You’ve probably already got the turkey defrosting and the stretchy pants picked out, but the real chaos of late November isn't happening in your kitchen. It’s happening on the gridiron. The NFL week 13 football schedule for the 2025 season is one of those rare, perfectly timed alignments where the holiday tradition meets desperate playoff math. It's a massive four-day stretch of football that basically functions as a mini-postseason. If you miss a window here, you’re not just missing a game; you’re missing the moment the playoff picture finally snaps into focus.
Honestly, this year feels different. We’ve got the traditional Detroit and Dallas home games, but the stakes are weirdly high for teams we usually expect to be cruising by now.
The Thanksgiving Tripleheader: More Than Just Turkey
Most people think of Thanksgiving football as background noise for a nap. Not this year. The league put together a slate that actually matters for the standings.
First up, at 1:00 p.m. ET on FOX, the Green Bay Packers head into Ford Field to face the Detroit Lions. This isn't just a divisional rivalry; it’s a fight for survival in a surprisingly top-heavy NFC North. Both teams have been chasing the Chicago Bears all season. A loss here for Detroit might mean kissing their wild-card hopes goodbye, especially with the way the tiebreakers are shaking out.
Then, things get even more interesting.
The mid-afternoon slot features the Kansas City Chiefs at the Dallas Cowboys at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS. It’s Patrick Mahomes vs. Dak Prescott, but neither team is in their usual "juggernaut" phase. Kansas City has been uncharacteristically inconsistent, sitting at 6-5 coming into the week. Dallas is even more desperate at 5-5-1. It’s a game between two massive brands that are both "on the bubble."
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To cap off the night, we get the AFC North brawl: Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC. The big news here is Joe Burrow. He’s expected to return from that turf toe injury that sidelined him for two months. Baltimore is fighting to keep their lead in the North, while Cincinnati is essentially playing for pride—or to play spoiler for their biggest rival.
Black Friday and the "New" Tradition
The NFL is clearly trying to own the entire holiday weekend. For the third year running, we have a Black Friday game, and it’s a doozy.
On Friday, November 28 at 3:00 p.m. ET, the Chicago Bears take on the Philadelphia Eagles exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. This is arguably the game of the week. You’ve got Caleb Williams, who has been on a tear since Week 9, leading an 8-3 Bears team into the Linc. Philly is also 8-3, but they’re reeling from a brutal collapse against Dallas the week prior.
This game is a pure "strength vs. strength" matchup. Chicago’s offensive line, led by Darnell Wright, has been a revelation. They’ll have to deal with Jaelan Phillips, who has been a nightmare for quarterbacks since joining the Eagles’ pass rush.
Sunday’s Chaos: The Heavy Hitters and the Trap Games
Once the leftovers are gone, the Sunday slate kicks in. It’s a heavy schedule with some massive travel miles involved.
Early Window (1:00 p.m. ET):
- San Francisco 49ers at Cleveland Browns (CBS): Keep an eye on Shedeur Sanders. He’s expected to make his second career start for Cleveland. Going up against the Niners' defense is a "welcome to the league" moment if there ever was one.
- Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts (CBS): A massive AFC South showdown. The Colts have a two-game lead, but Houston has won four of their last five.
- New York Jets at Atlanta Falcons (FOX): Two teams basically out of the race, but playing for draft positioning.
- Arizona Cardinals at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (FOX): A sneaky-good matchup for fantasy owners.
Late Window (4:05 p.m. & 4:25 p.m. ET):
The late afternoon games are where the playoff leverage really lives. The Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers (4:25 p.m. ET on CBS) is a classic December-style slugfest. Pittsburgh is expecting Aaron Rodgers back in the lineup, which adds a bizarre layer of drama to an already intense AFC race. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks (4:05 p.m. ET on FOX) is a cross-country flight that could decide who gets the 6th or 7th seed in the NFC.
Primetime Wraps: Sunday and Monday Night
If you’re still standing by Sunday night, you get the Denver Broncos at Washington Commanders at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC. Denver is the hottest team in the league right now, riding an eight-game win streak. Washington, at 3-8, is just trying to find a rhythm for next year. It looks like a mismatch on paper, but Sunday night in Landover can get weird.
Finally, the week closes in Foxborough. The New York Giants visit the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football (8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN). The Patriots have the best record in football at 10-2. The Giants? They’re 2-10 and just fired their defensive coordinator. It’s a lopsided way to end the week, but for New England, it’s a chance to solidify that #1 seed.
Actionable Next Steps for Week 13
- Check your local listings: Because of the holiday, game times are staggered differently than a normal Sunday.
- Update your streaming apps: You’ll need Prime Video for Black Friday and Peacock/Paramount+ for some of the holiday games if you don't have cable.
- Monitor the injury reports: Joe Burrow (Bengals) and Aaron Rodgers (Steelers) are the names to watch. Their availability completely flips the odds for their respective matchups.
- Set your fantasy lineups early: With games starting on Thursday at 1 p.m., your window to make moves is much shorter than usual.
This Week 13 schedule is the gauntlet. By the time the Tuesday morning sun rises, the "pretenders" will be officially separated from the "contenders."