NFL Week 13

The NFL breaks their seasons up into 16 games over 17 weeks. The schedule is figured out on the following basis: -each team plays a home and away game versus their own division (6 games) -each team plays against all four teams of another division within their own conference on a three year cycle (4 games) -each team plays all four teams of another division in the other conference on a four year cycle (4 games) -each team plays two teams with the same standing from the other two divisions withing their conference (2 games) http://www.nfl.com/schedules/interactive#/week=13

Week 13 of the National Football League's schedule is another exciting one. Starting on Thursday, Dec. 2, we have a Thursday night matchup between the Houston Texans and the Philadelphia Eagles. This is followed by a myriad of divisional battles (Washington Redskins and the New York Giants, Oakland Raiders versus the San Diego Chargers, St. Louis Rams visitting the Arizona Cardinals, etc.). On top of those, a couple games that should have playoff implications are another divisional war between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night and what looks like a wild Monday Night Football game between the New England Patriots and the New York Jets. Add in the Dallas Cowboys visitting the Indianapolis Colts, and week 13 looks like a good one.

Week 13 of the 2009 NFL season started off with a bang as the New York Jets defeated their divisional enemies, the Buffalo Bills, 19-13. On Sunday, the New Orleans Saints barely managed to keep their perfect season alive with a 33-30 overtime win over the Washington Redskins. Another close one had the Oakland Raiders beating the defending Super Bowl champs Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-24 (see video below for highlights) and there was yet another nailbiter in Miami as the Dolphins squeaked past the New England Patriots, 22-21. A few divisional battles didn't disappoint, either, as the Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Houston Texans 23-18, the New York Giants outscored the Dallas Cowboys 31-24, and the Seattle Seahawks snuck by the San Fransisco 49ers, 20-17.

The NFL has been playing games on Thanksgiving every year since 1945. This year, there were three games scheduled: first up was the Detroit Lions, who have hosted a Turkey Day game every year (excluding World War II) since 1934, against the 10-1 Tennessee Titans; then the Dallas Cowboys, who have hosted a Thanksgiving game every year (except 1975 and 1977) since their inception in 1960, played host to the Seattle Seahawks; and on Thursday Night Football, the Arizona Cardinals traveled to Philadelphia to face the Eagles.

The Sunday doubleheader belonged to CBS. The scheduled Sunday Night Football game had the Chicago Bears facing the Minnesota Vikings, and the Monday Night Football match-up started December off with an AFC South contest between Jacksonville and Houston.