NFL Thanksgiving Games 2013 Schedule, Preview, TV & Live Stream Info, Score, Preview, and More
With the race for the NFC North division lead tightening up heading into Thanksgiving Day, the Green Bay Packers (5-5-1) will have to go another week without franchise quarterback Aaron Rodgers as they go on the road for the holiday to face the first-place Detroit Lions (6-5).
Rodgers has sat out the last four games, sparking the Packers current losing streak, after the quarterback went down with a broken collar bone, forcing Green Bay to juggle quarterbacks the last few weeks.
"[Rodgers] would like to go," said Packers head coach Mike McCarthy. "Frankly, based on the information where we are as far as the conversation with Aaron, the conversation with the medical staff, I would say he's slim to none, to give you what I'm thinking."
The Packers recently signed Matt Flynn, who will be the third different quarterback to start since Rodgers went down with his Week 9 injury. Flynn helped rally the Packers from a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter to tie the game 26-26, going 21-of-36 for 218 yards and a touchdown in the their overtime draw with the Minnesota Vikings. McCarthy benched starter Scott Tolzien after only completing 7-of-17 passes for 98 yards and a rushing touchdown through three quarters.
The short week will make it tough for Flynn to go in-depth into the Packers playbook, with the four-day turnaround making it difficult for the backup to get his fair share of practice snaps as well as prepare.
"I don't know what's going to happen, but I'll be ready no matter if I take 0 percent, 50 percent, 100 percent of the reps," said Flynn. "I'll be ready to roll. I think I've developed the skill of improving myself without taking reps. We'll see what happens."
The Lions, who are 33-38-2 going into their 74th annual Thanksgiving Day game, had a golden opportunity to pull away from the NFC North division race but ended up losing 24-21 at home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team's second straight loss. Stafford went 26-for-46, finishing with 297 yards and three touchdowns but also threw for four interceptions which include a pick by CB Lenard Johnson that was returned for a touchdown.
"I think we all need to remind ourselves, like we did yesterday, that the fact is that there's five games remaining, and we're in first place," said Detroit coach Jim Schwartz. "We need to conduct ourselves accordingly, and we can't worry what happened last week, we can't worry about what happened yesterday. We need to worry about what's going to happen in the future. I like our team's mindset."
You can catch the Green Bay Packers - Detroit Lions Thanksgiving afternoon 12:30 p.m. EST on Fox.
In other Thanksgiving Day Week 13 NFL action:
Oakland Raiders (4-7) vs Dallas Cowboys (6-5)
The Cowboys took back control of the NFC East, defeating the New York Giants 24-21 last weekend, taking control of the NFC East going into their traditional Thanksgiving Day game. Dallas QB Tony Romo drove his team on their last possession of the game into field goal position, allowing K Dan Bailey to nail a 34-yard field goal as time expired. Romo was an efficient 23-of-38 in pass attempts, throwing for 250 yards, two touchdowns and only one pick.
Oakland will be without their young quarterback, Terrelle Pryor, who is out with a knee injury, and will be replaced by rookie Matt McGloin, who had a tough afternoon in Oakland's 23-19 loss against the Tennessee Titans, throwing for 260 yards, a touchdown and an interception. RB Darren McFadden returns to the lineup in time to help the rookie quarterback after having missed three games with a hamstring injury.
TV: 4:30 p.m. EST on CBS
Pittsburgh Steelers (5-6) vs Baltimore Ravens (5-6)
Both the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers are trying hard to keep pace with the AFC North-leading Cincinnati Bengals going into Thanksgiving night's game, trying to hang tough as the season winds down. Pittsburgh and Baltimore are two of four other teams - Tennessee Titans, San Diego Chargers, New York Jets and Miami Dolphins - battling for the AFC's last wild card spot as NFL teams scramble for the postseason. Baltimore has won two of three games coming off a victory 19-3 win over the Jets last weekend. Baltimore has played like champion at home with a 4-1 at home while just allowing just 10.8 points against opponents.
The Steelers are on a four-game winning streak since getting destroyed by the New England Patriots in Week 9 of the season. The Steelers defense helped the team grind along through a 27-11 win over their division rivals, the Cleveland Browns, running through the Browns offensive line for a season-high five sacks in the game. Ben Roethlisberger went 22-for-34 and threw for 217 yards, along with touchdown passes to Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders along with a pick tossed for a touchdown. The Steelers, playing in their first Thanksgiving game since their loss to Detroit in 1998, are looking for their first win on Thanksgiving Day for the first time since 1950.
TV: 8:30 p.m. EST on NBC
Live Stream (online)
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Live Stream (Radio)
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