Week 12 brings us my personal favorite week of NFL football: Thanksgiving weekend. There’s a full slate of NFL games on Thursday that pretty much covers the entire day, starting from 11:30a (CT) until the night game, which kicks off at 7:30p. The Vikings (8-2), tied with 3 other teams for the second-best record in the league, visit Detroit to take on the Lions (6-4) in the only Thursday game featuring teams with a winning record. The other four teams playing Thursday have a combined record of 15-25. Here’s to hoping all 3 games are, if nothing else, competitive.
Speaking of bad teams, did you know that despite a winless record through Week 11, the Cleveland Browns still aren’t officially eliminated from the playoffs?
The Cleveland Browns are 0-10 but they can still make the playoffs.
Here's how. pic.twitter.com/L11P1nnqOy
— ESPN (@espn) November 21, 2017
On paper, Sunday’s lineup doesn’t appear to be too exciting. There’s the “Ohio Bowl” between the Bengals (4-6) and aforementioned Browns (0-10) — do people in Ohio still care about this game? The Giants (2-8) come off a hot win against Kansas City (6-4) to take on their division rival in Washington (4-6), but again, both teams come into the contest with losing records.
There is one lone game between two really good teams that takes place Sunday afternoon over in Los Angeles, where the Saints (8-2) ride their eight-game winning streak into the Memorial Coliseum to take on the Rams (7-3). This is the second consecutive week the Rams will be tested, although this time it’s at home. For whatever it’s worth, the Saints actually have a better record on the road (4-1) than the Rams do at home (3-2).
NFL Week 12: November 23 — November 27, 2017
Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions
@ Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Thursday, November 23, 12:30pm
Minnesota Vikings bars: Redmond’s, Cubby Bear
Detroit Lions bars: Dugout Sports Bar & Grill, DIAG, Avenue Tavern, The Tin Lizzie, Grand River, O’Malley’s Pub
Los Angeles Chargers at Dallas Cowboys
@ AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Thursday, November 23, 4:30pm
Los Angeles Chargers bars: Irish Eyes, Dram Shop Ltd
Dallas Cowboys bars: Commonwealth Tavern, Crossroads Public House
New York Giants at Washington Redskins
@ FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland (Washington D.C.)
Thursday, November 23, 8:30pm
New York Giants bars: Trinity, Racine Plumbing
Washington Redskins bars: Joe’s Bar on Weed Street
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons
@ Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Sunday, November 26, 1:00pm
Tampa Bay Buccaneers bars: NFL Sunday Ticket Chicago Bars
Atlanta Falcons bars: Kelsey’s
Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals
@ Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
Sunday, November 26, 1:00pm
Cleveland Browns bars: Vaughan’s Pub, John Barleycorn Wrigleyville, The Field House
Cincinnati Bengals bars: Merkle’s Bar & Grill, Sully’s House Tap Room & Grill, Kincade’s
Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts
@ Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
Sunday, November 26, 1:00pm
Tennessee Titans bars: NFL Sunday Ticket Chicago Bars
Indianapolis Colts bars: Sedgwick’s, Sluggers, Four Shadows
Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs
@ Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Sunday, November 26, 1:00pm
Buffalo Bills bars: Delilah’s, Lincoln Station
Kansas City Chiefs bars: Sedgwick’s
Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots
@ Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
Sunday, November 26, 1:00pm
Miami Dolphins bars: NFL Sunday Ticket Chicago Bars
New England Patriots bars: Ironside Bar & Galley, Old Town Social, The Hidden Shamrock, Theory Sports Div Lounge, Tripoli Tavern, Kasey’s Tavern, Brendan’s Pub / Lower Broadway
Carolina Panthers at New York Jets
@ MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Sunday, November 26, 1:00pm
Carolina Panthers bars: Timothy O’Toole’s
New York Jets bars: Country Club, Butch Mc Guire’s, Inc.
Chicago Bears at Philadelphia Eagles
@ Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Sunday, November 26, 1:00pm
Chicago Bears bars: The Scout Waterhouse + Kitchen
Philadelphia Eagles bars: DIAG, Mad River Bar & Grille
New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Rams
@ Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
Sunday, November 26, 4:05pm
New Orleans Saints bars: Frontier, Fizz Bar & Grill
Los Angeles Rams bars: NFL Sunday Ticket Chicago Bars
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers
@ Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California
Sunday, November 26, 4:05pm
Seattle Seahawks bars: Brownstone Tavern, Scot’s, Newport Bar & Grille
San Francisco 49ers bars: Grand River, Cheesie’s Pub & Grub
Jacksonville Jaguars at Arizona Cardinals
@ University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
Sunday, November 26, 4:25pm
Jacksonville Jaguars bars: NFL Sunday Ticket Chicago Bars
Arizona Cardinals bars: NFL Sunday Ticket Chicago Bars
Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders
@ Oakland Alameda Coliseum, Oakland, California
Sunday, November 26, 4:25pm
Denver Broncos bars: The Irish Oak, Riverview Tavern & Grill / Robey Pizza
Oakland Raiders bars: Tavern on Littlefort, Finley Dunne’s Tavern
Green Bay Packers at Pittsburgh Steelers
@ Heinz Field, North Shore Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Sunday, November 26, 8:30pm
Green Bay Packers bars: Trophy Room, Matilda, Ranalli’s, Waterhouse Tavern And Grill, Will’s Northwoods Inn, Gold Star Bar Inc, Kroll’s South Loop, Nisei Lounge
Pittsburgh Steelers bars: Old Crow, Prost!, Riverview Tavern & Grill / Robey Pizza, Joe’s Bar on Weed Street, Lincoln Tap Room, Durkin’s Tavern
Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens
@ M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
Monday, November 27, 8:30pm
Houston Texans bars: NFL Sunday Ticket Chicago Bars
Baltimore Ravens bars: NFL Sunday Ticket Chicago Bars