Why every Thanksgiving (and Black Friday) NFL game is important

The four NFL matchups between Thanksgiving and Black Friday all carry serious levels of import as we head into the homestretch of the season and teams jockey for playoff position.

NFL games during Thanksgiving weekend are sometimes merely a welcome palate cleanser amidst a sea of turkey and macaroni and cheese: a sprig of parsley or a squeeze of lemon meant only to break up the monotony of a gluttonous few days.

Other times — like this Thursday and Friday — the games are the main dish.

The four NFL matchups Thanksgiving and Black Friday all carry some pretty serious levels of import as we head into the homestretch of the season and teams jockey for playoff position. These aren’t games to merely have on in the background while you pretend to care about your cousin’s partner’s views on the New York mayoral race. These are matchups that feature either a team that’s desperate or a team with something to prove.

Here’s why every matchup on Thanksgiving and the day after is a significant one.

This rematch of a Week 1 game between NFC North foes is the first game on Thanksgiving, and it’s a pivotal one for both clubs.