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TL Thanksgiving Notebook | 2025

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By TERRY LYONS, Editor-in-Chief of Digital Sports Desk

RYE, NY – It is wise to give “Thanks and Eat Pie” while giving special thanks and praise to others on this Thanksgiving Week of 2025. Let us first salute the two most important groups for every sports fan on Thanksgiving Day – the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys. A special thank-you to all the people who work behind the scenes every Thanksgiving Day since time can be told, no matter if they’re the chain gang for the Lions-Cowboys, the “guys” in the trucks, the talented women – corporate-remote production-sideline reporters-statisticians-graphics-play-by-play and anchors – thank you all.

This season, the Green Bay Packers travel to nearby Detroit to face the divisional rival Lions in the early game (1:00pm EST) while the Kansas City Chiefs will have a relatively short flight to Dallas to play the vaunted Cowboys at AT & T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Post Thanksgiving Day dinner, this year’s night game will feature the Cincinnati Bengals vs. the Baltimore Ravens in a game that looked great on the schedule before Cincy QB Joe Burrow had surgery to aide his turf toe injury. Burrow will not be back for Thanksgiving.

We’ll watch anyway and snacks await.

HERE NOW, THE THANKS: First, let’s give thanks to the NFL Red Zone, and its seven hours of uninterrupted coverage of the NFL, it’s Oct-o-Box, its “witching hour(s), “ “when wins become losses and losses become wins.” … Let’s also give thanks to NFL RedZone play-by-play man Scott Hanson, a gift from heaven. … While we’re at it, thanks go out to Ian Eagle, Kevin Harlan, Jim Nantz & Tony Romo, Kenny Albert and an RIP to the“Goose,“ as in Tony Siragusa who was taken in 2022, far too soon and too young (age 55). (Thanks to Goose-the-band, too, with a reminder December 12th is Goosemas in Providence, Rhode Island).

Thanks for Penny (Lane) and (Mighty) Max, our two pups. There’s nothing like an hour of toy chasing and scampering around the house with two pups playing tug-of-war and chase the ball.
Mighty Max (left) and Penny (Lane) (right), exhausted after play time

Thanks for the Road Not Taken.

Thanks for all of New England. Great place. Chatham, Mass wins. Osterville gets the Silver. Head south to New York/Long Island’s Montauk Point for the Bronze.

See if you can enjoy Horse Racing at Saratoga Race Course next summer.Belmont Park is great and is under construction for total renovation. It’s tough to top Del Mar.

Brand new Blue Jeans are nice.

I love a good segue. Layla to Behind Blue Eyes is the best I’ve ever connected. Try it. Crossfade at about nine seconds.

Do you know Jack Straw from Wichita? We can share what we got of yours ‘cause we done shared all of mine. Bruce Hornsby says: “Runnin’ down by the Lakeshore, She did love the sound of a summer storm. It played on the lake like a Mandolin.”

Thanks to Stevie, Elton, Billy, Bruce Hornsby and The Professor.

Madison Square Garden and Fenway Park are still my favorite places to be, and my home – a place where I truly know my soul has a place to rest.

I love the smell of freshly cut green grass. They smell like … Victory.

I can’t stand when my nice, fresh, green grass turns to brown dust in August, only to return again in late September. With that fact, there is hope for the Spring of 2026. “Green grass and high tides forever,” said the Outlaws, “Castles of stone, souls and glory.”

Let’s step back towards NYC and The Garden (and Felt Forum); I liked Golden Gloves Boxing and hope we can return it to its glory days.

I‘m really liking the NBA Basketball School concept and we’ve bought in for NBA Basketball School – Türkiye, starting in Istanbul in January.

How about “raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens or bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens?”

Is thanks in order as “67” is all the rage? – (Including, Dictionary.com Word of the Year) – Maybe so, but did you know that in all of the NFL’S retired uniform numbers, there’s not one “67,” in the bunch, so it’s not a favorite. Meanwhile, “27” is a fave and thank you Darryl Sittler, the Toronto Maple Leafs great.

For those who have HBO Max and tuned into The Pitt for its first season, you’re good. For those who did not, there will be a re-launch of the acclaimed television series when The Pitt airs on TNT. The Emmy-award winning medical drama will air on TNT starting December 1, 2025, at 9 PM ET. The first season will be re-broadcast uncensored, with three back-to-back episodes airing each Monday through December 29. This TNT version leads up to the premiere of Season 2 of the series to be broadcast on HBO this January.

The Pitt lead actor Noah Wyle won his first Emmy for Best Lead Actor in a Drama for his role as Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch on the HBO Max medical drama and it came 26 years after his last nomination for his work on the medical drama, ER. Here’s my personal list of the best 10pm dramas on TV:

  • The West Wing
  • The Wire
  • Homeland
  • The Sopranos
  • House of Cards (which got far too ridiculous as it evolved)

Honorable Mention: Goes to: M*A*S*H, Breaking Bad, Cheers, Seinfeld, Murder One, Law & Order:Take Your Pick, but Mariska Hargitay gets the nod for the Special Victims episodes.

Sorry, I Missed: Mad Men, Succession, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Office.

I’m thankful for Ken Burns and his documentary currently airing on PBS. Burns’ latest documentary, The American Revolution, is a monumental six-part, 12-hour miniseries that premiered on PBS (WGBH- TV in Boston) on November 16, 2025 and has been running nightly.

Burns and his team spent nearly a decade on this series drawing from first-person accounts, scholarly interviews, and innovative visuals – many debunking or delving deeper beneath the surface of recognized and accepted teachings of the ultra-complicated war.

There is no better narrator for a documentary than Peter Coyote. He has been the anchor for the best of the best Burns docs.

The series begins in the 1760s, with the French and Indian War’s fallout sparking colonial resentment toward British taxes and policies. It traces the escalation through key flashpoints like the Boston Massacre, the Declaration of Independence, Valley Forge’s horrors, and Yorktown’s triumph, ending with the fragile birth of a republic. The depth of involvement by the French and Spanish, along with the all-fronts wars on-going in Europe (at the same time) paint the picture of England’s place in world history, nevermind the domestic in-fighting between patriots, loyalists, Native Americans and slaves.

It proves to be far more complicated that Lin Manuel-Miranda’s quick and clean version depicted in Hamilton the Musical.

I think I liked the Broadway version the best.

Burns has produced 30 documentary series, including the current epic on the American Revolution. I’ll list a few of my personal favorites or recommendations (as the word favorite doesn’t fit many of the topics Burns explains):

  1. The Viet Nam War
  2. Baseball
  3. The Civil War
  4. The National Parks
  5. Congress
  6. Jackie Robinson
  7. Country Music

RECENT INVESTMENTS – MUST-GIVE THANKS FOR THE BUCKS: Back by popular demand are the amazing (but not profitable) investments made by Digital Sports Desk Enterprises this past year.

  • We sunk a cash investment into the next craze in Satellite Radio: Superficial XM
  • Things didn’t go well for our Fantasy Sports/Gambling app: Combine Kings
  • There’s a new sport for SPEED RACERS: Invest with us in NASBUGGY
  • Media is Hot, Hot, Hot! MSNBC is MSNow, so invest in MSFOX television
  • With the success of the Peacock Network and their work in sports, the competition is investing in a similar effort to delve into the action. Let us dig deep for:
    • Ostrich Network – Politicians appear with their heads in the sand
    • Ravens Network – No, not the Baltimore football team, but the second coming of Sesame Street, a la “Count” the Ravens, nevermore.
    • The Pelican Network – How about 24/7 NBA New Orleans Pelican basketball? With summers covered by a non-stop loop of The Pelican Brief. (That’s the John Grisham thriller novel starring Julia Roberts in the motion picture).

IMPRESSED or NOT: Since I’m honestly impressed, I will also give thanks to/for:

  • College basketball’s No. 1 ranked Houston Cougars and coach Kelvin Sampson
  • College basketball’s Purdue and Alabama teams, too. They’re both good.
  • Grown men in baseball uniforms jumping up and down on a November night after winning the World Series
  • Tears for Fears
  • Tailgating
  • The Boston Marathon and the 11:00am Red Sox game at Fenway
  • Dave Roberts, Dan Campbell, Mark Daigneault, Mike Vrabel and Paul Maurice
  • Al Arbour, Gil Hodges, Red Holzman and Weeb Ewbank
  • Lou Carnesseca, Kevin Loughery, Dickie McGuire and Joe Lapchick
  • John Kresse and Bob McKillop
  • Bob Lanier, Dikembe Mutombo, Darryl Dawkins and Bill Walton
  • Jerry West
  • Arnold Palmer and an ice cold Arnold Palmer (on a hot summer day)
  • Rory McIlroy, rolling in a 25-foot putt or driving the ball 325+
  • David Bowie, Duran Duran, Jerry Garcia and Simple Minds
  • Derek Trucks, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and Brian May
  • Traeger Grills (Super Smoke), Grilled/Smoked/Roasted Chicken Breast
  • Well done BBQ Burgers and Grilled Corn, Brussels Sprouts and Broccoli
  • Pizza

LET’S GIVE THANKS FOR THE RIGHT TO VOTE: Important things?

  • The right to vote
  • Rights for women’s health issues
  • Freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the right to peacefully assemble
  • The right for an American with a passport to travel the world while abiding by the laws of the country they chose to visit

THANKS AGAIN: To my guys, Brian McIntyre, Matt Winick – former NBA colleagues, now simply friends for life. Helen Wong, too. (It’s so great, as she’s teaching in the NYC public school system now).

Nowadays, I have a love/hate relationship with my old stomping grounds of New York City. I love and miss the West Village and the Upper West Side. Less so for Midtown and the UES. Even less for Queens.

The love is being there for the annual Big East basketball tournament at The Garden.

The hate is having to drive, so I often take the train (Amtrak) or drive to Westchester and take the Metro North into Manhattan. On Thanksgiving Day morning, I can do the drive in 2 hours, 45 minutes – three hours max. One day last month, it took nearly seven hours. Blah.

THANKS AGAIN: For my fireplace and a full cord of hardwood.

I really like my Bose Sound bar, Spotify play lists, my CDs, and some good, old vinyl.

I do sound tests with Steely Dan’s aja and Stevie Nicks’ Stand Back. There are others.

If you can get the drapes to move on the beats of the bass drum, you win.

Alan Parsons and Todd Rundgren get some airplay in the house. For those interested, Parsons hails from Willisden (Middlesex), a town five miles west/NW of Charing Cross (London) while Rundgren hails from Upper Darby, PA – not far from Philly.

ELO-Over and Out!
ELO at TD Garden (Photo by T. Peter Lyons)

We enjoyed fare-thee-well tours by The Who and ELO with Jeff Lynne’s “Over and Out” concerts (2024-25). I couldn’t believe Roger and Pete could pull it off one last time, but that they did on a great summer night at Fenway Park. as far as ELO, I was not surprised at all. They were note for note – fabulous.

The Who-The Song is Over!
Roger Daltrey of The Who at Fenway Park (photo by T. Peter Lyons)

Switching gears once again, I’m quite happy with Turner’s coverage of the Big East, but the jury’s still out on St. John’s for a run through the conference and into March Madness. They need to improve on the defensive end in a big way, and it would be great to see someone – anyone – start drilling a few 3s.

Purdue, (previously mentioned) Houston, UConn, Arizona and Alabama look pretty good. It’s a very long way to go until the various conference tournaments come around, but we’ll all rejoice in the Thanksgiving and Christmas college hoop tourneys (and one-offs) coming this week.

In college football, I’ll be shocked – SHOCKED – if any team in the land can give Ohio State a run. Single game playoffs can do that, though, I guess.

If you can’t sing a lick, a great Karaoke song to pick is “Lonely Days” by The Bee Gees. Look up the lyrics and you’ll get what I’m saying. Plus, it’s an all-time great sing-along.

A really bad choice would be “I’ve Seen All Good People” by YES and you should think twice before choosing “American Pie” by Don MacLean.

Let’s give thanks to Rolling Stones drummer, the late Charlie Watts, and his great hi-hat cymbals in the ballad, “Angie.” (which segues quite nicely into “No Sugar Tonight” by The Guess Who.

There’s always room for thanks for my special Williams-Sonomo Apple-Orange Cranberry Sauce for Thanksgiving Day (and sandwiches thereafter). You’ll never look at Cranberry Sauce the same way again, especially that old Ocean Spray – right out of the can – style that has the imprints of the tin can on the sides.

Lions Beat Packers with Buzzer FG

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DETROIT – (Staff and Wire Service Report0 – Detroit placekicker Jake Bates kicked a 35-yard field goal on the final play of the game and the host Lions extended their franchise-record winning streak to 11 games with a 34-31 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night.

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Jared Goff passed for 283 yards and three touchdowns (two to Tim Patrick) for the Lions (12-1). David Montgomery had 84 combined yards rushing and receiving and scored a touchdown.

Josh Jacobs scored three rushing touchdowns for Green Bay. Jordan Love, who was held to 31 yards passing in the first half, finished with 206 passing yards and a touchdown.

The Packers (9-4) are 7-2 over their last nine games with both losses coming against Detroit.

The Lions held a 17-7 halftime lead.

Detroit scored on its first possession of the game, with Montgomery finishing off the 11-play, 70-yard march with a 3-yard scoring run.

Love’s second completion of the game was fumbled by Christian Watson on the first play of the second quarter. The Lions recovered the ball at their own 46-yard line and turned the giveaway into three points, as Bates kicked a 43-yard field goal.

Thanksgiving Day in Detroit

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DETROIT – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The NFL’s slate of Thanksgiving Day games kicks off with an NFC North battle between the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions at 12:30 ET on Thursday.

For the Lions, it’s an opportunity to improve to 11-1 and stay atop the NFC standings. For the Bears (4-7), it represents a critical game to just stay in the conversation for a wild-card spot.

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ODDS & TRENDS
The Lions are consensus 9.5-point favorites — and popular ones at that. They have been backed by 71 percent of the spread-line money at BetRivers, while the Lions’ -590 moneyline to win the game outright has been backed by 91 percent of the money.

Of the three Thanksgiving Day games, Detroit’s moneyline has been the most wagered-on play, followed closely by the Lions’ spread line.

DraftKings reported the Lions’ to have drawn the most total moneyline bets and money among Week 13 games, while they have also been backed by the most Super Bowl winner bets since Week 12.

The Over/Under for Thursday’s game is at 48.0 at BetRivers, where the Over has been supported by 86 percent of the money and 83 percent of all bets.

PROP PICKS
–Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs 70+ Rushing Yards (-140 at DraftKings): Gibbs is coming off a 90-yard game against the Colts when he logged a season-high 21 carries. With David Montgomery nursing a sore shoulder, a bigger workload could again fall to Gibbs to attack a Bears run defense allowing an average of 129.7 yards per game on the ground.

–Bears RB Roschon Johnson Anytime TD (+225 at BetRivers): What inconsistent work Johnson gets in Chicago’s backfield often comes near the goal line. He scored one a one-yard run last week for his sixth rushing touchdown of the season. That includes reaching the end zone in consecutive games.

THE NEWS
Riding a nine-game winning streak, their longest since a 10-game streak during their first season in Detroit in 1934, the Lions are burdened by losses in their traditional Thanksgiving Day game the past seven seasons. Three of the defeats are courtesy of Chicago.

The Bears and Lions get together for the 20th time on Thanksgiving — the Bears have 11 wins — this week in the first of two meetings between the teams in a 25-day span. Detroit goes to Soldier Field on Dec. 22.

“I think there’s two things,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said of the Thanksgiving losing streak. “No. 1 — Get a W. And it’s a division win that’s why this huge. No. 2 is because the players are going to get a couple of days off. So, they have family, friends in, it’d be nice to feel good about it when you’re with everybody because it’s just not real fun. It’s not real fun to be around.”

Detroit owns the best record in the NFC but the Lions aren’t even assured of a division title. Minnesota sits one game behind them and Green Bay is two games back. The Bears sit in last place and would likely need to run the table to have any chance of making the playoffs.

The Lions have been dominant in all phases and haven’t allowed a touchdown in the past 10 consecutive quarters.

Detroit’s offense ranks first in points per game (32.7) and second in total yardage (394.3) The Lions defense has not given up a touchdown in the last 10 quarters.

The Bears are saddled with a five-game losing streak and Chicago’s defense has been destroyed for nearly 2,000 total yards in the past four games.

The Bears failed to reach the 20-point mark four times in five outings since they last won a game. In their latest defeat, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and the offense perked up but they lost to Minnesota in overtime, 30-27.

“We have to play complementary football for us to be able to win these games,” coach Matt Eberflus said. “The games we have won, we have done that. The games we have been close we’ve missed the mark a little bit. Over the course of the year, it’s been one side or the other, this side or that side. In this league you have to be good on all sides to win. That’s what we are searching for.”

Williams threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. The wide receiver trio of DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Romeo Odunze combined for 21 receptions and two touchdowns while tight end Cole Kmet caught seven passes.

INJURY REPORT
The Lions put two defensive backs on injured reserve in the past week and top cornerback Carlton Davis isn’t expected to play due to knee and thumb injuries.

Detroit offensive tackle Taylor Decker (knee) and top returner Kalif Raymond (foot) are also expected to miss the game, though Campbell expressed optimism that running back David Montgomery (shoulder), formerly of the Bears, would play. Bears safety Elijah Hicks was listed as a DNP for Tuesday’s walkthrough.

KEY STAT
Lions rookie placekicker Jake Bates has made all 16 of his field-goal attempts, including four from 50-plus yards over the past three games.

THEY SAID IT
“What I’ve been impressed with is just how he has grown. He has grown every game but these last two I really feel like he’s taken off and what they’re doing with him has been really good for him and he just looks very composed. He doesn’t get frazzled, plays pretty fast, and he’s an accurate passer, big arm, and he’s got some guys that can get open for him.” –Campbell on Williams

PREDICTION
The Lions have been putting their foot on the gas early of late, and refusing to back down. They’ve won their past two games by a combined 76-12 and have put up at least 42 points three times this season. The Bears’ defense will pose a stiffer test than most, but Chicago’s offense isn’t ready to keep pace in a track meet. –Lions 30, Bears 20

–Field Level Media

NFL on Thursday Night – DET vs HOU

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HOUSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Two teams with expectations beyond regular-season statements square off Sunday night when the Detroit Lions visit the Houston Texans.

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The Lions (7-1) own the best record in the NFC and stand second overall in the NFL behind only the unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs. Houston (6-3) shares the fourth-best mark in the AFC with the Ravens entering Baltimore’s Thursday night matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Detroit has ripped off six straight victories and views the Sunday primetime contest as a significant midseason test in the spotlight.

“This is one we’re looking forward to,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “You respect the brand of football they play with. So this will be a good matchup.”

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans used a different message in Houston, telling his charges that one game isn’t more important than any other.

But only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2 have figured out how to slay the Lions.

“This game isn’t more important just because of the Lions and what they’ve done,” Ryans said. “They’ve played good football, of course, credit to those guys. They’re playing well, they’re coached well, but that doesn’t change our mindset, how we approach every week.

“It’s still the same every week. Every week — big game. And we’re trying to go out and win this one.”

Houston opened the season with five wins in six games but has slumped by losing two of its past three games.

The last contest was a clunker as the Texans fell 21-13 to the New York Jets on Halloween. Star quarterback C.J. Stroud was sacked a season-high eight times and completed a campaign-worst 36.7 percent of his throws (11 of 30).

Stroud has passed for fewer than 200 yards in three of the past four games after exceeding that mark in each of Houston’s first five contests.

“There are things I can get better at, fundamentally wise, for sure,” Stroud said. “Just getting the ball out of my hand and things like that but ultimately, I believe it is just having fun and being joyful while doing it.”

Lions quarterback Jared Goff is coming off his lowest passing-yardage outputs of the season — 85 against the Tennessee Titans on Oct. 27 and 145 versus the Green Bay Packers last week. Still, he has completed at least 80 percent of his passes in three straight games and four times overall.

Goff feels the Texans will be a challenging foe but he’s not the least bit interested in Detroit being mentioned among the NFL’s top teams.

“Who cares who thinks we’re any good right now in Week (10)? It doesn’t matter,” Goff said. “You’re just trying to find a way to stack Ws. I think you get caught up sometimes, not just the bad stuff, but with the good stuff at times. It can be dangerous.”

The Lions shored up a defensive hole on Tuesday by acquiring three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Za’Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns. Smith joined Detroit to begin preparations for the Texans.

The Lions lost star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson to a broken fibula and tibia in his left leg on Oct. 13.

“I thought that was important,” Campbell said of landing Smith. “I mean, he’s been in this league a while and they were actually just going on their bye week when he got the call from us and everything got done, so let him do what he needs to do, refresh, get back here Friday.”

Houston standout defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (ankle) missed practice Wednesday. Joining him on the sidelines were defensive ends Derek Barnett (calf/shoulder) and Dylan Horton (illness), defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi, guard Kenyon Green (shoulder) and running back Dameon Pierce (groin).

Detroit conducted a walkthrough Wednesday and two players missed it due to injuries — linebackers Jalen Reeves-Maybin (neck) and Malcolm Rodriguez (ankle).

–Field Level Media

Detroit Advances to NFC Championship

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DETROIT – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff passed for 287 yards and two touchdowns and the Detroit Lions advanced to the NFC championship game with a 31-23 victory over the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon.

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Seeking their first Super Bowl berth, the Lions will travel to California to face the San Francisco 49ers next Sunday. Detroit will be playing in the conference title game for the first time since the 1991 season.

Jahymr Gibbs rushed for 74 yards, including the go-ahead 31-yard score in the fourth quarter. Amon-Ra St. Brown caught eight passes for 77 yards and a touchdown, while Sam LaPorta had nine receptions for 65 yards for Detroit.

Baker Mayfield passed for 349 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions for the Bucs. Mike Evans caught eight passes for 147 yards and a touchdown.

Derrick Barnes’ interception of Mayfield with 1:33 remaining clinched Detroit’s victory.

The game was tied at 10 at halftime.

Detroit struck first on Michael Badgley’s 23-yard field goal. Tampa Bay answered with Chase McLaughlin’s 43-yard field goal.

The Lions regained the lead early in the second quarter on Goff’s 9-yard scoring pass to Josh Reynolds.

McLaughlin banged a 50-yard field goal attempt off the left upright with 2:24 remaining in the half.

The Bucs tied it with 15 seconds left on a 92-yard drive that took just 1:13. Evans’ diving 29-yard reception set up Mayfield’s 2-yard scoring pass to Cade Otton.

Detroit regained the lead with 3:48 left in the third quarter. Craig Reynolds scored on a 1-yard plunge on fourth-and-goal.

Tampa Bay answered again as Rachaad White scored on a 12-yard screen pass from Mayfield with 10 seconds left in the third.

The Lions struck back quickly, as Gibbs burst through a hole and scored from 31 yards out with 13:13 left to make it 24-17.

After Detroit forced a punt, its offense drove 89 yards to increase the lead. Goff hooked up with St. Brown on a 9-yard pass play to finish it off.

Mayfield completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Evans with 4:37 left. Evans had a 24-yard reception on fourth-and-14 earlier in the drive. The Bucs attempted a two-point conversion but the pass was broken up.

–Field Level Media

NFL Saturday 2023

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CINCINNATI – The first NFL Saturday schedule of 2023 starts with the Cincinnati Bengals hosting the Minnesota Vikings (1:00pm EST), but the two nightcaps promise to be playoff-deciding football, especially for the four participating teams, all (7-6) on the season or better.

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Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6) at Indianapolis Colts (7-6): A wildcard intersection might become a postseason off-ramp for the loser of this game depending on how dominoes fall Sunday. The Colts lost for the first time since the end of October last week at Cincinnati and cracks are starting to appear in the run defense. Indianapolis has been hit for at least 125 rushing yards in six of the past seven games. Pittsburgh, what with a backup quarterback and milquetoast offense, is primed to deploy a ground-and-pound approach using a conservative running game to back the Steelers’ stout defense. Indianapolis won’t have top back Jonathan Taylor (thumb) again, but the combination of Gardner Minshew and WR Michael Pittman Jr. has been filthy. Pittman has at least eight receptions in six consecutive games.

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Denver Broncos (7-6) at Detroit Lions (9-4): Sean Payton brought the Broncos back from the brink of self-combustion by lending a stronger voice to defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. Denver has a string of eight consecutive games holding opponents to 22 or fewer points with 18 takeaways in the past seven games and 15 sacks in the past three. Lions coach Dan Campbell sees the dashboard warning lights, but believes the easy fix to most of what ails Detroit is the turnover battle. The return of safety CJ Gardner-Johnson should spark the secondary, but more consistent play from QB Jared Goff has been the focus for Campbell and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Goff threw two picks and was sacked four times in the Lions’ loss at Chicago last week.

A.J. Dillon Active vs. Packers

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DETROIT – Green Bay Packers running back A.J. Dillon is active for today’s road game against the Detroit Lions.

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Dillon, who is nursing a groin injury, was one of five players listed as questionable on the injury report.

While Dillon is expected to play on Thursday, fellow running back Aaron Jones was listed as inactive due to a sprained MCL. Joining Jones as inactive for the Packers (4-6) are cornerback Jaire Alexander, wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks, safety Rudy Ford, linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, tackle Caleb Jones and tight end Josiah Deguara.

As for the Lions (8-2), they listed the following players as inactive: Defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs, cornerback Steven Gilmore, wide receiver Antoine Green, guard Jonah Jackson, defensive lineman Brodric Martin and linebackers Julian Okwara and Trevor Nowaske.

–Field Level Media

NFL Round-Up

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DETROIT – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – David Montgomery scored on a 1-yard run with 29 seconds remaining and the Detroit Lions rallied from a 12-point, fourth-quarter deficit to pull out a 31-26 victory over the visiting Chicago Bears.

Montgomery, a former Bears running back, rushed for 76 yards. Jared Goff, who threw a season-high three interceptions, engineered two fourth-quarter scoring drives and finished with 236 yards passing and two touchdowns for Detroit (8-2).

Bears quarterback Justin Fields, who missed the previous four games with a thumb injury, passed for 169 yards and a touchdown and also rushed for 104 yards. DJ Moore caught seven passes for 96 yards and a touchdown for Chicago (3-8).

With his team down 26-14, Goff hooked up with Jameson Williams for a 32-yard score with 2:59 remaining to cut the deficit to five. Detroit forced a three-and-out to set up the game-winning 73-yard drive. Goff completed a two-point conversion pass to Sam LaPorta following Montgomery’s TD.

Aidan Hutchinson forced Fields to fumble, and the ball was kicked out of the end zone, resulting in a safety with 22 seconds left.

Broncos 21, Vikings 20

Russell Wilson lobbed a go-ahead, 15-yard touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton with 1:03 to go, and Denver held on to beat visiting Minnesota.

Sutton leaped for a catch in the back left corner of the end zone, and it marked the first touchdown for Denver (5-5), which had settled for five field goals. Wilson completed 27 of 35 passes for 259 yards in the Broncos’ fourth consecutive victory.

Joshua Dobbs completed 20 of 32 passes for 221 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Minnesota (6-5). Dobbs also rushed for a touchdown for the Vikings, whose five-game winning streak ended.

Browns 13, Steelers 10

Dorian Thompson-Robinson guided Cleveland on a last-minute drive and Dustin Hopkins made a 34-yard field goal with two seconds left to send the host Browns past Pittsburgh.

Thompson-Robinson, a fifth-round draft pick this past April out of UCLA, made his second career start with Deshaun Watson out for the season due to a shoulder fracture. The rookie went 24-of-43 passing for 165 yards and an interception for Cleveland (7-3).

Jaylen Warren had nine carries for 129 yards and a long touchdown for Pittsburgh (6-4). He also had 16 receiving yards, meaning Warren accounted for 145 of the Steelers’ 249 total yards of offense. Kenny Pickett completed 15 of 28 passes for just 106 yards.

Cowboys 33, Panthers 10

Dak Prescott threw for two touchdowns and Dallas benefited from two scores in a 10-second span early in the fourth quarter to defeat Carolina at Charlotte, N.C.

Tony Pollard ran for a touchdown and finished with 61 yards on 12 carries as the Cowboys (7-3) won for the fourth time in their past five games. Prescott finished 25 of 38 for 189 yards.

The Panthers (1-9) threatened to make it interesting, pulling to within 17-10, before Pollard’s 21-yard touchdown run with 13:58 left. On Carolina’s next snap, DaRon Bland intercepted Bryce Young and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown. Young was 16-of-29 passing for 123 yards with a touchdown.

Packers 23, Chargers 20

Jordan Love threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to Romeo Doubs with 2:33 remaining, and host Green Bay held on for a win over Los Angeles.

Love completed 27 of 40 passes for a career-high 322 yards and two touchdowns for the Packers (4-6). Christian Watson caught Love’s other touchdown pass and Jayden Reed rushed for a score. Green Bay lost running backs Aaron Jones (knee) and Emanuel Wilson (shoulder) to injuries during the game.

Justin Herbert completed 21 of 36 passes for 260 yards and a pair of touchdowns for the Chargers (4-6). Keenan Allen finished with 10 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown. Los Angeles lost an important starter when pass rusher Joey Bosa hobbled off the field without putting weight on his right leg.

Texans 21, Cardinals 16

Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud survived his first career multi-interception game and Houston withstood a ragged second half to beat visiting Arizona.

Stroud passed for 336 yards and two touchdowns, but two of his interceptions were in the red zone. Those turnovers helped offset strong efforts from rookie receiver Tank Dell, who had eight catches for 149 yards and a touchdown, and running back Devin Singletary, who rushed for 112 yards and a score.

After closing to within five points on a Kyler Murray 1-yard TD run with 2:52 left in the third quarter, the Cardinals (2-9) could not get over the hump, finishing 3-for-10 on third downs and 1-for-4 on fourth downs. Murray passed for 214 yards and rushed for 51 in his second start of the season.

Jaguars 34, Titans 14

Trevor Lawrence was 24-of-32 passing for 262 yards and two touchdowns to go with two rushing scores as host Jacksonville beat Tennessee.

Calvin Ridley caught seven passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns for the Jaguars (7-3), who have won six of their past seven games.

Will Levis went 13-of-17 passing for 158 yards and two touchdowns in defeat for the Titans (3-7), who have lost three straight games overall and all six of their road contests.

Dolphins 20, Raiders 13

Tua Tagovailoa passed for 325 yards and two touchdowns, Jalen Ramsey intercepted two passes and Miami earned a victory over Las Vegas at Miami Gardens, Fla.

Tyreek Hill had another huge outing with 10 receptions for 146 yards and one touchdown for the Dolphins (7-3). Hill entered the day as the NFL leader in receiving yards (1,076) and touchdown catches (eight). Tagovailoa completed 28 of 39 passes and was intercepted once.

Aidan O’Connell completed 24 of 41 passes for 271 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions for the Raiders (5-6). Davante Adams caught seven passes for 82 yards and a touchdown for Las Vegas, which is 2-1 under interim coach Antonio Pierce.

Giants 31, Commanders 19

Tommy DeVito threw three touchdown passes and the New York defense forced six turnovers in a victory over Washington in Landover, Md.

With Washington driving late in a bid for a potential game-winning touchdown, Isaiah Simmons picked off a fluttering pass by Sam Howell and ran 54 yards for a game-clinching touchdown with 16 seconds left. Howell completed 31 of 45 passes for 255 yards and a touchdown.

Saquon Barkley caught two of the touchdown passes from DeVito and rushed 14 times for 83 yards as the Giants (3-8) won for just the second time in their past nine games, with both wins against the Commanders (4-7). In his second career start, DeVito weathered nine sacks to complete 18 of 26 passes for 246 yards without an interception.

49ers 27, Buccaneers 14

Brock Purdy threw for three touchdowns and Brandon Aiyuk had a career-high 156 yards receiving and a score to fuel San Francisco to a victory over Tampa Bay in Santa Clara, Calif.

Purdy completed 21 of 25 passes for 333 yards and Christian McCaffrey found the end zone again after seeing his streak of consecutive games with a touchdown (including playoffs) come to an end at 17 last week. Tight end George Kittle had eight catches for 89 yards and a touchdown for the 49ers (7-3).

Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield completed 29 of 45 passes for 246 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Mike Evans had a 1-yard touchdown reception and Rachaad White added a 1-yard rushing TD for the Buccaneers (4-6), who have lost five of their past six games.

Bills 32, Jets 6

Josh Allen threw three touchdown passes and Buffalo avenged a Week 1 loss to New York with a victory in Orchard Park. N.Y.

Playing his first game under new offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who replaced the fired Ken Dorsey on Tuesday, Allen completed 20 of 32 passes for 275 yards with an interception. Buffalo (6-5) stayed 1 1/2 games behind AFC East leader Miami.

New York quarterback Zach Wilson was 7 of 15 for 81 yards with a touchdown and an interception before he was benched for backup Tim Boyle late in the third quarter. Boyle couldn’t generate a spark, either, going 7 of 14 for 33 yards with an interception for the Jets (4-6).

Rams 17, Seahawks 16

Lucas Havrisik kicked a 22-yard field goal with 1:31 remaining as Los Angeles rallied to defeat Seattle in Inglewood, Calif.

Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith returned from an injury to guide Seattle (6-4) into field-goal range in the final seconds, but Jason Myers’ 55-yard attempt missed just right. Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (oblique) and Rams receiver Cooper Kupp (ankle) both left with injuries in the first half and didn’t return.

Smith was 22-of-34 passing for 233 yards and a touchdown. Matthew Stafford was 17-of-31 passing for 190 yards and a touchdown for the Rams (4-6), who snapped a three-game losing streak. Royce Freeman rushed 17 times for 73 yards.

NFL Desk: Cowboys Win With Prescott

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DALLAS – (Staff and Wire Service Report by Field Level Media) – Dallas veteran RB Ezekiel Elliott scored on two 1-yard plunges and the Dallas defense forced five second-half turnovers as the Cowboys defeated the visiting Detroit Lions 24-6.

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Dak Prescott, playing in his first game since suffering a broken right thumb in the season opener, passed for 207 yards while completing 19 of 25 attempts. He threw his first touchdown pass of the season with less than two minutes remaining.

Elliott gained 57 yards on 15 carries, while Tony Pollard rushed for 83 yards on 12 carries. CeeDee Lamb caught four passes for 70 yards for Dallas (5-2).

The Lions’ Jared Goff passed for 228 yards but fumbled twice and was picked off two times. Jamaal Williams gained 79 yards on 15 carries but committed a pivotal turnover.

The Lions (1-5) led 6-3 at halftime. Michael Badgley put Detroit on the scoreboard with a 40-yard field goal with 3:58 left in the first quarter.

Brett Maher’s 22-yard field goal, which capped a 72-yard Dallas drive, tied it up early in the second. Badgley’s 53-yard field goal put Detroit back on top.

Dallas had a good chance to at least tie the game late in the half, but wide receiver Noah Brown fumbled and the Lions recovered at their own 3-yard line.

Trevon Diggs intercepted Goff to end Detroit’s first possession of the second half. The Cowboys then embarked on a seven-play, 82-yard drive, which included a 28-yard run by Pollard. Elliott capped it off with a 1-yard run.

Detroit saw a 79-yard drive flame out early in the fourth quarter. After his team reached the Dallas 1, Williams fumbled on a hit by Demarcus Lawrence and linebacker Anthony Barr recovered.

Goff was intercepted by cornerback Jourdan Lewis with 8:29 left, leading to Dallas’ clinching touchdown. Prescott hit Brown with two passes on the 54-yard drive, which was capped by Elliott’s second touchdown of the game.

Dallas regained possession two plays after the next kickoff when Goff fumbled on a strip sack by Sam Williams. Prescott found Peyton Hendershot from 2 yards out to complete the scoring.

–Field Level Media