Insights on All 3 of Today’s NFL Games: Packers vs. Lions, Chiefs vs. Cowboys & Bengals vs. Ravens

Experts believe the KC vs. Dallas matchup could be the most-watched regular season NFL game of all time

In today’s newsletter…

1. Leading Off: The country’s eyes will be on Dallas

2. Packers vs. Lions: Bettors are heavily with Detroit at home

3. Chiefs vs. Cowboys: This is likely a must-win for both teams

4. Bengals vs. Ravens: Cincinnati gives up most yards per game in NFL

5. Overtime: Lane Kiffin’s degrees of separation

1. Leading Off

The NFL knew what it was doing when the league decided to have the Chiefs travel to Dallas to take on the Cowboys for the 4:30pm Thanksgiving matchup. There’s a very real chance the game will set a regular-season viewership record. And don’t sleep on the Packers vs. Lions early-afternoon game either.

Front Office Sports reports that the Kansas City vs. Dallas matchup could net 50 million viewers for CBS, which would beat the current record of 42.1 million viewers for the Cowboys vs. Giants on Thanksgiving in 2022 by a massive margin. Before 2022, the outlet wrote, “the longstanding record was 41.5 million for the 1990 Monday Night Football matchup between the Giants and 49ers. Fox’s February telecast of Super Bowl LIX is the most-watched TV event of all time at 127.7 million viewers.”

NFL viewership is up 6% compared to last season, and NFL games have accounted for 60 of the top 65 television broadcasts since the 2025 campaign began. Some pundits believe that the first matchup of the day, Green Bay vs. Detroit, could approach the current record.

— Abe Rakov

Your body will thank you.

Join 74,000+ health enthusiasts for fresh, evidence-based guidance on the pillars of longevity, including movement, nutrition, sleep, and coping mechanisms—all translated from new studies. No fads. No hype. Just health strategies rooted in the latest science. Improve your health and live a longer, happier life by accessing information that empowers you.

SIGN UP for FREE

2. Packers vs. Lions

Green Bay, Detroit Face Off to Keep Pace With Bears in NFC North

The Packers’ 27-13 Week 1 win over the Lions caused overreactions on both sides: With Micah Parsons in the fold, Green Bay was now a Super Bowl contender (even though he only had one tackle in the game), and Detroit was talented but overrated. Fast forward to Week 13 and both teams are battling for the division title and could be dangerous in the playoffs (the Lions have the fourth-best odds to win the NFC and the Packers have the fifth-best). They’re both shockingly looking up at the 8-3 Bears, so a loss today starts making things uncomfortable even though both teams still have a game left against Chicago.

Packers (7-3-1, 3-1-1 Away) vs. Lions (7-4, 4-1 Home)
1pm on FOX

The Odds

• Spread: Packers (+2.5, +100), Lions (-2.5, -122)

  • 77% of the money and 79% of the bets are with Detroit

  • ATS — GB (road): 1-4, DET (home): 3-2

• Moneyline: Packers +130, Lions -154

• Total (48.5): Over -104, Under -118

  • GB: 5-6, DET: 6-5

Head-to-Head

Players to Watch

• Lions QB Jared Goff passing yards: 237.5 (279, 255, 320)

• Packers QB Jordan Love passing yards: 228.5 (139, 174, 176)

• Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown receiving yards: 76.5 (149, 42, 58)

• Packers WR Christian Watson receiving yards: 55.5 (49, 46, 45)

• Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs rushing yards: 69.5 (219, 39, 142)

• Packers RB Josh Jacobs rushing yards: 57.5 (40, 74, 87)

*Stats listed are past 3 games, most recent to least recent

3. Chiefs vs. Cowboys

Chiefs’ Defense Give Up 10.2 Points Per Game Fewer Than Cowboys (31st in NFL)

Kansas City might have saved its season with a remarkable comeback against Indianapolis last week. Now the Chiefs get the Cowboys, who have had an up-and-down season but just had an improbable come-from-behind victory of their own against the Eagles. Neither team can afford a loss, and neither team has played great this year.

Chiefs (6-5, 1-4 Away) vs. Cowboys (5-5-1, 3-1-1 Home)
4:30pm on CBS

The Odds

• Spread: Chiefs (-3.5, +100), Cowboys (+3.5, -122)

  • 54% of the money and 51% of the bets are with Kansas City

  • ATS — KC (road): 1-3, DAL (home): 3-2

• Moneyline: Chiefs -178, Cowboys +150

• Total (52.5): Over -110, Under -110

  • KC: 3-8, DAL: 6-5

Head-to-Head

Props to Watch

• Cowboys QB Dak Prescott passing yards: 263.5 (354, 268, 250)

• Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes passing yards: 269.5 (352, 276, 250)

• Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb receiving yards: 79.5 (75, 66, 85)

• Cowboys WR George Pickens receiving yards: 73.5 (146, 144, 79)

• Chiefs WR Rashee Rice receiving yards: 75.5 (141, 38, 80)

• Chiefs TE Travis Kelce receiving yards: 57.5 (43, 91, 66)

• Cowboys RB Javonte Williams rushing yards: 68.5 (87, 93, 83)

• Kareem Hunt rushing yards: 33.5 (104, 59, 49)

*Stats listed are past 3 games, most recent to least recent

4. Bengals vs. Ravens

Burrow is Back for Bengals, Ravens’ Jackson Has Nagging Injuries

The black sheep of the Thanksgiving matchups could be more interesting than sportsbooks think with Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow back under center. All indications were that Burrow could have played for the first time since Week 2 last week, but since Cincinnati has nothing to play for the team decided to be cautious. That means their star could be more ready than you’d expect a quarterback who has been out for more than two months to be. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has dealt with three injuries in three weeks but is expected to play.

Bengals (3-8, 1-4 Away) vs. Ravens (6-5, 3-3 Home)
8:20pm on NBC

The Odds

• Spread: Bengals (+7, -108), Ravens (-7, -112)

  • 51% of the money is with Baltimore but 55% of the bets are with Cincinnati

  • ATS — CIN (road): 1-4, BAL (home): 2-4

• Moneyline: Bengals +280, Ravens, -350

• Total (51.5): Over -115, Under -105

  • CIN: 7-4, BAL: 5-6

Head-to-Head

Props to Watch

• Ravens QB Lamar Jackson passing yards: 234.5 (153, 193, 176)

• Bengals QB Joe Burrow passing yards: 251.5 (hasn’t played since 9/14)

• Ravens WR Zay Flowers receiving yards: 65.6 (58, 78, 75)

• Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase receiving yards: 92.5 (30, 111, 91)

• Ravens RB Derrick Henry rushing yards: 90.5 (64, 103, 75)

• Bengals RB Chase Brown rushing yards: 54.5 (107, 99, 37)

*Stats listed are past 3 games, most recent to least recent

5. Overtime

In the News 

• When Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin finally announces where he will be employed next season on Saturday, the college football coaching carousel will take off, Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports reports. The openings at LSU, Florida, Auburn and Penn State are all at least somewhat dependent on Kiffin’s decision.

• Detroit lured four-time Pro-Bowl center Frank Ragnow out of retirement to return to the Lions for the rest of the season. The 29-year-old is eligible to play next Thursday, but likely won’t, according to ESPN.

• The Blue Jays are going all in to try and win a World Series after coming one game short this season, signing free agent starting pitcher Dylan Cease to a seven year, $210 million deal, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Cease had 215 strikeouts in 168 innings for the Padres this past year.

• The 2026 Winter Olympics got off to an inauspicious start when organizers had to move the traditional torch-lighting ceremony inside because of inclement weather in Olympia, Greece. The Milan Cortina Winter Games begin February 6th, after a “63-day, 12,000 relay through all 110 Italian provinces.”

What to Watch (times are ET)

• 1pm: Packers vs. Lions on FOX

• 4:30pm: Chiefs vs. Cowboys on CBS

• 5pm: No. 9 BYU vs. Miami [MCBB] on ESPN

• 7:30pm: Navy vs. Memphis [CFB] on ESPN

• 8pm: No. 4 Duke vs. No. 22 Arkansas [MCBB] on CBS

• 8:20pm: Bengals vs. Ravens on NBC