Thanksgiving was a day defined by food—whether it was Mamaw’s mac and cheese, stuffing, dressing, or whatever filled your plate. But for the average sports fan, it was only a great day if you weren’t a Chiefs, Tar Heels, Ravens, or Lions supporter. Duke fans, on the other hand, had plenty to smile about with Cameron Boozer dropping 35 points in 36 minutes. As for me, I’d call my Thanksgiving just okay. The food was great, the game results… not so much. I did manage to go 3–2 in pickleball, including one shutout, so that’s a win. With all that out of the way, let’s get into the games I watched on Turkey Day afternoon.
Lions vs Packers
The Detroit Lions faced off against the Green Bay Packers, where the Lions fell 31-24. The stats were as follows: Jared Goff had 250 yards and 2 passing TDs. Receiving-wise, the Lions had Jameson Williams lead in receiving with 7 receptions for 144 yards and a TD. Jahmyr Gibbs continued his elite rushing season with a not-so-great performance of 20 carries for 68 yards. For the Packers, QB Jordan Love had 230 yards and 4 TDs. Dontavion Wicks led in receiving with 6 receptions, 94 yards, and 2 TDs. Josh Jacobs led the team in rushing with 17 carries for 83 yards. In the end, the Packers’ defense was able to do just enough to win the football game.
Tar Heels Vs Spartans
The North Carolina Tar Heels fell to the Michigan State Spartans 58-74, with UNC’s 3-point shooting being lackluster, while MSU shot the lights out at 51% from the field and 50% from 3, compared to UNC’s 38% and 17%. Caleb Wilson had 18, Henry Veesaar had 13, and Luca Bogavac had 11 for the heels. Compared to MSU’s top 3 scorers: Jeremy Fears with 19, Carson Cooper with 14, and Cam Ward with 11. Coen Carr only had 8, but he opened the game with some ferocious dunking. In the end, the Heels’ lackluster shooting and the Spartans’ phenomenal shooting proved to be the difference.
Chiefs Vs Cowboys
Now for the 2nd biggest suprise of the afternood/evening, the Kansas City Chiefs lost 28-31 to the Dallas Cowboys, The Chiefs now need some serious help from Bills, Jags, and Chargers, (Who they play again) to get into the playoffs they need those teams to lose 2 or 3 games, and the Chiefs lose out, now lets discuss the game. Mahomes threw for 260 and 4 TDs, Rashee Rice had 8 receptions for 92 yards and 2 TDs, and Kareem Hunt rushed for 58 yards on 14 carries. Dak Prescott had 320 yards, 1 INT, and 2 TDs. Receivers were led by Ceedee Lamb, who had 112 yards on 7 receptions, and Javante Williams had 59 yards on 17 carries. Overall, the defense could not do enough to limit the Cowboys despite the INT.
Bengals vs Ravens
Thursday Night Football had a major upset, which shook up the Playoff race in the AFC as the Bengals defeated the Ravens, who at the time were in first place in the division, but with a Ravens loss, they fell out of the playoffs, and the Steelers now stand at 6-5 in 4th place in the AFC. The Ravens QB Lamar Jackson had 240 yards and 1 INT, the leading rusher was Derrick Henry with 60 yards on 10 carries for 1 TD. Isaiah Likely led receiving with 5 receptions for 95 yards and a fumble into the back of the endzone, costing a TD. The Ravens also fumbled 4 times, Jackson fumbling 2 times, Likely with his and then Zay Flowers fumbling as well.
All in all, Thanksgiving sports delivered plenty of drama, surprise results, and a whole lot of frustration for fans of several big-name teams. From the Lions’ stumble in Detroit to UNC’s cold shooting night, to the Chiefs’ playoff hopes taking a massive hit, and the Ravens coughing up a golden opportunity on Thursday Night Football, it felt like an upset season across every screen. But that’s part of what makes holiday sports so memorable—between the food, family, and rivalry talk, the chaos on the field and court gives everyone something to debate long after the leftovers are packed away. If this slate of games was any indication, the rest of the season is shaping up to be just as unpredictable, and that’s exactly why we keep watching.
