Thanksgiving Thursday: One Thing The 32 NFL Teams Can Be Thankful For
It's Thanksgiving on Thursday and with three games scheduled one after the other, it promises to be one of the busiest days on NFL betting sites.
For some teams and coaches in contention to make the play-offs, this stage is where the season begins. Unfortunately for others, the focus has already turned to 2026.
We take a look at what each at what each team can be thankful for this week.
AFC
Current AFC East Standings:
Team | Wins | Losses | Ties |
Patriots | 10 | 2 | 0 |
Bills | 7 | 4 | 0 |
Dolphins | 4 | 7 | 0 |
Jets | 2 | 9 | 0 |
Buffalo Bills
Bills fans can be grateful their window of opportunity to win their first ever Super Bowl is still open and they look forward to moving into their new stadium next year.
Miami Dolphins
De'Von Achane is establishing himself as one of the best running backs in the NFL and Miami fans can be thankful he is still a Dolphin - for now anyway.
New England Patriots
Second-year quarterback Drake Maye has rejuvenated this franchise and he deserves to be in the conversation for this season's MVP award.
New York Jets
After a disastrous season, the Jets can be thankful to have two first-round draft picks next year, knowing they have to use them wisely.
Current AFC North Standings:
Team | Wins | Losses | Ties |
Ravens | 6 | 5 | 0 |
Steelers | 6 | 5 | 0 |
Bengals | 3 | 8 | 0 |
Browns | 3 | 8 | 0 |
Baltimore Ravens
Having a fit Lamar Jackson back running their offense gives Baltimore a great chance of making the play-offs, and after that - who knows!
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals' play-off hopes are hanging by a thread, but having quarterback Joe Burrow back from toe surgery is a blessing for Cincinnati fans.
Cleveland Browns
For many seasons, Myles Garrett is the only thing for Browns fans to be thankful for, and that remains the case after the defender signed a four-year, $160million contract in March.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers fans can be thankful that it's been 21 years since their last losing record, but their last play-off came in 2017.
Current AFC South Standings:
Team | Wins | Losses | Ties |
Colts | 8 | 3 | 0 |
Jaguars | 7 | 4 | 0 |
Texans | 6 | 5 | 0 |
Titans | 1 | 10 | 0 |
Houston Texans
When you have the league's best scoring defense, Texans fans are thankful for that and hopeful that their offense can catch up in the closing weeks of the season.
Indianapolis Colts
When you have the league's best running back, there is plenty to be thankful for if you follow the Colts. Jonathan Taylor has 1,465 scrimmage yards and 17 TDs from 237 touches and is rightly one of the favourites for this season's MVP award on betting apps.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Liam Coen's appointment as head coach raised a few eyebrows, but the Jaguars are moving in the right direction after winning just four games last year.
Tennessee Titans
Having the first overall pick in the draft means you've been the worst team, but you do get the best player coming out of the college system. The Titans are on course to have it for a second successive year.
Current AFC West Standings:
Team | Wins | Losses | Ties |
Broncos | 9 | 2 | 0 |
Chargers | 7 | 4 | 0 |
Chiefs | 6 | 5 | 0 |
Raiders | 2 | 9 | 0 |
Denver Broncos
Some quarterback/head coach partnerships are a match made in heaven and that's what the Broncos have with Bo Nix and Super Bowl-winning coach Sean Payton.
Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs fans can be thankful for the three Super Bowls won under the tenure of Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes and while they are still there, there are reasons to be optimistic - regardless of their record.
Las Vegas Raiders
Everyone associated with the Raiders can be thankful that there are only six games left to play this season.
Los Angeles Chargers
Ladd McConkey is emerging as one of the most reliable receivers in the NFL, and quarterback Justin Herbert can be thankful to be able to target him week after week.
NFC
Current NFC East Standings:
Team | Wins | Losses | Ties |
Eagles | 8 | 3 | 0 |
Cowboys | 7 | 3 | 1 |
Commanders | 3 | 8 | 0 |
Giants | 2 | 10 | 0 |
Dallas Cowboys
CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens have almost 1,700 receiving yards between them, making them arguably the best pair of receivers in the NFL.
New York Giants
Injuries to Malik Nabers (WR), Cam Skattebo (RB) and Jaxson Dart (QB) have ruined the Giants' season, but the young trio have offered a glimpse of better times ahead.
Philadelphia Eagles
Many teams wanted to ban the Tush Push, but the NFL have allowed the Eagles-designed play to remain part of their playbook, for now anyway.
Washington Commanders
Jacory Croskey-Merritt may have one of the best names in the NFL, but the rookie also known as 'Bill' has offered hope for the coming years in the capital.
Current NFC North Standings:
Team | Wins | Losses | Ties |
Bears | 8 | 3 | 0 |
Packers | 7 | 3 | 1 |
Lions | 7 | 4 | 0 |
Vikings | 4 | 7 | 0 |
Chicago Bears
Finally, the Bears have a head coach that seems to know what he is doing and if Ben Johnson's first season is anything to go by, Chicago should be contenders for the next few seasons.
Detroit Lions
Sonic & Knuckles - AKA Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery - are the running back duo ripping through NFL defenses every week. They open up the passing game brilliantly.
Green Bay Packers
As strange as it looks on the standings, the tie with the Dallas Cowboys could turn out to be important if they can win the division by half a game.
Minnesota Vikings
Let's go for Vikings punter Ryan Wright who has kicked the longest punt of the season so far (77 yards). That sums up Minnesota's season in quarterback JJ McCarthy's first full season.
Current NFC South Standings:
Team | Wins | Losses | Ties |
Buccaneers | 6 | 5 | 0 |
Panthers | 6 | 5 | 0 |
Falcons | 4 | 7 | 0 |
Saints | 2 | 9 | 0 |
Atlanta Falcons
It's been seven seasons - going on eight - since the Falcons had a winning record despite Bijan Robinson's impressive numbers.
Carolina Panthers
Dave Canales deserves credit for turning this franchise around and he is putting together a decent roster, including running back Rico Dowdle.
New Orleans Saints
Saints fans have only had two wins to celebrate this season so far, but with the easiest remaining schedule, they should have a few more before the year is done.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Any team would love to have a quarterback with the guts of Baker Mayfield, and while he is under center, the Buccaneers can never be ruled out.
Current NFC West Standings:
Team | Wins | Losses | Ties |
Rams | 9 | 2 | 0 |
Seahawks | 8 | 3 | 0 |
49ers | 7 | 4 | 0 |
Cardinals | 3 | 8 | 0 |
Arizona Cardinals
Trey McBride is the best of a bad bunch of players on the Cardinals roster, and they need to be smart with their selections in next year's draft.
Los Angeles Rams
As long as head coach Sean McVay is able to call plays for quarterback Matthew Stafford, the Rams can be thankful for one Super Bowl win and maybe another in the coming seasons.
San Francisco 49ers
49ers fans can be thankful to head coach Kyle Shanahan for being in contention this year despite quarterback Brock Purdy missing eight games because of injury.
Seattle Seahawks
In just his third season, Jaxon Smith-Njigba has already set a new Seahawks single-season record for receiving yards and more records will be smashed by the talented wide receiver.
What does your NFL team have to be thankful for this season? Let us know in the comments box below!
