Thanksgiving Thrillers: NFL storylines & Plots to Keep You Hooked!

Thanksgiving Day Playoff Implications

Turkey Day kicks off on the gridiron with a second-place showdown in the NFC North with major playoff implications.

The Bears lead the division at 8-3 overall, with the Packers (7-3-1) and the Lions (7-4) right behind. And with three NFC West teams currently at eight or more wins (Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles), this game would also be a showdown among teams battling for the last playoff spot if it started today. Green Bay defeated Detroit 27-13 in a Week 1 clash between the divisional rivals.

The late afternoon game between the Chiefs and Cowboys is also looking quite important. Both teams would be on the outside looking in if the playoffs began right now, but neither is anywhere near a long shot to make the postseason if they play winning football down the stretch of the last month of the season. Both teams are coming off crucial wins over conference opponents and will look to keep their momentum going.

Joe Burrow Makes His Return While Ravens Seek To Continue Late-Season Rally

The nightcap on Thanksgiving is a gold old-fashioned AFC North showdown between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Baltimore Ravens, filled with intrigue.

The Ravens started the season 1-5 but are undefeated over the past month. The Ravens have now bounced back to 6-5, with five straight wins. And they are now battling neck-and-neck for the AFC North title as we enter the homestretch of the season. Two crucial showdowns with the Steelers still await, but every win matters when deciding the divisional champion, so a victory against Cincinnati would go a long way.

Meanwhile, the Bengals will be the center of attention despite their 3-8 record as star quarterback Joe Burrow returns from injury. The Bengals started 2-0 this season, but have won just a single game since Burrow left the team's Week 2 victory with a turf toe injury. The Bengals have a 1% chance of advancing to the playoffs, according to ESPN analytics, but Burrow doesn't want to sit while he's healthy enough to play.

"I'm not ever going to go to somebody and say, 'Yeah, I'm healthy, but I don't think I should go out there and play,'" Burrow said Tuesday. "That doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I'm not going to live my life and play this game scared of something happening."

Players To Watch

Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions

Gibbs is third in the NFL in rushing yards this season with 951, and tied for third in rushing touchdowns with 10. He's also added 379 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. He's had three games with 100-or-more rushing yards this season, and is coming off a stunning performance where he torched the Giants for 219 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

The Packers have held opposing defenses to 20-or-less points in eight games this season, and Detroit is 7-1 when scoring 21-or-more points. Whether or not the Lions hit that magic number could decide the game, and a large part of who wins that battle between the Lions offense and Packers defense will depend on Gibbs.

Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

Jackson has struggled with injuries all season and was sidelined for most of October, but has played consistently over the past month But except in his return game against the Dolphins, where he made history with his performance, he has not looked as dangerous as he typically does.

But Jackson draws the Bengals this week, which is historically a good match-up for him – he has a 22-4 TD-INT ratio against Cincinnati, has tallied 784 rush yards (his most against any franchise) in 12 starts against the Bengals, and has led the Ravens to a 10-2 record in those starts. The Ravens may end up needing a spark against a returning Joe Burrow, and Jackson could provide it.

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Storylines and players to watch during NFL's Thanksgiving slate