BY JEFF YODER

NOV. 23, 2022  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  REFER  |  WEB VIEW

Happy Thanksgiving 👋

The holidays are here, and that means your sports-watching free time gets an upgrade. Turkey, football and futbol are on deck. We’re thankful for sports, but we’re also thankful for all of you out there who read and support our newsletter each and every day. Do us a favor and share The Sportsletter with family this holiday season.

Enjoy!

NFL

Week 12 Power Rankings

Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

Vikings Tumble From No. 1 Spot as Cowboys Surge; Chiefs & Eagles On Top After Close Wins

Week 11 in the NFL wrapped up with a blowout in Mexico that vaulted the 49ers up the board, and the Cowboys’ 37-point rout of the Vikings flipped the script in the NFC. There’s a new No. 1 in this week’s power rankings, and it’s the Kansas City Chiefs. Nine teams have seven wins or more, but 17 clubs are .500 or above as we enter the final month of the season. It’s a five-game sprint to determine the 14 playoff teams. Here’s where they stand before Thanksgiving week:

NFL Power Rankings (Week 12)

1. Chiefs (8-2) | ↑1

2. Eagles (9-1) | ↑1

3. Bills (7-3) | ↑1

4. Cowboys (7-3) | ↑6

5. Ravens (7-3) | —

6. Titans (7-3) | ↑2

7. 49ers (6-4) | ↑3

8. Dolphins (7-3) | ↓1

9. Vikings (8-2) | ↓8

10. Giants (7-3) | ↓4

Teams 11-20: 11. Bengals (6-4) | 12. Commanders (6-5) | 13. Seahawks (6-4) | 14. Buccaneers (5-5) | 15. Jets (6-4) | 16. Patriots (6-4) | 17. Packers (4-7) | 18. Chargers (5-5) | 19. Falcons (5-6) | 20. Lions (4-6)

Teams 21-32: 21. Saints (4-7) | 22. Colts (4-6-1) | 23. Rams (3-7) | 24. Cardinals (4-7) | 25. Raiders (3-7) | 26. Broncos (3-7) | 27. Jaguars (3-7) | 28. Bears (3-8) | 29. Steelers (3-7) | 30. Browns (3-7) | 31. Panthers (3-8) | 32. Texans (1-8-1)

Biggest Risers: Cowboys, Bengals, 49ers

Biggest Fallers: Vikings, Giants, Rams

Editor's Note: Do you agree or disagree with any of today's Power Rankings? Reply to today's newsletter to share your thoughts.

Week 12 Schedule

Additional Storylines

B/R: Where Every Team Stands Entering Week 12

CBS Sports: Week 12 Power Rankings: Chiefs Have That Super Bowl Look Again

FOX Sports: NFL Power Rankings: Chiefs Rise to the Top; Cowboys, Commanders Move Up

WORLD CUP

Saudi Shocker 👀

Photo: Catherine Ivill / Getty Images

Saudi Arabia Stuns Messi & Argentina, France Blows Out Australia in World Cup Group Stage

Day 3 of the World Cup featured a few scoreless draws and a blowout by France, but the top story was a stunning upset to Lionel Messi and Argentina. Messi put his squad ahead against Saudi Arabia with a 10th-minute penalty strike, but Argentina failed to score again despite 15 shots and 70 percent possession. Two goals in a matter of minutes early in the second half turned the tide as Saleh Alshehri (48’) and Salem Aldawsari (53’) found the net on Saudi Arabia’s only two shots on frame. A lopsided match on the stat sheet saw 21 fouls and six penalties by the Saudis, but a win is a win. And Messi’s 2022 World Cup bid — likely his last — is off to an ugly start.

World Cup Highlights

Saudi Arabia def. Argentina (2-1)

Denmark draw Tunisia (0-0)

Mexico draw Poland (0-0)

France def. Australia (4-1)

Today’s Schedule

Group F: Morocco vs. Croatia (5:00 am ET)

Group E: Germany vs. Japan (8:00 am ET)

Group E: Spain vs. Costa Rica (11:00 am ET)

Goup F: Belgium vs. Canada (2:00 pm ET)

Additional Storylines

ESPN: Lionel Messi: “No Excuses” for Shock Saudia Arabia Defeat

SI: Olivier Giroud Ties Thierry Henry’s French Scoring Record in Rout of Australia

🎥 THE HIGHLIGHTS

🏀 NBA Scoreboard

76ers def. Nets (115-106)

Kings def. Grizzlies (113-109)

Pistons def. Nuggets (110-108)

Suns def. Lakers (115-105)

🏒 NHL Scoreboard

Sabres def. Canadiens (7-2)

Rangers def. Kings (5-3)

🏀 NCAA Men’s Basketball

#10 Creighton def. #9 Arkansas (90-87)

#14 Arizona def. #17 San Diego State (87-70)

THE STORYLINES

⚽️ World Cup Sloppiness

The World Cup’s timing robbed national teams of the usual prep time and disjointed play is going to come with the territory. (Sports Illustrated)

⚾️ MLB Free-Agent Fits

Thanksgiving is this week and Christmas is just a month away. But some of baseball's best players could wear new uniforms when we next see them play. (Bleacher Report)

🏈 The Big Ten Battle

Michigan loves to run the ball, but who will carry it against Ohio State? It’s the Big Ten battle we’ve all been waiting for this Saturday. (FOX Sports)

📰 THE HEADLINES

• Aaron Judge Meets With San Francisco Giants About Free Agency Decision (SI)
• Phillies Extend President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski After World Series Appearance (B/R)
• NFLPA Claims NFL Owners Colluded to Prevent Fully Guaranteed Player Contracts (Yahoo! Sports)
• Virginia-Virginia Tech Football Game Canceled in Wake of Shooting (ESPN)

• Rams Waive Veteran Running Back Darrell Henderson (CBS Sports)

• Cardinals Assistant Sean Kugler Relieved of Duties After Mexico City Incident (USA Today)

Support The Sportsletter Team

THE SPORTSLETTER'S NFL PICK 'EM

Picks Must Be Made Before Thanksgiving Day Games (Thursday)

🗓️ HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

Thanksgiving Must-Watch List

The holidays are here! Not only does 2022 Thanksgiving Week bring football in droves, but futbol as well. The group stage rolls on in the World Cup with the USMNT facing England on Friday in a critical showdown. The NFL’s turkey day clashes are intriguing. And we’ll get Michigan vs. Ohio State for Big Ten supremacy on Saturday.

2022 FIFA World Cup

Germany vs. Japan (Wed. 8:00 am)

England vs. USMNT (Fri. 2:00 pm)

France vs. Denmark (Sat. 11:00 am)

Argentina vs. Mexico (Sat. 2:00 pm)

Spain vs. Germany (Sun. 2:00 pm)

Full World Cup Group Stage Schedule

NFL (Thanksgiving Day)

Bills at Lions (12:30 pm)

Giants at Cowboys (4:30 pm)

Patriots at Vikings (8:20 pm)

NFL Week 12 (Sunday)

Bengals at Titans (1:00 pm)

Rams at Chiefs (4:25 pm)

Packers at Eagles (8:20 pm)

Full NFL Schedule

College Football

Mississippi State at #14 Ole Miss (Thurs. 7:00 pm)

#3 Michigan at #2 Ohio State (Sat. 12:00 pm)

#12 Oregon at #23 Oregon State (Sat. 3:30 pm)

#18 Notre Dame at #7 USC (Sat. 7:30 pm)

Full CFB Schedule

NBA

Mavericks at Celtics (Wed. 7:30 pm)

Cavaliers at Bucks (Fri. 8:00 pm)

Jazz at Suns (Sat. 9:00 pm)

Blazers at Nets (Sun. 3:00 pm)

Full NBA Schedule

NHL

Maple Leafs at Devils (Wed. 7:00 pm)

Hurricanes at Bruins (Fri. 1:00 pm)

Stars at Avalanche (Sat. 9:00 pm)

Full NHL Schedule

*All Times ET

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Product Manager: Matthew Cahill

Lead Designer: Joe Stella

Technical Lead: Kevin Lonergan

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