Week 13 brings Thanksgiving football front and center with three games Thursday, plus a Black Friday matchup. Every team plays this week—no byes—making it the biggest weekend of football we’ve seen all season.
The Patriots are flying high at 10-2 after winning nine straight. The Rams took over the NFC’s top seed at 9-2. The Bears lead a tight NFC North race at 8-3. And the Chiefs are fighting for their playoff lives at 6-5.
Thanksgiving starts at 1:00 PM ET with Green Bay visiting Detroit, followed by Kansas City at Dallas at 4:30 PM. Cincinnati travels to Baltimore for primetime at 8:20 PM. Black Friday features Chicago at Philadelphia at 3:00 PM on Amazon Prime.
NFL Week 13 Quick Picks Table
| Date | Matchup | Pick | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Nov 27 | Packers @ Lions | Lions | 27-24 |
| Thu, Nov 27 | Chiefs @ Cowboys | Cowboys | 28-24 |
| Thu, Nov 27 | Bengals @ Ravens | Ravens | 31-27 |
| Fri, Nov 28 | Bears @ Eagles | Eagles | 27-23 |
| Sun, Nov 30 | 49ers @ Browns | 49ers | 23-17 |
| Sun, Nov 30 | Jaguars @ Titans | Jaguars | 27-20 |
| Sun, Nov 30 | Texans @ Colts | Texans | 24-21 |
| Sun, Nov 30 | Saints @ Dolphins | Dolphins | 31-17 |
| Sun, Nov 30 | Falcons @ Jets | Falcons | 23-17 |
| Sun, Nov 30 | Cardinals @ Buccaneers | Buccaneers | 24-20 |
| Sun, Nov 30 | Rams @ Panthers | Rams | 34-20 |
| Sun, Nov 30 | Vikings @ Seahawks | Seahawks | 31-20 |
| Sun, Nov 30 | Bills @ Steelers | Bills | 30-24 |
| Sun, Nov 30 | Raiders @ Chargers | Chargers | 27-13 |
| Sun, Nov 30 | Broncos @ Commanders | Broncos | 26-17 |
| Mon, Dec 1 | Giants @ Patriots | Patriots | 27-20 |
We also made a Free Printable NFL Week 13 Pick’em Sheet for you. Hope you enjoy it.
Thanksgiving Day Games
Green Bay Packers (7-3-1) @ Detroit Lions (7-4)
Thursday, November 27, 1:00 PM ET | FOX
This is the Thanksgiving rematch everyone’s been waiting for. The Packers crushed Detroit 35-0 in Week 1. The Lions haven’t forgotten—they’ve been circling this date for three months.
Detroit survived a scare against the Giants last week, needing overtime to escape with a 34-27 win. Jahmyr Gibbs went off for 264 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns, including a 69-yard score on the first OT play. The Lions offense can still put up points, but they’ve looked shaky lately.
Green Bay dominated Minnesota 23-6 behind their defense. Micah Parsons had two sacks, and they held the Vikings to just 145 total yards. The problem? Their offense is banged up. They’re missing key weapons and averaging just 15 points over the last three weeks.
Both teams know each other well. Both defenses create turnovers. The difference is home field—Ford Field where the Lions are dangerous, and where they’ve been waiting months for revenge.
Pick: Lions 27, Packers 24
Kansas City Chiefs (6-5) @ Dallas Cowboys (5-5-1)
Thursday, November 27, 4:30 PM ET | CBS
The Chiefs saved their season with that overtime win against the Colts. Patrick Mahomes led two late scoring drives to erase an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit. Kansas City’s at 6-5 and desperately needs wins to stay in playoff contention.
Dallas has come alive since the trade deadline. They added Quinnen Williams and Logan Wilson, plus got healthy on defense with Malik Hooker and DeMarvion Overshown returning. The Cowboys rallied from 21-0 down to shock the Eagles 24-21 last week.
Dak Prescott’s playing some of his best football. George Pickens caught nine passes for 146 yards in that comeback. The Cowboys defense looks completely different than the one we saw a month ago.
Both teams need this win badly. The Chiefs are fighting to stay relevant in the AFC West, three games behind Denver. The Cowboys are trying to grab a wild card spot. This is a must-win for both.
Dallas is home, they’ve got momentum, and their defense is clicking. The Chiefs are still struggling to play complete games.
Pick: Cowboys 28, Chiefs 24
Cincinnati Bengals (3-8) @ Baltimore Ravens (6-5)
Thursday, November 27, 8:20 PM ET | NBC
The biggest question is whether Joe Burrow plays. He’s been targeting this week for his return from injury, but the Bengals are 3-8. What’s the point of risking him?
Baltimore’s won five straight to climb to 6-5 and take the AFC North lead. Lamar Jackson’s been solid, not spectacular. Derrick Henry’s been the workhorse with two touchdowns against the Jets last week. The Ravens are winning ugly, but winning matters.
Cincinnati’s season is over. Even if they run the table, nine wins probably isn’t enough in the AFC. If Burrow doesn’t play, this won’t be close. If he does, it’s interesting but Baltimore should still win at home.
The Ravens defense has improved dramatically since mid-October. They’re opportunistic and play physical. Cincinnati’s defense has been awful all season, which is why they’re sitting at 3-8 despite having talented offensive weapons.
Pick: Ravens 31, Bengals 27
Black Friday
Chicago Bears (8-3) @ Philadelphia Eagles (8-3)
Friday, November 28, 3:00 PM ET | Prime Video
What a Black Friday matchup. Both teams at 8-3, both leading their divisions, both with something to prove.
The Bears just beat Pittsburgh 31-28 to stay atop the NFC North. Caleb Williams is playing efficient football. Chicago’s 6-1 in one-score games, which shows they know how to win tight ones. Their defense creates turnovers—that’s been their identity all season.
Philadelphia blew a 21-0 lead to Dallas and lost 24-21. That’s got to hurt. Jalen Hurts and the offense looked completely out of sync in the second half. They’re still 8-3 and leading the NFC East, but that loss stings.
Short weeks typically favor home teams. The Eagles will be angry after that Cowboys collapse. But the Bears have been road warriors this year, and Vic Fangio’s defense knows how to pressure quarterbacks.
This feels like a back-and-forth game. The Eagles at home should edge it, but Chicago will make it tough.
Pick: Eagles 27, Bears 23
Sunday 1:00 PM ET Games
San Francisco 49ers (8-4) @ Cleveland Browns (3-8)
The 49ers beat Carolina 20-9 on Monday night to improve to 8-4. Christian McCaffrey had 142 yards against his old team. Brock Purdy threw three first-half picks but the defense kept them in it.
Cleveland’s the most interesting bad team in football. Shedeur Sanders won his first NFL start, beating the Raiders 24-10. He became the first Browns rookie QB to win his debut since 1999. Now he faces a real test against a playoff-caliber defense.
The other storyline is Myles Garrett chasing the sack record. He needs five sacks in the final six games to break the all-time single-season record. He’s going against a 49ers offensive line that’s been inconsistent.
West Coast teams playing at 1:00 PM ET always struggle with the time change. The Browns defense is legit. But San Francisco has too much talent and too much at stake.
Pick: 49ers 23, Browns 17
Jacksonville Jaguars (7-4) @ Tennessee Titans (1-10)
The Jaguars escaped Arizona with a 27-24 OT win despite three Trevor Lawrence interceptions. Jacksonville’s at 7-4 and just one game behind the Colts in the AFC South after Indy lost to Kansas City.
Tennessee’s season has been a disaster at 1-10, but there’s optimism about the future. Cam Ward showed progress against Seattle, displaying poise and playmaking ability. The Titans are playing for pride and Ward’s development.
This is a classic trap game. The Jaguars should win easily on paper, but division games are always tough. Tennessee’s playing loose with nothing to lose. Ward could give Jacksonville problems if they come in unfocused.
Still, the Jaguars have playoff hopes on the line. Trevor Lawrence needs to protect the ball better, but their talent should win out.
Pick: Jaguars 27, Titans 20
Houston Texans (6-5) @ Indianapolis Colts (8-3)
Huge AFC South showdown. The Colts lost to Kansas City 23-20 in overtime, blowing a 20-9 lead. Daniel Jones had four interceptions and six fumbles in the two games before the bye, though he cleaned it up against KC.
Houston just demolished Buffalo 23-19 on Thursday night. Josh Allen was sacked eight times—a career high. Davis Mills has been solid filling in for C.J. Stroud, winning both starts. The Texans defense is the best in the NFL right now.
Stroud might return from concussion protocol for this game. Either way, Houston’s defense is terrifying. They’re making everyone look ordinary. Jones struggled with turnovers before the bye, and facing this pass rush is a nightmare.
The Colts are only three-point favorites at home. Indianapolis has home field advantage, but Houston’s playing their best football. This Texans defense can take over games.
Upset alert here. The Texans are surging at the right time.
Pick: Texans 24, Colts 21
New Orleans Saints (2-9) @ Miami Dolphins (4-7)
Not much to love about this matchup, but both teams are still playing hard. Miami’s coming off their bye at 4-7. They’ve actually looked better since parting ways with GM Chris Grier. Mike McDaniel responded well to the pressure.
New Orleans is evaluating Tyler Shough at quarterback, but everything points toward them being in the mix for a top QB in the 2026 draft. Shough hasn’t been terrible, but the Saints are 2-9 and playing out the string.
Miami’s got explosive weapons. If Tua Tagovailoa doesn’t turn the ball over, they’re dangerous. Their running back group can control games. The defense coming off the bye should be fresh against a rookie quarterback.
The Dolphins should handle this one pretty easily at home.
Pick: Dolphins 31, Saints 17
Atlanta Falcons (6-5) @ New York Jets (2-9)
The Falcons beat New Orleans 24-10 last week. Kirk Cousins looked much better with two touchdown passes. Atlanta’s 6-5 and still alive in the NFC South, though they’re behind Tampa Bay.
The Jets are 2-9 and done. They’re evaluating pieces for next year. The defense has shown it can play tough at times, but this team has quit. They’re playing with backup quarterbacks and no hope.
Cousins needs to keep building on last week’s performance. The Falcons can’t afford to lose games like this if they want to stay in the playoff hunt. The Jets defense was stingy against Baltimore, but that was a rare bright spot.
Atlanta should take care of business on the road.
Pick: Falcons 23, Jets 17
Arizona Cardinals (3-8) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5)
The Bucs are reeling. They lost 34-7 to the Rams on Sunday night, their third straight loss. Baker Mayfield got hurt and was in a sling after the game. His status for this week is uncertain.
Arizona’s at 3-8 after losing to Jacksonville in overtime. Jacoby Brissett hasn’t been bad since taking over for Kyler Murray. The Cardinals have played some teams tough despite their record.
Tampa Bay’s getting Bucky Irving back, which helps. They’re still leading the NFC South, but Carolina’s breathing down their necks. The Bucs need to stop the slide before things get out of hand.
If Mayfield plays, Tampa should win. Their home field advantage matters, and they’ve got more talent. But this is a dangerous game if Mayfield sits.
Pick: Buccaneers 24, Cardinals 20
Los Angeles Rams (9-2) @ Carolina Panthers (5-6)
The Rams are rolling. They demolished Tampa Bay 34-7 on Sunday night. Matthew Stafford threw three touchdowns and extended his streak to 27 consecutive TDs without an interception—an NFL record.
Carolina’s 5-6 but still alive in the terrible NFC South. They lost to San Francisco 20-9 on Monday night. Bryce Young’s shown improvement, and Rico Dowdle’s been productive in the backfield.
The Rams look unstoppable right now. Stafford’s playing at an MVP level. The defense is creating turnovers. Everything’s clicking for this team at the perfect time.
Carolina needs to force turnovers early to have any chance. They’re playing with house money in the NFC South race. But the Rams are too good right now.
Pick: Rams 34, Panthers 20
Sunday Afternoon Games
Minnesota Vikings (6-4-1) @ Seattle Seahawks (8-3)
Sunday, November 30, 4:05 PM ET | FOX
Sam Darnold faces his old team. The Vikings moved on from Darnold after drafting J.J. McCarthy, who’s been a major disappointment at 6-4-1. They got dominated by Green Bay last week, held to 145 yards and sacked five times.
Seattle’s 8-3 and rolling. Darnold’s been great since arriving in Seattle. The Seahawks beat Tennessee 30-24 as Jaxon Smith-Njigba continues his record-chasing season with 167 yards and two touchdowns.
McCarthy’s struggling. Justin Jefferson’s production is down. The Vikings defense is solid, but the offense can’t keep up. Facing Seattle’s defense at Lumen Field is a tough ask for a struggling young quarterback.
The Seahawks should make a statement here, showing Minnesota what they’re missing.
Pick: Seahawks 31, Vikings 20
Buffalo Bills (7-4) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5)
Sunday, November 30, 4:25 PM ET | CBS
The Bills lost 23-19 to Houston on Thursday night. Josh Allen was sacked eight times and the offense looked out of sync. Buffalo’s got extra rest after playing Thursday, and they’ll be angry.
Pittsburgh lost to Chicago 31-28 despite Mason Rudolph throwing two touchdowns. They fell to 6-5 and dropped out of playoff position. Aaron Rodgers should return from his wrist injury, which helps.
The Bills need this win to keep pace in the AFC East. They’re three games behind the Patriots but still fighting for playoff seeding. Allen will bounce back from that Houston disaster.
Pittsburgh’s defense can make plays, but Buffalo has more talent. The Bills grind this one out on the road.
Pick: Bills 30, Steelers 24
Las Vegas Raiders (2-9) @ Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)
Sunday, November 30, 4:25 PM ET | CBS
The Raiders are a mess at 2-9. They just fired offensive coordinator Chip Kelly after getting destroyed by Dallas and Cleveland. Geno Smith’s been a turnover machine. The receiving corps has no weapons.
The Chargers are 7-4 coming off their bye week. Jim Harbaugh’s team is rested and ready. Justin Herbert struggled before the bye against Jacksonville, but two weeks to prepare should help.
This should be a blowout. The Raiders have quit. The Chargers need this win to keep pace in the AFC West, two games behind Denver.
Pick: Chargers 27, Raiders 13
Sunday Night Football
Denver Broncos (9-2) @ Washington Commanders (3-8)
Sunday, November 30, 8:20 PM ET | NBC
Both teams are coming off bye weeks. The Broncos are 9-2 and leading the AFC West by three games. Bo Nix has been solid, and their defense is elite under Vance Joseph.
Washington’s 3-8 and falling apart. Jayden Daniels remains questionable with an elbow injury. Even if he’s healthy, do they want him facing the NFL’s best pass rush?
Denver’s defense will eat Washington’s offensive line alive. The Commanders aren’t winning this division, and Daniels’ health is the only thing that matters going forward.
The Broncos keep rolling toward their first division title since Peyton Manning.
Pick: Broncos 26, Commanders 17
Monday Night Football
New York Giants (3-8) @ New England Patriots (10-2)
Monday, December 1, 8:15 PM ET | ESPN
The Patriots have won nine straight to reach 10-2. They’re the first team to 10 wins this season. Drake Maye threw for a career-high 294 yards against Cincinnati despite early struggles. Mike Vrabel should be Coach of the Year.
The Giants are 3-8 but have played tough lately. They pushed Detroit to overtime before losing 34-27. Jameis Winston or Jaxson Dart will start at quarterback, and they’ve kept games close.
This feels like a trap game for New England. The Giants have nothing to lose and everything to gain by spoiling the Patriots’ run. But the Patriots have been finding ways to win close games all season.
New England’s at home and riding high. They protect their home field.
Pick: Patriots 27, Giants 20
Week 13 Storylines to Watch
The Lions-Packers revenge game tops Thanksgiving storylines. Detroit’s been waiting since Week 1 to avenge that 35-0 embarrassment. The Lions are healthier now and playing at home where they’re dangerous. Green Bay’s offense is banged up with multiple injuries limiting their scoring.
The Chiefs season hangs in the balance. At 6-5, they’re on the outside looking in at the playoffs. Another loss at Dallas could doom their season. Patrick Mahomes hasn’t looked right all year, and the explosive plays are gone. They need to find their identity fast.
Joe Burrow’s return watch dominates Cincinnati’s week. He’s been targeting Week 13 for his comeback, but at 3-8, what’s the point? The Bengals won’t make the playoffs even if they win out. Do they risk their franchise quarterback for nothing?
The NFC South is chaos. The Bucs lead at 6-5, but Carolina’s 5-6 and Atlanta’s 6-5. Tampa Bay’s lost three straight and Baker Mayfield’s hurt. The Rams visit Carolina, which could shake up the division race. Every week matters in this terrible division.
The Colts-Texans matchup determines AFC South positioning. Indianapolis saw their lead shrink to one game after losing to Kansas City. Houston’s defense is demolishing everyone right now. C.J. Stroud might return, making the Texans even more dangerous. This game could flip the division.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s record chase continues. He’s got 1,313 yards through 11 games, on pace for over 2,000. He needs 652 yards in six games to break Calvin Johnson’s record of 1,964. The Vikings defense will be motivated to slow him down.
The NFC North is a three-team dogfight. Chicago leads at 8-3, but Green Bay’s 7-3-1 and Detroit’s 7-4. All three teams play this week with huge implications. The Thanksgiving game affects the entire division race. The Bears visit Philly on Friday with a chance to extend their lead.
Matthew Stafford’s MVP campaign rolls on. His 27 straight touchdowns without an interception is an NFL record. He’s playing the best football of his career at 37 years old. The Rams are 9-2 and have the NFC’s top seed. Stafford’s making it look easy.
Key Injuries
Joe Burrow’s status dominates Cincinnati’s preparation. Baker Mayfield got hurt against the Rams and was in a sling afterward. His availability for Tampa Bay’s crucial game is uncertain. Jayden Daniels remains doubtful with his elbow injury.
Aaron Rodgers should return from his wrist injury for Pittsburgh. C.J. Stroud is targeting this week for his return from concussion protocol. The Texans have won with Davis Mills, but getting Stroud back makes them even scarier.
Green Bay’s still dealing with Tucker Kraft, Jayden Reed, and Josh Jacobs being out. Their offense has been limited without these weapons. Tampa Bay’s wide receiver corps remains depleted beyond just the Mayfield injury.
Playoff Picture Impact
The Lions-Packers game is massive for NFC North positioning. The Bears can extend their lead if Detroit loses. The Colts-Texans matchup could flip the AFC South. Buffalo needs wins to stay relevant in the AFC East race.
The Ravens can extend their AFC North lead over Pittsburgh. The Seahawks can distance themselves from the Packers in the wild card race. The Rams want to maintain their NFC top seed over Philadelphia.
Kansas City’s entire season is on the line at 6-5. The Broncos can extend their AFC West lead to four games. The Patriots can move to 11-2 and strengthen their grip on the AFC’s top seed.
Also Check: Current NFL Playoff Picture 2025
Final Thoughts
Thanksgiving Week separates contenders from pretenders. The Lions get their revenge game. The Chiefs fight for survival in Dallas. The Ravens keep their season alive against Cincinnati.
The NFC North race comes into focus this week. The Colts and Texans battle for AFC South supremacy. The Rams keep rolling as the NFC’s hottest team.
Enjoy the holiday football feast—we’ve got 16 games packed into four days!
All game times Eastern Time. Information current as of November 26, 2025.
