Thursday

Packer at Lions

12:30 p.m., FOX 23

The old-timers tell me this used to be the traditional Thanksgiving Day matchup in the NFL. They also tell me that they had to go out and hunt their own turkey and rely on the Indians for corn. Except they called it “maize.”

Jets at Cowboys

4:15 p.m., Channel 13

The Cowboys could bring Steve Walsh, Eugene Lockhart, Timmy Newsome, Jay Saldi, Darryl Clack and Crawford Ker out of retirement and put Leon Lett on special teams duty for a potential game-winning field goal and the Jets still wouldn’t beat them.

Colts at Falcons

8:15 p.m., NFL Network

I know, you couldn’t care less about missing this game. But wait until next week, and four weeks after that.

Sunday

Vikings at Giants

1 p.m., FOX 23

The Giants signed former Patriot Patrick Pass this week. Look, fellas, if you really want some of the Patriot mystique to rub off on you, Cedric Cobbs is still looking for work.

Bills at Jaguars

1 p.m., Channel 13

Maurice Jones-Drew’s hit on Shawne Merriman last week was easily the play of the year not involving the Patriots.

Broncos at Bears

4:15 p.m., Channel 13

This is what CBS gets stuck with for a featured doubleheader game when the Pats aren’t available. It’s like when you show up late to Mom’s for Thanksgiving dinner and the turkey’s gone but there’s still plenty of that artichoke soup left.

Eagles at Patriots

8:15 p.m., Channel 6

By 8:45, John Madden will be paying homage to Tom Brady, the rest of the country will be wretching, and, if you’re a Patriot fan with any perspective, you’ll be basking in every second of it. This is as good as it’s ever going to get.

Monday

Dolphins at Steelers

8:30 p.m., ESPN

The Steelers boosted the Patriots’ draft prospects by losing to the Jets last week. Another upset would be too much to ask.