American Football
Thanksgiving serves up a series of marquee individual player battles between divisional foes
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The 2025 NFL Thanksgiving schedule stretches across four days, and the games ahead are loaded with one-on-one battles between divisional rivals - matchups that could have huge implications for the playoff picture.
DAZN News’ Gavin Babbitt spotlights the NFL showdowns that matter most in Week 13.
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Jahmyr Gibbs - RB, Lions vs. Packers’ front seven
Gibbs tallied 264 scrimmage yards in Week 12. He will aim to replicate that performance against an exceptional Packers defense this week.
Nearly half of Gibbs’ 951 rushing yards have come on breakaway runs this season. The Packers’ defense has been excellent at limiting big plays. If Gibbs breaks loose, he takes away one of Green Bay’s top defensive tactics.
Rashan Gary, Edgerrin Cooper, and Quay Walker typically play against the right side of opposing offenses. Gibbs is averaging nearly nine yards per carry with seven touchdowns in those gaps, and is doing major damage on the right edge.
Gary will be the first line of defense and has played well in the running game. The Packers will be effective with him and Walker stacked together, but Cooper has been prone to missing tackles this year. Gibbs is a top-three running back in forced missed tackles and can get to the third level on Cooper.
Gibbs has also been productive running on the interior. Colby Wooden must step up on these attempts. Wooden has a good frame for this. He is lighter than most interior players at 273 pounds, which will help him in pursuit.
Using Gibbs as a receiver can be a major differentiator for the Lions. Cooper and Walker allow chunk yardage in the passing game, and safety Evan Williams has given up multiple touchdowns through the air this season. Look for the Lions to throw to their running back in the middle of the field. This is where Gibbs can make a game-changing play.
Ja’Marr Chase - WR, Bengals vs. Chidobe Awuzie - CB, Ravens
Despite playing with three different quarterbacks this season, Chase ranks fifth in the NFL in receiving yardage (861) with five touchdowns. Chidobe Awuzie has allowed only 17 receptions in nine games with the Ravens.
Chase can punish defenses after the catch, but Awuzie is adept at shutting that down. Chase has over 400 yards with the ball in his hands this season, and Awuzie has conceded only 45 yards in the category. If the Bengals' receiver uses his open-field talents to burn Awuzie, he will create yardage that Baltimore does not typically allow.
Awuzie can tilt this matchup for the Ravens with forced incompletions. He is fourth among cornerbacks in forced incompletion rate (24%) this year. Chase has not exceeded 50 receiving yards in any game this season with five catches or fewer.
The Bengals can find extra production by hitting Chase on routes more than 20 yards downfield. He has caught only four of 16 deep targets this season, but he is averaging 33 yards per reception when he converts those opportunities. Awuzie can limit these plays by shading toward the sidelines. Chase’s only production downfield this year has come on routes to the outside.
Awuzie is having a stellar season, but Chase will make his presence felt this week. He will be motivated after serving a one-game suspension and will benefit from the return of his franchise quarterback, Joe Burrow.
Nico Collins - WR, Texans vs. Sauce Gardner - CB, Colts
Collins has 697 receiving yards and four touchdowns on the season. New division rival Gardner has allowed only five receptions in his last four games.
This duel is intriguing at the point of the catch. Collins is fourth among receivers in contested catches (13) this year, and Gardner’s seven pass breakups rank in the top 10 among cornerbacks.
Collins must win these 50/50 plays, or Gardner will remove him from this game. Collins is at a disadvantage in creating separation in this matchup, as Gardner has allowed receptions on only 46.9% of defended targets this season.
The Texans must target Collins against both man and zone coverage. Gardner allows a much higher reception rate (63.6%) and passer rating (118.4) playing man, and gives up 17 yards per reception playing zone.
Collins has balanced production on short, medium, and deep routes this year. If Houston can challenge Gardner at different levels, they will keep Collins involved.
Gardner will have the last word on Sunday. Despite Collins being 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Gardner will challenge him physically in tight coverage.
