Hello friend! Happy Thanksgiving to you. Today is a very important day of food and family and friends, and devising ways to mitigate all of them with football.
A viewer’s guide to football on Thanksgiving and avoiding your family
We know you’ll want to steal a few moments away from family this Thanksgiving. Here’s what NFL and college football games to watch.
Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
How you strike that balance is up to you. Just know that there is a lot of football here for you — NFL and college! — for whenever you need to escape something: dry turkey, family disputes, show-and-tell starring uncle Ted’s toe infection, whatever it may be. You may not think you need the Detroit Lions in your life, much less Colorado State-Air Force, but life can be funny that way.
Here is the full slate of college football and NFL games to help you get away from the commotion, as well a VERY brief primer on each game so you can understand what you’re getting into and weigh it against whatever may be happening in the living room where oh god oh no who’s screaming is it man or is it beast.
It’ll all be OK. Stick with us.
NFL: Bears (7-3) at Lions (4-6), 12:30 p.m. ET
What is it?
A matchup of division rivals. One team is good! The other team exists!
Should I watch?
Khalil Mack is worth making an appointment, but the Bears are also gaining their footing and stepping into the void of good NFC teams behind the Rams and Saints. The Lions are of mercurial quality, but on their best days they’re capable playing exciting football.
How to watch
Channel: CBS
Streaming: CBS All Access, fuboTV
College: Colorado State (3-8) at Air Force (4-7), 3:30 p.m. ET
What is it?
An honest-to-goodness in-state rivalry between two schools separated by a two-hour drive.
Should I watch?
This is the most break-in-case-of-emergency game of the day, but there’s plenty to appreciate. Air Force runs the triple option, but it’s more than that! Colorado State ... isn’t doing much well in Mike Bobo’s fourth year as head coach, but these teams played a thriller two years ago that Air Force won, 49-46! It might not be bad!
How to watch
Channel: CBSSN
Streaming: CBSSN online, fuboTV
NFL: Washington (6-4) at Cowboys (5-5), 4:30 p.m. ET
What is it?
Two bitter division rivals who, in Week 12, still have no concept of whether they’re any good, but are in playoff contention anyway.
Should I watch?
This feels like the peas of the football slate — more like an obligation to the meal than something appetizing. The Cowboys have been up-and-down (though they’re trending up), and Washington was on the up until Alex Smith suffered two broken bones.
But ah hell, these teams hate each other and there’s a division on the line. Eat your peas.
How to watch
Channel: FOX
Streaming: Fox Sports Go, fuboTV
College: Mississippi State (7-4) at Ole Miss (5-6), 7:30 p.m. ET
What is it?
The Egg Bowl!
Should I watch?
Yes! Though the rivalry has come down a bit from its Armageddon matchup in 2014. Still, there’s the pride of a whole state on the line, and last year’s game was a bunch of fun and really chippy.
How to watch
Channel: ESPN
Streaming: WatchESPN
Falcons (4-6) at Saints (9-1), 8:20 p.m. ET
What is it?
Hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, hate.
Should I watch?
Yeah, because something is going to explode. The Falcons are in the midst of a sad, sad season, but that offense still contains a lot of potential. And if they do founder like that they have the last two weeks, Drew Brees and the Saints know how to put on a show all by themselves.
How to watch
Channel: NBC
Streaming: NBC Sports, fuboTV
Happy Thanksgiving. Please try to be nice to your dumb family.
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