Thanksgiving is always an important day on the NFL calendar for when just about every family gathering has one of the games on in the background at the very least.

The 2023 schedule of games on Turkey Day wasn’t that exciting, but if you’re like me you’ll enjoy any bit of football you can get.

Green Bay Packers defeated the Detroit Lions in the surprise of the day, perhaps one of the bigger ones of the season. America’s team rolled as Dallas won their Thanksgiving game over the Commanders 45-10. To end the night, the San Francisco 49ers rolled over the Seattle Seahawks.

With all three games nationally televised, people from all around got to see some pretty good performances to start Week 12.

QB Jordan Love (Packers)

The first-year starter stepped up and out-dueled Jared Goff for a big win for Green Bay. Love made a few throws with different arm angles and that just goes to show some of his development. Completing 22-of-32 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns, while not turning the ball over is all the Packers can ask for.

WR Christian Watson (Packers)

Thanksgiving Day brought the second-year wideout his best game of the season. Watson had a 53-yard reception on the first drive of the game and finished with 94 on five catches. Both of those numbers are season highs and the big target had a receiving touchdown to add on.

EDGE Rashan Gary (Packers)

Gary put together his SECOND three-sack game of the season against the Lions, a rather good offensive line. Also, Gary was able to force two fumbles and had one fumble recovery. The Michigan product is now up to 8.5 sacks on the season and is on pace to set a career-high. It was a monster Thanksgiving Day for him.

QB Dak Prescott (Cowboys)

Prescott may be the MVP front-runner when Week 12 is over. He threw for 331 yards with four touchdowns and no turnovers. The Dallas offense was humming and it had a lot to do with their QB1’s play. Prescott is up to 23 passing touchdowns with just six interceptions. The NFC’s best quarterback this season had a great day at the office.

CB DaRon Bland (Cowboys)

More than one interception returned for a touchdown in a season is darn good. In just Week 12, Bland had his fifth pick-six to set a new NFL record. It has been an unreal season for Bland and he’s stepped up big time for the injured Trevon Diggs. The second-year player led the team with 10 tackles against the Commanders. This guy is going to be in the mix for DPOY.

WR Curtis Samuel (Commanders)

it wasn’t Terry McLaurin making the plays at receiver in Week 12, it was the other Buckeye, Samuel. Against the Cowboys, Samuel had a season-high total of 100 yards on nine catches. It was the most yards that Samuel has had in a game since Week 17 of the 2020 season.

RB Christian McCaffrey (49ers)

There’s no debate about it, McCaffrey has been the best back in the NFL this season. Against the Seahawks, McCaffrey had 114 yards rushing at a six-yards-per-carry clip. The potential offensive player of the year added 25 yards receiving and had two touchdowns on the ground. 

Stat shows that Denzel Ward is one of the most consistent cornerbacks over last couple decades

It just goes to show how good Denzel Ward has been.