win (2024)
Detroit Lions players celebrate Thanksgiving win (2024)Jorge Lemus/NurPhoto

Our NFL experts give their picks for Week 13's Thanksgiving slate of games on Thursday as the Green Bay Packers (7-3-1) face the Detroit Lions (7-4), Kansas City Chiefs (6-5) head to Dallas to take on the Cowboys (5-5-1), and an AFC North showdown between the Cincinnati Bengals (3-8) and Baltimore Ravens (6-5) for the final game of the day!

The Lions are three-point favourites over the Packers with the over-under set at 48.5

Kansas City are 3.5-point favourites over the Cowboys with the over-under set at 52.5 - the highest of any game in Week 13. 

And the Ravens are 7-5-point favourites over the Bengals with the over-under set at 51.5 - the second highest of any game in Week 13. 

For those new to this, every year the NFL hosts a slate of games on Thanksgiving. The traditional game has been around since 1920. However, since the Lions' inception in 1934, they've remained part of the slate of games ever since. 

It wasn't until 1966 that the Dallas Cowboys became the second franchise in the NFL to become a mandatory team on Thanksgiving. Now, anyone who's new to the league will see both the Lions and Cowboys play home games during the American holiday.

Now, let's get into who our experts picked!

Packers @ Lions

Paul (111-51-1): Lions 27-20 Packers

It’s a heavyweight Thanksgiving duel, and one in which I see the Lions second-straight turkey game win. I’m still not all too in on the Packers - neither am I on the Lions - and I haven’t been the biggest Jordan Love fan in recent weeks.

The Lions' defence isn’t all that great either, but there’s a great sense of revenge in Detroit after that Week 1 drubbing. 

Give me Frank Ragnow’s Lions!

Eric (107-55-1): Lions 34-26 Packers

The Packers got the better of the Lions in the first week of the season. But things are back in Detroit this time where the Lions have a 4-1 record, outscoring their opponents 168-94 - scoring 24 points or more in each of those games.

As for the Packers, they have three road wins against the Arizona Cardinals, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New York Giants, with a loss in Cleveland and a tie in Dallas, having scored at least 27 points in all of those games except one - Cleveland. 

Expect a shootout. And in a shootout, I want the team with the bigger guns and the quicker hands. 

Miguel (104-58-1): Packers 24-21 Lions

Without a doubt, the best match on the Thanksgiving menu. In a ruthless NFC North, the Packers and Lions need a win in this game to try to snatch first place from the surprising Bears.

In this case, I give a slight edge to the Packers, as they have found an important balance that allows them to consolidate themselves as a team whose defence is increasingly difficult to find holes in.

Henri (97-65-1): Lions 34-10 Packers

The Lions are currently the clear-cut superior team, not only on paper but also in terms of their play, despite what records show.

In the end, we should see a clear victory for Jared Goff's team, which will give Detroit a true Happy Thanksgiving.

Chiefs @ Cowboys

Paul: Chiefs 28-24 Cowboys

I like what the Cowboys are doing. Last Sunday’s come-from-behind win in Eagles week was phenomenal and showed the team’s resilience.

The Chiefs understandably struggled against the Colts and their offense has struggled to get sufficient points on the board in recent weeks.

Dallas’ defence is still very leaky, however, and I see the Chiefs winning their first Thanksgiving game since 2006.

Give me Robert Tonyan’s Chiefs!

Eric: Cowboys 29-27 Chiefs

The Cowboys are finding their stride. After overcoming a 21-0 deficit to defeat the Eagles this past week, they're starting to look like a somewhat capable team - the keyword being somewhat

They've only lost one game at home this season and that was to the Cardinals prior to the trade deadline. But they possess the No. 1 offence in the league. 

That's going to be trouble for a team that is an abysmal 1-4 on the road this season - with that only win coming against the 2-10 New York Giants.

Miguel: Chiefs 23-17 Cowboys

This, more than a prediction, is an exercise in faith. I refuse to believe that the best team of the last decade will be left out of the playoffs. 

To prevent that, Mahomes and company have an obligation to defeat the Cowboys, who, as always, are known for dashing their fans’ hopes with their inconsistency.

The difficult victory against the Colts may have been the turning point the Chiefs needed to wake up. From now on, we may see the green shoots of the past reappear in Andy Reid’s team.

Henri: Cowboys 23-20 Chiefs

The Cowboys achieved a small milestone this season with their victory over the Eagles.

Now the playoffs no longer seem out of reach, and this energy should be enough to secure a narrow home victory against the Chiefs, who are in mixed form as of late, dropping two of their last three, both of which were on the road. 

Bengals @ Ravens

Paul: Ravens 33-30 Bengals

We’d all love for this game to become a shootout like last year’s incredible series between the AFC North rivals, so here it is.

Joe Burrow is back and will have Ja’Marr Chase to his availability. No Tee Higgins however, but that didn’t stop Burrow and Chase from connecting for 264 yards and three scores on 11 receptions last time out in Baltimore.

Not enough can be said about how bad Cincinnati’s defence is, though. It’s historically bad. The Ravens have something to prove after lacklustre games against the Vikings, Jets and Browns - what better defence to show your firepower against than the Bengals D?

Give me Keaton Mitchell’s Ravens!

Eric: Ravens 26-16 Bengals

The Baltimore Ravens haven't allowed more than 20 points in their past six games - better than any other team in the NFL. Despite their offensive woes being a cause for concern, they'll be matched up against a historically bad Cicni defense and a team that has lost eight of its last nine games. 

Joe Burrow will be playing on one foot, as questions will revolve around how healthy he actually is. The Bengals not only have the worst defence in the NFL, but they also have the third-worst rushing offence. 

They're 1-4 on the road this season, having been outscored a whopping 153-60, and the Ravens' defence has forced an incredible 10 turnovers during their five-game win streak. 

It's an AFC North battle, so who knows what's going to happen, but it's a nice reminder that the Ravens swept the season series last year even with a healthy Burrow. 

Miguel: Bengals 34-31 Ravens

A divisional clash with several nuances due to Joe Burrow’s confirmed return to the Cincinnati Bengals’ active roster.

Although the Ravens come into the matchup on the back of five consecutive wins, all of them have been against teams with considerable problems, with the exception of the Bears.

Therefore, this clash of elite quarterbacks could prove difficult for Lamar Jackson, who was injured against the Jets. Even so, it is expected to be an evenly matched battle. But I have the Bengals ending Thanksgiving with an upset over the Ravens.

Henri: Ravens 27-24 Bengals

This could also be a close affair. The Ravens have slowly regained their drive, and Lamar Jackson is the factor that needs to be stopped here in order for the Bengals to be successful.

Ultimately, I believe that it will be a close result with Burrow-Chase comeback down the stretch, but with the Ravens coming out on top.

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