We’re on to Thanksgiving week, and it’s a crucial time for NFL Teams. The good news is that there are no teams on a bye this week. The downside is that with three games on Thursday, one game on Friday, and a game Monday night, we only have 11 games on the Sunday schedule. So, which of those games should you prioritize? I make my pick for the five games on the Sunday slate I’m most excited to see below.

Early Games:

Los Angeles Chargers (7-4) at Atlanta Falcons (6-5)
About: The Chargers have turned things around under Jim Harbaugh. They’ve won seven games and are in the midst of a run toward the playoffs. They are currently sitting as the sixth seed in the AFC, but they need to keep winning to get to the post-season. The Falcons, meanwhile, have been up-and-down. The team is 6-5 and sitting atop the NFC South, but they haven’t played well against teams outside their division. A big home win over the Chargers could go a long way toward getting them ready for the post-season.

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (4-7)
About: The Steelers are still atop the AFC North, but it’s a tenuous lead. The Bengals, meanwhile, are hanging on to any faint playoff hopes by a thread. The Bengals are fresh off a bye week and the question is whether they can get their defense together enough to make a run to close the season. The Steelers, meanwhile, want a division win after last week’s slip in Cleveland. This one should be competitive.

Arizona Cardinals (6-5) at Minnesota Vikings (9-2)
About: This is a battle of teams in second in their division that have their eyes on the post-season. The Cardinals are chasing the Seahawks and trying to hold off everyone else in the NFC West. The Vikings, meanwhile, are hot on the heels of the Lions while trying to keep the Packers at bey in the NFC North. This figures to have huge playoff implications for the NFC.

Late Games:

Philadelphia Eagles (9-2) at Baltimore Ravens (8-4)
About: The Eagles are one of the best teams in the NFC. Saquon Barkley is running like a league MVP. The Ravens are one of the big contenders in the AFC, with a big time running back of their own in Derrick Henry. Both teams need a win to keep their playoff plans on track. This is the best matchup of Week 13 and it’s not close.

Sunday Night Game:

San Francisco 49ers (5-6) at Buffalo Bills (9-2)
About: This is a battle of two teams that came into 2024 as contenders. The Bills still are, and with a win over the Chiefs under their belt, they could have an inside track to the No. 1 seed in the AFC. But they need to keep winning. The 49ers, meanwhile, are in the midst of a funk. The 49ers are 5-6, mired in the midst of a dog fight in the NFC West and looking far from the team that represented the NFC in the Super Bowl last year. But a win in Buffalo could be the fuel they need to get back on track.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.