The Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys, and Green Bay Packers each celebrated Thanksgiving with victories in their respective matches on Thursday. The Lions managed to hold off a late surge from the Chicago Bears, a game impacted by questionable clock management from the Bears' sideline. Meanwhile, the Cowboys showcased a strong defensive display against the New York Giants, leading to the Giants becoming the first team mathematically eliminated from postseason contention. In another heated match, the Packers comfortably maintained their home-field advantage in cold conditions, defeating the Miami Dolphins.
Following these games, the Lions remain the team to beat in the NFC standings. As for the AFC, the Kansas City Chiefs will put their top record of 10-1 on the line in a Friday matchup against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders. The current league standings reflect a competitive playoff race, with the Chiefs leading the way.
In the AFC, the division leaders are as follows: Kansas City Chiefs (10-1), Buffalo Bills (9-2), Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3), and Houston Texans (7-5). The wild-card race features the Baltimore Ravens (8-4), Los Angeles Chargers (7-4), and Denver Broncos (7-5) in prime positions to secure playoff spots. Notably, the New York Giants face significant challenges moving forward after their loss, as they find themselves at the bottom of the standings with a record of 2-10. The battle for the top seed in the AFC includes key matchups for the Chiefs against potential playoff contenders like the Chargers, Texans, Steelers, and Broncos, further complicating their path to a top playoff position.
In the NFC, the current division leaders are: Detroit Lions (11-1), Philadelphia Eagles (9-2), Seattle Seahawks (6-5), and Atlanta Falcons (6-5). The wild-card race includes teams such as the Minnesota Vikings (9-2), Green Bay Packers (9-3), and Washington Commanders (7-5). The Lions, despite their triumph on Thursday, displayed vulnerabilities, barely holding onto a 16-0 halftime lead against the 4-8 Bears. Quarterback Caleb Williams threw three touchdowns during the second half, including two in rapid succession during the fourth quarter, bringing Chicago back into contention. However, a crucial sack late in the game halted their attempt at a potential game-winning field goal, compounded by sideline decisions that led to valuable seconds running off the clock.
Despite the victory, there was a sense that the Lions, who had previously recorded more wins with margins exceeding 30 points, illustrated a struggle to maintain their dominant trajectory. The Philadelphia Eagles are undoubtedly keeping a close watch on the Lions, having won seven consecutive games themselves. The Minnesota Vikings are also showing resilience but still trail the Lions in the tightly contested NFC North. The two teams have faced each other previously, with the Lions emerging victorious in their first matchup, suggesting that the Vikings face an uphill battle should they wish to capture the division title.
