Alofoke Deportes brings you the preview of the Thanksgiving 2025 games!
The 2025 NFL season gives us an exciting menu of games on Thanksgiving Day. Get ready for a festive day full of action, where rivalry and tradition come together on the field. According to studies, the average total points (51.2) is the highest in the last 40 years, which bodes well for encounters full of scoring. Buckle up! Our Alofoke Deportes experts analyze each matchup, delving into the key stories and history of each team on this special day. In addition, we have optimistic statistics, betting data, and bold predictions so you don’t miss any details. Let’s start with the clash between the Packers and the Lions, who will face each other for the 23rd time on Thanksgiving Day, an NFL record.Packers vs. Lions
Packers (7-3-1) at Lions (7-4)1 p.m. ET | Fox | ESPN BET: DET -2.5 (48.5 O/U)What’s being said about the Packers: They are the underdogs for the first time this season. They are the only NFL team that has been favored in all their games until Week 13. The Packers have already won more division games (two) than in the entire last season, when they were swept by the Lions and the Vikings and split with the Bears. – Rob Demovsky
What’s being said about the Lions: Detroit will look to avenge their Week 1 season-opening loss (27-13) at Lambeau Field. Coach Dan Campbell and his team are looking forward to another opportunity to face their NFC North Division rivals on Thanksgiving Day, where the Lions lead the all-time series against Green Bay 12-9-1. “We lost in Week 1, so it’s a division game,” defensive end Aidan Hutchinson said. “This is as important as any game we’ll play in the regular season.” – Eric Woodyard
Statistic that the Packers appreciate: Their defense has generated pressure 35% of the time this season, the sixth-highest rate in the league. That will be especially useful against Lions quarterback Jared Goff, whose QBR has dropped 69 points when facing pressure this season (the most in the NFL).Statistic that the Lions appreciate: Running back Jahmyr Gibbs has been unstoppable since entering the NFL in 2023, and he has the opportunity to join a rare company on Thursday. With a touchdown, Gibbs would become the fifth player in NFL history to record 45 touchdowns (of any kind) in his first three seasons in the NFL. The other four are Hall of Famers (Barry Sanders, Eric Dickerson, Gale Sayers, and Earl Campbell).Bold Prediction: Hutchinson will be limited to two or fewer pass-rush wins. He only has a 13% pass-rush win rate on the edge this season, and the pressure tends to come later in the play, and the Packers’ two offensive tackles rank in the top 15 in pass-blocking win rate at the position. – Walder
Injuries: Packers | Lions
Fantasy Tip: Packers wide receiver Christian Watson is on a hot streak against the Lions. He has quietly become the safest option in a Packers offense that ranks near the bottom of the league in pass attempts, surpassing 45 receiving yards in each game since returning from injury and receiving at least four targets each week. Detroit has also allowed the ninth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers.Betting advice: The Lions are 0-3 overall and against the spread when the line is between +3 and -3 this season. The Packers are 1-4 ATS on the road this season, and their last four away games have gone over the total.Predictions:
- Maldonado: Lions 34, Packers 24
- Moody: Lions 30, Packers 27
- Walder: Packers 23, Lions 17
- FPI: DET, 54% (by an average of 1.5 points)
Packers Thanksgiving Game Memory: Beating the Lions in 2023. With an apology to history, the 1962 game against the Lions might be the most significant, although it was the Packers’ only loss in a championship season, the recency bias gives the nod to this game. The Packers were 8.5-point underdogs, but managed a 29-22 victory. It was part of a late stretch in which the Packers went 6-2 to reach the playoffs after starting 3-6. – Demovsky
Thanksgiving game memory for the Lions: The Lions defeated the Bears 23-20 in 2024. After three consecutive Thanksgiving Day losses as Lions coach, Campbell finally ended the team’s seven-year holiday drought last season. With the victory, the 11-1 Lions also had their best start in franchise history. For quarterback Goff, it was a “bucket list” moment, as he enjoyed a turkey leg after 221 passing yards and two touchdown passes. – WoodyardAdditional Content:
- Within Hutchinson’s contract extension
- Do the Packers have a 1-2 combo?
- Gibbs has 264 yards in the Lions’ overtime win
- Parsons records his fifth consecutive season of 10 sacks
Chiefs vs. Cowboys
Chiefs (6-5) at Cowboys (5-5-1)4:30 p.m. ET | CBS/Paramount+ | ESPN BET: KC -3 (52.5 O/U)What’s being said about the Chiefs: The Chiefs may have saved their season, and their chances of making the playoffs, in their comeback victory over the Colts. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes knows the Chiefs’ efforts on Sunday will be wasted if they can’t back them up in Dallas. “Now we just have to build on that momentum,” Mahomes said. “We’re playing a good team in the Cowboys. They can score some points and they have a lot of great players. It’s about reacting fast. It’s going to be a lot of fun to go to Dallas and play on Thanksgiving.” – Nate TaylorWhat is said about the Cowboys: The Cowboys’ defense has put in their two best performances of the season in back-to-back wins over the Raiders and Eagles. Now, they have the Mahomes challenge. While some consider the Chiefs’ offense to be struggling, they are still in the top 10 in yards and passing. “Any time you face Patrick Mahomes, you have to have all your T’s crossed and your I’s dotted,” said defensive tackle Kenny Clark. “That kid is elite. You can’t let him out of the pocket and improvise, because that’s where he’s at his best.” – Todd ArcherStatistic the Chiefs will appreciate: They just snapped their streak of not winning one-score games this season, defeating the Colts by a field goal in overtime despite trailing by 11 in the fourth quarter. Kansas City was 0-5 in one-score games this season after going 12-0 in them in 2024, including the playoffs. – ESPN ResearchStatistic that the Cowboys appreciate: Their offense has generally been at its best when it establishes the run and works off play-action. Quarterback Dak Prescott has the best QBR on play-action plays this season, and is tied with Matthew Stafford of the Rams for the most touchdown passes (13) on that type of play. This Chiefs defense has allowed the worst completion rate (82%) and the third-most yards per attempt (9.9) on play-action. – ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Mahomes will record a QBR of over 90 for the first time this season. The Chiefs have been the best offense in the league against zone coverage (0.27 EPA per play, much higher than their 0.10 against man), and the Cowboys run zone 72% of the time (second highest in the NFL). – WalderInjuries: Chiefs | Cowboys
Fantasy Tip: The Chiefs should lean on Mahomes and his pass catchers against a Cowboys defense that has allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers this season. This obviously helps Rashee Rice, but struggling managers should also consider Xavier Worthy, who has seen at least seven targets in three of his last four games despite averaging just 7.9 fantasy points during that stretch.
Betting tip: The Cowboys are 4-1 against the spread as underdogs this season, while the Chiefs are 1-4 ATS on the road (0-3 ATS in their last three).Predictions:
- Maldonado: Chiefs 20, Cowboys 13
- Moody: Chiefs 27, Cowboys 23
- Walder: Chiefs 36, Cowboys 28
- FPI: KC, 63.6% (by an average of 5.1 points)
Additional Content:
- Pacheco eyes return against the Cowboys
- Guyton (ankle) likely out against the Chiefs
- Did the Cowboys’ victory set the stage for a playoff run?
- Jones leads late defensive charge
- How Prescott’s initiative saved a Cowboys executive
Bengals vs. Ravens
Bengals (3-8) at Ravens (6-5)8:20 p.m. ET | NBC/Peacock | ESPN BET: BAL -7 (52.5 O/U)What is said about the Bengals: The turnover margin is key to the team’s success in the AFC North game. Since 2021, the Bengals are 13-14 in division play. Cincinnati has a turnover margin of plus 12 in wins compared to minus 13 in losses. The same principle also applies to the Ravens and Steelers. But it will be especially important to stop Baltimore. “Whoever takes the ball, is going to win,” said safety Geno Stone. – Ben Baby
What’s being said about the Ravens: Running back Derrick Henry needs 18 rushing yards to surpass Jim Brown and move into 11th place on the NFL’s all-time list. He faces a Bengals defense that allows 156 rushing yards per game, the second-worst in the league. “How many game balls can you give Derrick?” said coach John Harbaugh. “Maybe we’ll wait until he gets into the top 10, I don’t know. But he’s going to get more yards.” In his last five games against Cincinnati, Henry averaged 86.4 rushing yards per game and scored four touchdowns. – Jamison Hensley
Statistic Bengals will appreciate: Running back Chase Brown recorded his fifth straight game with more than 100 scrimmage yards against the Patriots last week. That’s currently the longest active streak in the NFL and a welcome sign after he failed to cross that mark in the first six games of the season.Statistic Ravens appreciate: Quarterback Lamar Jackson might be 1-2 in primetime games this season (won in Week 9 against the Dolphins), but he has a 21-7 record in those games in his career. Since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger, the only quarterback with a better primetime record is Hall of Famer Steve Young (minimum 15 starts). – ESPN ResearchBold Prediction: Ravens tight end Mark Andrews will record at least 50 receiving yards for the second time this season. Twenty-seven percent of targets against the Bengals defense have gone to opposing tight ends, the highest rate in the league. – WalderInjuries: Bengals | Ravens
Predictions:
- Maldonado: Ravens 30, Bengals 23
- Moody: Ravens 31, Bengals 28
- Walder: Ravens 30, Bengals 23
- FPI: BAL, 68% (by an average of 7.2 points)
Bengals Thanksgiving Game Memory: Their only appearance in 2010. The Bengals are one of four teams with only one Thanksgiving game in their franchise history. That game at the Jets, a 26-10 loss, was filled with eventual Hall of Famers (Terrell Owens, LaDainian Tomlinson, Darrelle Revis, and Jason Taylor). – Baby
Ravens Thanksgiving game memory: The sideline pass in 2013 between Jacoby Jones and Mike Tomlin. The Ravens play on Thanksgiving for the first time since they beat the Steelers 22-20 by overcoming one of the most controversial plays in league history. With the Ravens leading 13-7 in the third quarter, Jones was running a kickoff when he was stopped by Tomlin, who stood in a restricted area separating the sideline from the playing field, with his back to the action and his right foot directly on the playing field. Jones, who was 38 yards from the end zone, was brought down from behind. Tomlin was later fined $100,000 by the NFL. “It’s just one of those unfortunate moments in life,” Tomlin said five years ago. “I was looking at the scoreboard and lost track of where I was. That’s life.” – HensleyAdditional Content:
- Jackson misses practice with a toe injury
- Chase apologizes for spitting: ‘What I did was wrong’
- Bengals coach anticipates Burrow will play on Thursday night
