NFL fans have much to be thankful for in Week 12, with eight live games on ESPN’s schedule, including a triple header on Friday November 25.
Kicking off the first of three live games on Friday November 25 is the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions at 4.30am AEDT on ESPN.
The Lions are on the charge and riding three straight wins to rocket into the playoff picture.
A month ago, Detroit had just one win, from the opening day of the season – but now, they’ve seen off Green Bay, Chicago and New York Giants to turn their season around.
A bigger test awaits in the Buffalo Bills. Week 11 saw the Bills return to winning ways after back to back losses to the Vikings and Jets.
The Bills now find themselves 7-3, level with Miami in the AFC East. Both New England and the Jets lie just a single game behind, meaning Friday’s clash is crucial for Buffalo.
Following at 8.30am AEDT LIVE on ESPN, the New York Giants face fellow NFC East rivals the Dallas Cowboys.
Dallas sent a major statement to the NFL last round, courtesy of their amazing 40-3 demolition of the Minnesota Vikings.
The win now leaves the Cowboys with an identical 7-3 record as the Giants, with both trailing Philadelphia at the top of the conference.
New York are coming off a disappointing performance in the 31-18 loss to Detroit and now face Dallas in ominous form.
Concluding Friday’s Thanksgiving marathon are the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings at 12.15pm AEDT, live on ESPN.
The Vikings entered Week 11 as a team everyone was talking about at 8-1, but they were torn apart in the 40-3 loss to Dallas.
It remains to be seen if the scars from that defeat remain, or was it simply a blip on the road to the playoffs?
New England stole a much needed victory in Week 11, scoring a touchdown in the final seconds to prevail and spark new life into their season.
In a tightly congested AFC East, the Pats can join both the Dolphins and Bills atop the conference if results fall their way on Thanksgiving.
Monday sees another four live NFL games across ESPN and ESPN2, with NFL RedZone completing the smorgasbord of NFL content on the ESPN App*.
ESPN’s coverage kicks off at 5am LIVE on ESPN, when the Cincinnati Bengals clash with the Tennessee Titans.
The Bengals are on the climb in the AFC North, courtesy of back to back wins over the Steelers and Panthers.
Tennessee however will be a much bigger test, who are also enjoying a good run of form at 7-3 and lead their conference.
Both Denver and Green Bay have both failed to overcome the Titans in the last fortnight, and Tennessee will be tough to beat with home field advantage at Nissan Stadium.
Also at 5am AEDT on ESPN2, the Baltimore Ravens collide with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Ravens are flying atop the conference and whilst some continue to question the other heavyweights of the AFC, Baltimore remain undeterred on their road to the playoffs.
Four straight wins has seen the Ravens turn a corner and build some real momentum.
Jacksonville just haven’t been able to find consistency at 3-7, and whilst they can spring a surprise, it will be tough work to overcome an in-form Baltimore.
At 8.25am AEDT, the Los Angeles Rams face off against the Kansas City Chiefs, LIVE on ESPN.
The Rams season continues to go from bad to worse, as they have now gone a month without victory.
Defending their Super Bowl crown seems an impossible task at this point, if not yet mathematically impossible.
It would take quite the run from here to pull it off and the Chiefs are not the team you want to be facing when looking to snap a losing streak.
Kansas City have won four straight and are in top spot in the AFC at 8-2, and will be heavy favourites to make it five from five in Week 12.
Monday marathon schedule concludes at 12.15pm AEDT when the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles clash on ESPN.
The Eagles saw there undefeated run end in Week 10 and in Week 11 it was nearly back to back defeats, but they somehow found a way to overcome Indianapolis 17-16.
It wasn’t pretty, and the past fortnight has set some alarm bells off in Philadelphia – but they remain 9-1 and still on top of the division.
The Packers are coming off a disappointing defeat to their conference rivals Detroit, and have now slipped to third position in the NFC North at 4-7.
ESPN’s final game of Week 12 comes on Tuesday when Pittsburgh Steelers and the Indianapolis Colts face off for Monday Night Football.
The Colts somehow let a victory slip through their fingers against the Eagles in Week 11, and it’s one they may yet rue come playoff time.
At 4-6 Indianapolis remain on the bubble, but the Week 11 showing proves on their day they can match it with the best in the NFL.
The Steelers meanwhile sit 3-7 after dropping a high scoring 37-30 game against the Bengals.
Pittsburgh have struggled to string performances together this season and are now bottom of the AFC North.
This is one the Colts must win, to keep their playoff push on course.
NFL Week 12 on ESPN
Friday November 25
4.30am AEDT, Buffalo Bills vs Detroit Lions, ESPN
8.30am AEDT, New York Giants vs Dallas Cowboys, ESPN
12.15pm AEDT, New England Patriots vs Minnesota Vikings, ESPN
Monday November 28
5am AEDT, Cincinnati Bengals vs Tennessee Titans, ESPN
5am AEDT, Baltimore Ravens vs Jacksonville Jaguars, ESPN2
5am AEDT, NFL RedZone, ESPN App*
8.25am AEDT, Los Angeles Rams vs Kansas City Chiefs, ESPN
12.15pm AEDT, Green Bay Packers vs Philadelphia Eagles, ESPN
Tuesday November 29
12.15pm AEDT, Pittsburgh Steelers vs Indianapolis Colts, ESPN
ESPN and ESPN2 are available on Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV and Sky NZ.
*Streaming functionality on the ESPN App and ESPN.com.au is available to ESPN channel subscribers via Foxtel, Fetch TV and SKY NZ who enter their platform credentials. (Note: Kayo subscribers cannot stream via the ESPN App or ESPN.com.au). Download the ESPN App from the Apple and Android app stores.
Media Release – ESPN
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