NFL-best Chiefs and Lions face short-rest US holiday test / Photo: © GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File
NFL-best Chiefs and Lions face short-rest US holiday test
NFL co-leaders Kansas City and Detroit will be tested on a short week of rest for the US Thanksgiving holiday, but both clubs can clinch a playoff berth by winning.
The US Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday features Detroit's annual home contest, the Lions (10-1) facing Chicago (4-7), while two-time defending champion Kansas City (10-1) will entertain Las Vegas (2-9) on Friday.
Other Thursday games find Green Bay (8-3) entertaining Miami (5-6) and the New York Giants (2-9) at Dallas (4-7).
The Lions have a seven-game Thanksgiving Day losing streak dating to 2017, falling to Green Bay 29-22 last season.
Lions coach Dan Campbell is 0-3 on Thanksgiving Day and wants the drought to end so everyone can have a joyful holiday break.
"There's two things. Number one, to get a W. And it's a division win, that's why this is huge," he said.
"Number two, it's because players are going to get a couple days off. They've got family, friends in. It would be nice to feel good about it when you're with everybody because it's just not really fun.
"It's not real fun to be around. Ask my wife, she'll tell you. That's why she's praying for a win big time because she knows that I'm a bear when we don't win, so we all want it. It is long overdue, but we have to win to win."
Detroit center Frank Ragnow recalls the sting of past holiday defeats.
"Usually, in the past years it's been like don't really want to talk to my family, all upset about everything," Ragnow said.
"I would really like to enjoy Thanksgiving and put on a show for the crowd cause it's a unique environment and we don't take it for granted. It's a special game and it'd be really nice to get a W."
The Lions can clinch a playoff berth by beating the Bears and having San Francisco (5-6) lose at Buffalo (9-2) and Arizona (6-5) fall at Minnesota (9-2) plus other results.
Buffalo will clinch the AFC East division crown and a playoff berth with a victory and a Miami loss.
The Chiefs will clinch a playoff berth by beating the Raiders if either Miami loses or Denver (7-5) falls at home Monday to Cleveland (3-8).
- 'We expect greatness' -
Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes has guided Kansas City to eight victories this season by seven points or fewer, including last Sunday's 30-27 triumph at Carolina.
"More than anything, you need to go out and execute at a high level," Mahomes said.
"When it's do-or-die time and you have to make it happen, guys go out there and make it happen. We're prepared for those moments. We do what has to get done."
Chiefs coach Andy Reid was telling players not to hang their heads last weekend after they beat the lowly Panthers (3-8) on the game's final play.
"We hold ourselves to an extremely high standard," Mahomes said. "Unless we play our best, you've got guys itching to get back out there. It's not so much disappointment as we expect greatness from each other and ourselves.
"Unless we play the way we think we should play, we're going to strive to get better every time we step on that football field."
Other games Sunday find Pittsburgh at Cincinnati, the Los Angeles Chargers at Atlanta, Houston at Jacksonville, Indianapolis at New England, Seattle at the New York Jets, Tennessee at Washington, Tampa Bay at Carolina, the Los Angeles Rams at New Orleans, and Philadelphia at Baltimore.
M.F.Ortiz--ESF
