Thanksgiving Day NFL Schedule: Kickoff Times and Games

Thanksgiving Day is approaching, and this year, everyone’s looking forward to the three F’s: food, family, and football. So, of course, bettors may be tempted to have a little action on the games while enjoying their time with their loved ones.

BetMGM has you covered with the latest NFL odds for all of the NFL games this week.

So, what does the Thanksgiving Day NFL schedule look like this year? Let’s take a look.

Bears at Lions

Leading off, as usual, will be the Detroit Lions, who look to get their first win of the 2021 season against the division rival Chicago Bears.

• Kickoff time: 12:30 p.m. EST
• Channel: FOX
• Line: Bears -3.5
• O/U: 41.5
• Money Line: Bears (-185), Lions (+150)

In my opinion, the Lions’ traditional Thanksgiving home game against a division rival seems like a great spot for their first win.

The Bears won’t have Justin Fields in this game. These offenses are about even in scoring in normal circumstances, with the Bears averaging 16.3 points per game and the Lions averaging 16. The Lions will have an advantage when it comes to running the ball, though, as the Bears’ defense ranks 24th in rushing yards allowed per game. I believe D’Andre Swift will have a great game.

Raiders at Cowboys

This is the third time that these two teams have met on Thanksgiving since 2009. Dallas comes into their traditional holiday home game as the favorite.

• Kickoff time: 4:30 p.m. EST
• Channel: CBS
• Line: Cowboys -7
• O/U: 50.5
• Money Line: Raiders (+260), Cowboys (-300)

Las Vegas comes into this game on a losing streak, having dropped their last three games. Dallas is coming off of a game where they scored their fewest points (9) of the year in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

However, the Cowboys face the possibility of not having the best wide receiver duo in the NFL, in my opinion, in Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb. Cooper is still on the COVID list, and Lamb suffered a concussion in his last game, so he would need to clear protocol.

As for the Raiders, their playoff lives are on the line. I don’t believe they can make the playoffs without a win against the Cowboys.

Bills at Saints

The final game of the day is on Thanksgiving night, and both Buffalo and New Orleans will look to bounce back from losses.

• Kickoff time: 8:20 p.m. EST
• Channel: NBC
• Line: Bills -4
• O/U: 46.5
• Money Line: Bills (-225), Saints (+175)

Both teams have struggled their last three games. The Bills have gone 1-2 in that stretch, while the Saints have lost three straight after upsetting the Tampa Bay Bucs. As a result, Buffalo and New Orleans have fallen in the playoff standings during this three-game stretch, with both teams sitting in seventh place in their respective conferences.

The Bills’ defense allows the fewest total yards per game (283.7) and the second-fewest points per game (17.6), so the Saints will have their hands full. But do not count out the Saints, who are 4-1 ATS as underdogs this season.

Enjoy the Thanksgiving Day NFL Schedule

These are the three games on the Thanksgiving Day NFL schedule, and each brings something unique to the table that makes me want to tune in. Do you plan on placing bets on any of these games?

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