49ers and Cowboys impress on Thanksgiving. Plus, Week 12 game picks and fantasy advice

Welcome to Week 12 of the 2023 NFL season, and the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers opened the week with impressive victories. The Detroit Lions? Well, they continued their Thanksgiving tradition of losing on the holiday.

Thanksgiving Day games:

• Green Bay Packers 29, Detroit Lions 22 — On a day when the 49ers and Cowboys looked like true contenders, the Lions had the look of a pretender. The Packers, meanwhile, surprisingly have played their way into the playoff picture.
• Dallas Cowboys 45, Washington Commanders 10 — The Cowboys extended their longest home winning streak in 42 years (13 games), pummeling the division-rival Commanders in a win capped by a record-setting pick-six.
• San Francisco 49ers 31, Seattle Seahawks 13 — The 49ers have won a third straight game following a three-game losing streak, and picked up a 10th cosecutive win against an NFC West opponent.

Black Friday game: Miami Dolphins at New York Jets — The NFL’s first-ever Black Friday game isn’t quite as intriguing as it originally seemed when the league’s schedule came out in May. Tim Boyle is now the Jets’ starting quarterback, with Zach Wilson benched and Aaron Rodgers still out with an Achilles injury. The Dolphins will look to feast off the Jets, who Miami has defeated in five of the past six meetings and nine of the last 11.

Game of the week: Buffalo Bills at Philadelphia Eagles — Coming off a come-from-behind victory in the biggest game of the season so far, the Eagles host a Bills team that seemed to have found its offensive spark under new offensive coordinator Joe Brady. Bills QB Josh Allen seemed to have rediscovered his form last week, but that came against the death-spiraling New York Jets. Can he keep it up against the league’s best team … so far?

Sneaky-good game of the week: Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans — The Texans seemingly have a semi-permanent place in this slot, and for good reason. They are fun to watch. C.J. Stroud is steamrolling toward offensive rookie of the year honors while putting his Texans into position to claim first place in the AFC South with a win over the visiting Jaguars.

Survivor pool game of the week: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings — While the Vikings aim to sweep the Bears for the third straight season, the Bears are in contention for two top-five picks in the 2024 NFL draft. The Bears have been abysmal against their NFC North rivals, losing 12 in a row versus division opponents. Last week’s loss was particularly brutal, blowing a 12-point lead with three minutes left in a 31-26 loss to the Detroit Lions. While the Bears seem destined for an offseason of housecleaning, the Vikings are in playoff contention. (Previous survivor pool picks — Week 1: Ravens; Week 2: 49ers; Week 3: Chiefs; Week 4: Eagles; Week 5: Dolphins; Week 6: Bills; Week 7: Seahawks; Week 8: Chargers; Week 9: Saints, Week 10: Steelers; Week 11: Cowboys. 👍)

• Still alive in the USA TODAY Sports survivor pool? Make your pick!

➤ PHOTOS: Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games

NFL Week 12: Pigskin prognostications

• Week 12 picks: USA TODAY Sports’ panel of football experts make prognostications for every game this weekend. Which teams are locks? Are any upsets awaiting?
• Lorenzo’s Locks: Find out why USA TODAY Sports’ Lorenzo Reyes likes the Dolphins in their Black Friday game against the Jets, and not just because Tim Boyle is now the starter in New York.
• NFL Week 12 betting odds: Which teams are favored this week? If you’re new to sports betting, don’t worry. We have tips for beginners on how to place bets online. 
• Power rankings: See how all 32 teams stack up, according to USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis, heading into Week 12. The Eagles reaffirmed their place at the top after Monday night’s win.

NFL news, notes and analysis

• Lions’ loss to Packers exposes alarming trend: This Thanksgiving Day setback was bigger than you think, because it shows the Detroit offense is more than struggling.
• Jim Irsay’s unhinged rant toward reporter is wrong and big problem for NFL: The Colts owner attacked a Black, female ESPN reporter after she criticized his “rich, white billionaire” privilege.
• Patrick Mahomes can’t throw ball AND catch the ball: The Chiefs lead the NFL with 26 dropped passes, adding to the total in a Week 11 loss to the Eagles with a season-high five drops.
• Graphics explain hip-drop tackle, why some in the NFL want it banned: The controversial tackle that most recently injured Ravens tight end Mark Andrews has been described as the “cousin of the horse collar.”

Fantasy football: Tips to optimize your lineup

This is a tricky week with three Thanksgiving games and a Black Friday game, but with every team in action this weekend, so it’s imperative to stay on top of your lineup.

• Fantasy rankings for Week 12: For your convenience, these position-by-position rankings were updated for this week’s games and are based on point-per-reception (PPR) scoring.
• Studs, duds and sleepers: If you’re angling for a big-time win in Week 12, then these are some names to know. While Breece Hall could benefit from the start of the Tim Boyle era with the Jets, Broncos RB Javonte Williams faces a tough matchup against the Browns.
• Start ’em and sit ’em players for Week 12: Let’s take a look at some players at each position fantasy managers might be on the fence about having active this week.
• Buy low, sell high: Here’s who to target if you’re in the market to buy players off a bad week or if you’re looking to sell your own players coming off a great performance.
• Winners and losers from Week 11: While Devin Singletary has made the most of Dameon Pierce’s absence in Houston, Will Levis’ production has severely dropped off in Tennessee.

NFL Week 12 schedule 📅

Thursday

• Green Bay Packers 29, Detroit Lions 22
• Dallas Cowboys 45, Washington Commanders 10
• San Francisco 49ers 31, Seattle Seahawks 13

Friday

• Miami Dolphins at New York Jets, 3 p.m. ET (Prime Video)

Sunday

• New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
• Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
• Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
• New England Patriots at New York Giants, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
• Carolina Panthers at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
• Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 p.m. ET (FOX)
• Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos, 4:05 p.m. ET (FOX)
• Kansas City Chiefs at Las Vegas Raiders, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
• Buffalo Bills at Philadelphia Eagles, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
• Baltimore Ravens at Los Angeles Chargers, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)

Monday

• Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings, 8:15 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN)

➤ Complete 2023 NFL schedule

Talkin’ football 🗣

• It’s a Football Podcast: USA TODAY Sports NFL insiders Safid Deen and Tyler Dragon dish on the latest hot topics surrounding the league. This week’s podcast dives into the injury-riddled AFC North, as well as other topics.
• NFL Facebook group: Run a post route to The Ruling Off the Field 🏈 to engage in friendly debate and conversation with football fans 🏟.

If you enjoy reading 4th & Monday 📰, encourage your football fan friends to subscribe 📱. Follow the diabolically dependable writer of this newsletter on Threads @jimreineking.