The Chicago Bears won their Thanksgiving clash with the Detroit Lions 24-20 despite a sparkling first start for Lions quarterback David Blough.
Blough threw a 75-yard touchdown with his very first pass completion in the NFL, and quickly followed it up with another as Detroit took a ten-point lead when looking to end their slumping form.
The Lions kept their noses in front until late into the game, when their fans were denied a happy Thanksgiving when Mitchell Trubisky connected with David Montgomery for a late Bears touchdown.
For there the Chicago defence did the rest to move the team to an even 6-6 record and still in with a shout of making the play-offs, while the slumping Lions slipped to 3-8-1.
Bears QB Trubisky has had his critics but he responded with three touchdowns and 338 yards passing - a whopping 140 of them going to Anthony Miller.
Blough had a promising debut with 280 yards passing and his two scores, and showed an instant connection with receiver Kenny Golladay who claimed that 75-yard touchdown catch as part of his 158-yard effort.
Elsewhere the New Orleans Saints clinched their third straight NFC South title with a gritty 26-18 away win over the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL on Thursday night.
The Saints were led by Taysom Hill, who blocked a punt to set up his three-yard touchdown catch and later scored on a 30-yard run as New Orleans atoned for their 26-9 home loss on November 10.
With Julio Jones missing due to a shoulder injury, the Falcons had too little attacking strength to keep pace with Drew Brees and the Saints, and remain rooted to the bottom the division.
Atlanta recovered two onside kicks in the closing minutes, including one with 1:54 remaining, to make things interesting.
Matt Ryan was sacked by Cameron Jordan on a fourth-down play from the New Orleans 44 with 38 seconds remaining. Ryan was sacked nine times, including four by Jordan.
In Texas, the Buffalo Bills beat the Dallas Cowboys 26-15, with John Brown becoming the first Bills receiver to throw a touchdown pass.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen ran for a touchdown and threw a scoring pass to Cole Beasley, who had 110 yards receiving and a touchdown in his maiden match against his old club.
The Bills (9-3) got their first Thanksgiving win since 1975 in their first appearance on the holiday in 25 years.
The Cowboys scored a touchdown on their opening drive but faltered thereafter, giving Philadelphia a chance to rejoin them atop the NFC East.
It was Dallas' sixth loss in nine games, and came just four days after owner Jerry Jones lambasted his coaching staff after a defeat to New England.
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