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ESPN workers
The Week 12 NFL schedule for the 2022 season begins with three Thanksgiving Day matchups, and we have got you lined with what you could know. Our NFL Nation reporters deliver us the keys to each sport and a daring prediction for every matchup.
Moreover, ESPN Stats & Data gives a giant stat to know and a betting nugget for every contest, and our Soccer Energy Index (FPI) goes contained in the numbers with a sport projection. ESPN researcher Kyle Soppe arms out useful fantasy soccer intel as properly. Lastly, Seth Walder and Eric Moody give us ultimate rating picks for all three contests. All the pieces you need to know is right here in a single spot that can assist you prepare for a loaded afternoon of NFL soccer.
Let’s get into the total Thanksgiving Day slate, together with Josh Allen towards the Lions and an NFC East matchup between the Giants and Cowboys. The football-packed vacation culminates with a battle between the Patriots and Vikings. Who will take one other step nearer to the postseason with a win Thursday?
Soar to a matchup:
BUF-DET | NYG-DAL | NE-MIN
12:30 p.m. ET | CBS | Unfold: BUF -9 (54)
What to look at for: After a 1-6 begin, the red-hot Lions are attempting to increase a uncommon three-game win streak of their first nationally televised matchup of the season. However the Payments are one of many hardest groups within the league and are already conversant in Ford Discipline, having simply performed within the Motor Metropolis after a snowstorm compelled them to modify websites in Week 11. The vacation showdown may very well be a shootout with each groups ranked within the prime six in factors per sport, yards per sport and yards per play by means of 10 contests. — Eric Woodyard
Daring prediction: Payments quarterback Josh Allen may have a full get-right sport, throwing for 300-plus yards and dashing for a minimum of 50 extra. After a bumpy first half towards the Browns, he had a robust second-half efficiency within the win, finishing 81.8% of his passes and throwing for 10.3 yards per try. The Lions’ protection has allowed essentially the most yards per sport (415.9) and per passing try (8.1) within the NFL. The Payments’ offense started transferring in the best course over the ultimate two quarters Sunday, and enjoying the Lions might be a giant alternative for a whole efficiency. — Alaina Getzenberg
Stat to know: The Lions are searching for their third straight sport with 30 factors, which might be their longest single-season streak since 1997. A giant purpose they’re piling up factors is working again Jamaal Williams, whose 12 dashing TDs this 12 months are essentially the most within the NFL and the sixth-most in a single season in franchise historical past. Williams now has 5 video games with a number of dashing touchdowns in 2022, tied for essentially the most in a season by a Lions participant since 1950.
What to know for fantasy: Buffalo working again Devin Singletary has reached 15 fantasy factors thrice this season, and two of these situations have come previously two weeks. He has 133 complete dashing yards (66.5 per sport) and three dashing TDs over his previous two video games. See Week 12 rankings.
Betting nugget: Since 2004, Detroit is 3-11 towards the unfold and 0-14 outright as an underdog on Thanksgiving. Detroit’s final upset win on Thanksgiving occurred in 2003 towards Inexperienced Bay (+7). Learn extra.
Thanksgiving Day throwback: On Thanksgiving in 1997, Detroit working again Barry Sanders rushed for 167 yards and three touchdowns towards the Bears in a 55-20 win for the Lions. Learn extra.
Moody’s choose: Payments 31, Lions 20
Walder’s choose: Payments 34, Lions 17
FPI prediction: BUF, 82.7% (by a mean of 11.2 factors)
Matchup must-reads: Payments credit score Buffalo group after win: ‘That was for you’ … Williams taking main function throughout Lions’ win streak
4:30 p.m. ET | FOX | Unfold: DAL -9 (44.5)
What to look at for: The Cowboys have received 5 straight towards New York at AT&T Stadium and 11 of 12 total towards their NFC East rivals. This would be the two groups’ first Thanksgiving assembly since 1992, a 30-3 Dallas win. However the vacation has not been sort to the Cowboys of late. They’ve misplaced three straight Thanksgiving Day video games, their longest such streak since dropping 4 in a row from 1986 to 1989. — Todd Archer
Daring prediction: Giants working again Saquon Barkley will rush for 140-plus yards to maintain the sport shut. The shorthanded Giants may have no selection however to depend on Barkley much more than standard. It might work towards a Dallas protection whose weak spot is stopping the run. The Cowboys are ranked twenty sixth in dashing protection (136.1 yards towards per sport), and Barkley already has two video games with 30 or extra carries and 140-plus yards. Make it three. — Jordan Raanan
Stat to know: No quarterback throws touchdowns at the next fee towards the blitz because the begin of final season than the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott (11.4%). He has thrown 25 such touchdowns in that timeframe, most within the NFL. That may very well be a difficulty for New York on Thursday. The Giants deliver the blitz on the NFL’s highest fee (43%).
What to know for fantasy: Dallas working again Tony Pollard has gained 464 yards on his 61 touches over the previous three video games, whereas backfield mate Ezekiel Elliott has picked up 241 yards on his previous 61 touches. Pollard additionally has six scrimmage touchdowns since Week 8, tied for essentially the most within the NFL over that span with Jamaal Williams. His 4 straight video games with 100 yards from scrimmage can be the longest lively streak within the league. See Week 12 rankings.
1:50
Stephania Bell and Discipline Yates break down the fantasy outputs of Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott.
Betting nugget: Since 2020, New York is 7-0 towards the unfold in short-rest video games — and all have been with Daniel Jones as its beginning quarterback. Learn extra.
Thanksgiving Day throwback: In 1982, Giants defensive finish Lawrence Taylor intercepted Lions quarterback Gary Danielson within the fourth quarter and took it again 97 yards to the home for the go-ahead — and eventual game-winning — landing. Learn extra.
Moody’s choose: Cowboys 28, Giants 21
Walder’s choose: Cowboys 24, Giants 20
FPI prediction: DAL, 87.2% (by a mean of 13.6 factors)
Matchup must-reads: What does Jones have to show to be a part of the Giants’ future? … The place do Cowboys’ Elliott, Pollard rank amongst elite RB duos? … Have been the Giants uncovered in Week 11? … Giants WR Robinson out for season with torn ACL … What’s Chef Hoppie cooking up for Cowboys’ stars on Thanksgiving
8:20 p.m. ET | NBC | Unfold: MIN -2.5 (42)
What to look at for: The Patriots have had their means with Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins in two matchups towards him, beating his groups each occasions and holding him to a mean of 5.0 yards per try — his lowest towards any crew he has confronted in a number of video games. This season, the Patriots are fielding the form of protection that provides him hassle, too. They’re producing stress on 34% of opponents’ dropbacks, the third-highest fee within the NFL. The Vikings might be enjoying with out standout left deal with Christian Darrisaw (concussion), and Cousins’ QBR has dropped 60 factors when below stress in 2022. — Kevin Seifert
Daring prediction: Quarterback Mac Jones and the Patriots’ struggling pink zone offense — which ranks thirty first within the NFL by way of TD proportion (12 in 28 journeys, 42.9%) — will get away of a stoop and rating twice from contained in the 20-yard line. That’s an space the place the Vikings have struggled to defend, as they rank final within the NFL in opponents’ landing proportion (20 TDs towards in 28 journeys, 71.4%). — Mike Reiss
Stat to know: The Patriots have allowed 17 or fewer factors in all six of their wins this season (0-4 when permitting greater than 17 factors), they usually’ve now gone two straight video games with out permitting a landing. New England has gone three straight and not using a TD towards as soon as earlier than in franchise historical past (2018-2019), and the Vikings failed to attain a landing in Week 11 for the primary time of their previous 93 video games.
What to know for fantasy: Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson managed simply 6.3 fantasy factors final week within the blowout loss to the Cowboys after clearing 15 in every of his six prior video games. The final time he did not catch 5 passes in a sport was Week 3, and he adopted that dud up with consecutive double-digit catch efforts. See Week 12 rankings.
Betting nugget: Minnesota (4-5-1 ATS) and Kansas Metropolis (4-6 ATS) are the third and fourth groups previously 20 seasons to begin 8-2 or higher outright however have dropping data towards the unfold (2018 Rams, 2012 Ravens). Learn extra.
Thanksgiving Day throwback: In 1998, Vikings receiver Randy Moss caught three passes for 163 yards towards the Cowboys — and all three went for touchdowns. Learn extra.
Moody’s choose: Vikings 24, Patriots 14
Walder’s choose: Vikings 27, Patriots 19
FPI prediction: MIN, 62.6% (by a mean of three.7 factors)
Matchup must-reads: Patriots’ punt return TD with seconds remaining stuns Jets … After one of many worst losses ever for an 8-1 crew, the Vikings’ narrative shifts once more … Patriots hope to ‘flip the swap’ in pink zone and rating extra TDs … Jefferson, Vikings look to regroup after ’embarrassing’ loss
