NFC North hangs in balance
DETROIT — In many ways, the Thanksgiving games mark the beginning of the NFL’s stretch drive.
For the Lions, this may be the final chance to stay in the race for a division title. The Lions host the Vikings on Thursday in a game that should drastically alter the NFC North race.
If the Vikings win, they would have a three-game lead atop the division, but if the Lions prevail, they would be within one game and would have a tiebreaker over Minnesota. Plus, Detroit has a favorable schedule after this week.
“November football and December football — everything turns up a notch. And right around Thanksgiving, it really turns up,” Lions receiver Golden Tate said. “It’s no secret that the Vikings are playing tremendous football right now. They’re making it happen.”
Minnesota (8-2) has won six games in a row since a 14-7 loss to Detroit on Oct. 1. The Vikings enter a stretch of three straight road games against Detroit, Atlanta and Carolina, so there’s some pressure on Minnesota to open up a comfortable division lead and earn some margin for error.
“They do everything well,” Lions coach Jim Caldwell said. “They’re moving the ball up and down the field. They’re making big plays. They’ve always played great defense, and their special teams are very good.” —
ARLINGTON, Texas — Philip Rivers is looking forward to his Thanksgiving debut in his 14th season.
The six-time Pro Bowl quarterback is also pretty fired up about how important Thursday’s visit to the Cowboys is for his Chargers.
“Outside of playoff games, I don’t know that there’s any bigger stage and game than Thanksgiving,” Rivers said. “It’s certainly a big-time game, more so because of what’s riding on it for our team. Throw in the fact that it’s Thanksgiving, even better.”
Los Angeles (4-6) started 0-4 while AFC West rival Kansas City won its first five. Now the Chargers are within two games of the division-leading Chiefs after scoring their most points since 1981 in a 54-24 win over the Bills.
The Cowboys (5-5) have lost both games without suspended star running back Ezekiel Elliott, with still four games remaining on the sixgame ban over alleged domestic violence. The defending NFC East champs are already all but eliminated in the division race, and face a tough road to a wild-card spot.
“It’s going to show the character of our team,” said quarterback Dak Prescott, who has struggled without the backfield mate from their remarkable rookie seasons.
“We’ve got the choice to go 11-5 right now or 5-11 or anything in between. It’s about us coming in and coming to work every day to show the character and fight we have to be 11-5.”
Tyron Smith appears set to return for Dallas after the four-time Pro Bowl left tackle missed two games with back and groin issues. Prescott was sacked a career-high eight times in the first loss, 27-7 to Atlanta, and lost a fumble in both games.
But the Cowboys still have to figure out how to stop the run without 2016 All-Pro linebacker Sean Lee, who will miss his second straight game and fourth overall with a hamstring injury. Dallas is allowing 181 yards rushing per game without Lee.
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