The NFL has another great feast of matchups planned for its annual Thanksgiving triple-header to open Week 12 of the 2022 season. Five of the six teams in action are in current playoff position in either the AFC or NFC. That other team, the Lions, have won three consecutive games to get back into wild-card contention.
That makes the numbers difficult to navigate once again after a challenging Week 12. Here's hoping we can break from the tryptophan stupor and get the ideal picks and predictions against the spread for Turkey Day:
(Odds courtesy of Sports Interaction)
POWER RANKINGS: Cowboys, Bengals, Patriots climb; Vikings, Giants, Jets stumble for Week 12
NFL picks, predictions for Thanksgiving
- Bills (-9.5, 54 o/u) at Lions
12:30 p.m. ET, CBS
The Bills had some experience adjusting to Ford Field. Although Josh Allen continued to slump, they had to be pleased about getting the traditional running game going and also spreading the ball around more effectively in the passing game. The Lions' young defense has played much better of late and made some big plays, but they struggle to multiple, diverse offenses.
Jared Goff hasn't played all that well during the Lions' winning streak and the negative game script will take them out of sticking with the run. Allen has his best game in a month in a complete road rout in a familiar venue.
Pick: Bills win 31-20 and cover the spread.
- Giants at Cowboys (-9.5, 44.5 o/u)
4:30 p.m. ET, Fox
The Giants aren't dependent too much on the downfield passing game and will stay patient running Saquon Barkley after he failed to become a real factor against the Lions. Daniel Jones' rushing supplement also can keep New York in a key division rivalry rematch from a 23-16 Dallas road win in Week 3. Dak Prescott will be playing this time, but the Cowboys haven't changed their smart run-heavy identity much of late. The number is just a little too big for teams that mostly play each other tight. In the end, it's advantage Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott with their QB over Barkley and Jones.
Pick: Cowboys win 24-17 but fail to cover the spread.
- Patriots at Vikings (-3, 42.5 o/u)
8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
The Vikings' 8-2 record has come under fire after the Cowboys ripped them 40-3 at home following their improbable road rally over the Bills in Week 10. Kirk Cousins got rattled into nothingness vs. Dallas' defense. He doesn't tend to play well in prime time and New England's defense under Bill Belichick is also concerning. But between Dalvin Cook. Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson, the Vikings have the options to score enough points here as the Patriots' offense is severely limited with a shaky Mac Jones.
Pick: Vikings win 20-14 and cover the spread.
