November’s NFL schedule brings division matchups, international games, and a Thanksgiving slate that could reshape the playoff race. By this point in the season, teams have played enough games to reveal strengths and weaknesses, but there is still time for the standings to change.
For anyone following NFL betting, the most interesting games are not always those involving the biggest names. Defensive matchups, injuries, and how teams perform away from home can matter as much as their records. These November fixtures offer particularly useful storylines to follow.
Buffalo Bills vs. Minnesota Vikings: November 9
Buffalo visits Minnesota for Monday Night Football on November 9, with two teams looking to test themselves against strong opposition. The Vikings entered the final week of October unbeaten, having allowed just 10 points in their October 25 win over Indianapolis. Buffalo, meanwhile, had a bye in Week 7 before returning to face Baltimore on November 1.
The matchup puts Minnesota’s defensive consistency under the spotlight. Buffalo will need to sustain drives rather than rely on isolated big plays, while the Vikings must find ways to generate points against an opponent with its own playoff ambitions.
The total deserves particular attention given Minnesota’s defensive record. Buffalo’s performance against Baltimore could also reveal whether the Bills can move the ball consistently against another strong opponent.
Anyone comparing those markets can find the available NFL lines on the official FanDuel site. The numbers closer to kickoff may differ from early expectations as injury reports and team news develop.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Dallas Cowboys: November 15
San Francisco travels to Dallas on November 15 after a difficult October 25 visit to Atlanta, where the 49ers lost 29–20. Dallas enters November with momentum from a 38–21 victory over Philadelphia on October 26.
Those results make this more interesting than a simple comparison of preseason expectations. The 49ers will be looking to correct the problems exposed in Atlanta, while Dallas needs to show it can reproduce its performance against Philadelphia.
Watch how each offensive line handles pressure and whether either defense can force turnovers. A team that wins the field-position battle may not need a spectacular offensive performance to control the game.
The point spread will reflect the expected difference between the teams, but the recent results alone do not establish which side should be favored. Their games in early November will offer a better basis for judging form.
Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers: November 22
Minnesota and San Francisco meet at Estadio Banorte in Mexico City on November 22. It is one of the month’s standout fixtures because of both the teams involved and the unusual setting.
The Vikings have shown they can win low-scoring games, including their 16–10 result against Indianapolis on October 25. San Francisco’s response to its loss in Atlanta will be worth following, particularly with another major NFC matchup against Dallas scheduled one week earlier.
Mexico City’s altitude and the travel involved could affect preparation for both teams. Playing at a higher elevation may place additional demands on conditioning, particularly during long defensive drives. Neither team has an automatic advantage, making their preparation and ability to maintain intensity important factors.
By kickoff, both teams will have faced several additional opponents. Those performances should carry more weight than October records when evaluating the spread or total.
Thanksgiving Week: Divisional Games and an AFC Showdown
The NFL’s Thanksgiving schedule features three games on November 26, with another notable matchup taking place the following day.
Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions
This NFC North meeting brings a familiar Thanksgiving rivalry to Detroit. The Lions edged Green Bay 20–17 on October 25, showing they could finish a close divisional game. Chicago’s results leading into Thanksgiving will help indicate whether the Bears can challenge Detroit away from home.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys
The Eagles and Cowboys meet again after Dallas won their October 26 matchup 38–21. That result gives Philadelphia a clear reason to adjust, especially in how it handles Dallas on both sides of the ball. The rematch also makes recent head-to-head evidence relevant, although the teams’ November performances will still matter.
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills
Kansas City visits Buffalo for the Thanksgiving night game. The Chiefs were held to three points in a 20–3 loss to Seattle on October 25, making their offensive response a storyline to follow through November.
Buffalo’s defense will face a different challenge from the one posed by its earlier opponents. By Thanksgiving, both teams will have accumulated more evidence about what works against strong AFC competition.
Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: November 27
Black Friday brings another AFC matchup. Denver defeated Arizona 30–16 on October 25, while Pittsburgh beat New Orleans 16–10. Both results underline why defensive performance and scoring efficiency deserve attention when assessing this game.
What to Watch Beyond the Matchups
Betting lines indicate how sportsbooks assess a matchup, but the result can differ considerably from those expectations. Point spreads concern the margin of victory, totals focus on combined scoring, and moneylines concern the outright winner. Player props depend on individual statistics and may be especially sensitive to injury news or changes in playing time.
November also brings a useful reminder about sample sizes. One high-scoring win does not guarantee an offense will perform the same way against a stronger defense. Likewise, a poor result can reflect a difficult matchup rather than a lasting decline.
Checking opponents, recent injuries, and how teams have performed in similar situations gives each number more context. FanDuel’s NFL research and analysis can help readers follow the developing stories around teams and players without relying on outdated October assumptions.
A Month That Could Shift the Standings
From Buffalo’s trip to Minnesota to the Thanksgiving meeting between the Chiefs and Bills, November offers several games with implications beyond a single weekend. Division rivals have opportunities to change their positions, while teams that started strongly will face new tests.
The most useful approach is to follow what happens between now and kickoff. Form changes, players return or miss time, and the matchups that look straightforward in October can feel very different a few weeks later.
Information provided is correct as of October 30, 2026, subject to change.