Trump's election helping his Criminal Cases

 

We've got all the information you need to know about the exciting Thanksgiving Day matches that kick off the 2023 NFL Week 12 schedule. Every game's most important details are provided by our NFL Nation writers, along with a daring prediction for every encounter.

Every game also has a betting nugget and a major metric to know from ESPN Stats & Information, and our Football Power Index (FPI) goes beyond the data with a game projection. Fantasy analyst Eric Moody provides useful fantasy football information, while analytics writer Seth Walder identifies the largest X factor for each matchup. Lastly, we get the final score predictions for all three games from Walder and Moody. You can find all the information you need in one location to help you get ready for a loaded Thursday afternoon of NFL football.

Watch this plot: 

The 49ers are a better team than the Seahawks, who defeated them three times in the previous season by an overall score of 89-43. Running back Kenneth Walker III and quarterback Geno Smith's injury on Sunday made this game much more difficult. Pete Carroll is hopeful Smith will be able to play despite a bruise in his triceps, but Walker's future is more uncertain given he missed the first three series due to an oblique injury. Without Walker, Seattle would resort to rookie second-round pick Zach Charbonnet as the RB1 (and, if Smith is unable to play, Drew Lock at center). -- Brady Henderson 

Promising forecast: 

Nick Bosa, the defensive end for the Niners, will record his third career three-sack performance. Due to injuries, Seattle has been forced to deploy a rotating group of offensive lineman; yet, as they become healthy, Bosa and San Francisco's defensive line have established a rhythm since the arrival of Chase Young a few weeks ago. This might be the week where some of Bosa's numerous pressures (27 this season) translate into sacks for the Seahawks offense, given the short week and some health concerns. -- Wagoner, Nick

Something to note:

 In his last two games, San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy has completed three touchdown passes. Jeff Garcia was the last 49ers player to have three or more passing touchdowns in three straight games back in 2001. Oh, and in his career, including the playoffs, Purdy is 5-0 with nine touchdown passes and zero interceptions versus teams in the division.

Bobby Wagner of the Seahawks is the matchup X factor. As a linebacker, he is fourth in run stop victory percentage (41.5%), and the 49ers have the highest designed run rate in the league this year. -- Walder

What you should know for fantasy football: Christian McCaffrey is primed for a monster performance as the 49ers are highly favored on the road against the Seahawks, who allow the fifth-most fantasy points per game to running backs. George Kittle, a tight end, could also put up impressive stats. In his last two trips to Seattle, he has racked up 13 receptions, 274 receiving yards, and two touchdowns. View the rankings for Week 12. -- Moody's

Watch this storyline: 

In the last five games, the Commanders have lost four and the Cowboys have won four. With 19 touchdown passes and four interceptions in his 9-2 record versus Washington, Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott has also defeated the Commanders twice on Thanksgiving (in 2016 and 2018) with three touchdown passes and no interceptions. Prescott is well-positioned to continue his winning run when you consider that he has led the NFL in QBR since Week 4 (76.6). But remember that throughout his career, he is also 3-3 on the holiday, with nine touchdown passes and five interceptions.

 -- Todd Archer 

Big forecast: CeeDee Lamb, a receiver for Dallas, will gain 20 yards or more three times and end up with 140 yards and two touchdowns on the day versus Washington. The Cowboys' offense is fifth in the NFL in terms of gaining 20+ yards through the air (41 completions), while the Commanders' defense is tied for the most throw plays of 20 yards or more allowed (43). And with 22 of these receptions, Lamb leads the NFL. -- Keim John

Key stat: Sam Howell, the quarterback for the Commanders, has been sacked 51 times this season, which is a league high. More awful news for the state of Washington? On 39% of opponent dropbacks, the Cowboys have created pressure—a league-high percentage.

DaRon Bland of the Cowboys is the matchup X factor. With four pick-sixes, he is tied for the NFL record. Now, he will face the rather unpredictable Howell. The two games that Dallas has left to play to break the record are this one and their matchup with Washington in Week 18. -- Walder

Commanders and Cowboys are injured.

Fantasy football owners should be aware that wide receivers score the third-most fantasy points per game against the Commanders' defense. Lamb has averaged seven targets and 11.7 fantasy points over the course of six games against the Commanders. Lamb will very likely surpass those statistics per game on Thanksgiving. -- Moody's

Nugget of information for bettors: The Cowboys are 12-0 overall and 9-3 ATS as double-digit favorites on Thanksgiving since the 1970 merger. But this season, the Commanders are 6-1 ATS when betting on underdogs, including 5-0 ATS when playing on the road. 

Thanksgiving Day throwback: With the Cowboys trailing Washington 16-3, backup quarterback Clint Longley replaced an injured Roger Staubach in 1974. With 11 passes for 203 yards, Longley gave Dallas a victory. With 28 seconds remaining, he completed the comeback with a 50-yard touchdown pass to Drew Pearson, and the Cowboys won 24-23 thanks to the extra point goal.

Watch this plot: 

Thanksgiving and football have always gone hand in hand in Detroit, dating back to 1934, when the Lions hosted their first-ever Thanksgiving Day game. However, they haven't been very successful lately; they haven't prevailed on Thanksgiving since 2016. The Packers, who have won two of their last three games, will now arrive in town in an attempt to dampen the excitement surrounding the Lions. However, Green Bay's current losing streak—four games in a row—is the second-longest in the team's history against the Lions. -- Eric Woodyard

Prediction bold: Jordan Love, the quarterback for the Packers, won't be picked off by the Lions. In their Week 4 matchup, they got him twice, and in their last three games, they've had interceptions twice. Love hasn't played without an interception in back-to-back games since Weeks 1-2, but that might alter. In what was possibly his best performance of the season on Sunday against the Chargers, he did not throw any. Anticipate him to maintain that momentum against Detroit, which has eight defensive interceptions, tied for 17th in the NFL.

 -- Rob Demovsky