Thanksgiving Day brought us three games to start week 12 of the NFL season, but we’ve got only two teams on a bye this week so our Sunday slate won’t suffer (although those two teams are currently two of the best three teams in the league). Six weeks are left in the NFL season, and this is where teams either fade into oblivion or rise from the dead/mediocre to either secure a playoff birth or grasp high-teens 2019 draft pick.
There’s a lot of meaningless games but if you look close enough, you’ll find some gems. As for Sunday’s noon games, the one that stands out the most is Carolina welcoming the Seattle Seahawks into town. Despite the 5-5 record, the Seahawks are still very much in contention for a wild-card spot, as are the Panthers. Both teams are similar in that they have no shot at winning their division but are good enough to make the playoffs. My guess here is the team that comes out on top will, and the team that loses will not.
An important game for Bears fans will be Sunday night’s match-up between the Vikings and Packers. Bears fans will transform for three hours into Packer-supporters, as a Packer victory would all but secure the NFC North division for the Bears, barring major setbacks.
Week 12: November 22 — November 25, 2018
Teams that played Thursday night: Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints, Washington Redskins
Bye teams: Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams
Jacksonville Jaguars at Buffalo Bills
@ New Era Field, Orchard Park (Buffalo), New York
Sunday, 12:00pm CT, CBS
Jacksonville Jaguars bars: NFL Sunday Ticket Chicago Bars
Buffalo Bills bars: Delilah’s, Lincoln Station
Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals
@ Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
Sunday, 12:00pm CT, CBS
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
New England Patriots at New York Jets
@ MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Sunday, 12:00pm CT, CBS
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
New York Jets bars: Country Club, Butch Mc Guire’s, Inc.
New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles
@ Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Sunday, 12:00pm CT, FOX
New York Giants bars: Trinity, Racine Plumbing
Philadelphia Eagles bars: DIAG, Mad River Bar & Grille
San Francisco 49ers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
@ Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, Florida
Sunday, 12:00pm CT, FOX
San Francisco 49ers bars: Grand River, Cheesie’s Pub & Grub
Tampa Bay Buccaneers bars: NFL Sunday Ticket Chicago Bars
Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers
@ Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
Sunday, 12:00pm CT, FOX
Seattle Seahawks bars: Brownstone Tavern, Scot’s, Newport Bar & Grille
Carolina Panthers bars: Timothy O’Toole’s
Oakland Raiders at Baltimore Ravens
@ M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
Sunday, 12:00pm CT, CBS
Oakland Raiders bars: Tavern on Littlefort, Finley Dunne’s Tavern
Baltimore Ravens bars: NFL Sunday Ticket Chicago Bars
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Chargers
@ StubHub Center, Carson, California
Sunday, 3:05pm CT, FOX
Arizona Cardinals bars: NFL Sunday Ticket Chicago Bars
Los Angeles Chargers bars: Irish Eyes, Dram Shop Ltd
Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos
@ Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado
Sunday, 3:25pm CT, CBS
Pittsburgh Steelers bars: Old Crow, Prost!, Riverview Tavern & Grill / Robey Pizza, Joe’s Bar on Weed Street, Lincoln Tap Room, Durkin’s Tavern
Denver Broncos bars: The Irish Oak, Riverview Tavern & Grill / Robey Pizza
Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts
@ Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
Sunday, 3:25pm CT, CBS
Miami Dolphins bars: NFL Sunday Ticket Chicago Bars
Indianapolis Colts bars: Sedgwick’s, Sluggers, Four Shadows
Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings
@ Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Sunday, 7:20pm CT, NBC
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
Minnesota Vikings bars: Redmond’s, Cubby Bear
Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans
@ NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
Monday, 7:15pm CT, ESPN
Tennessee Titans bars: NFL Sunday Ticket Chicago Bars
Houston Texans bars: NFL Sunday Ticket Chicago Bars