It's hard to believe the Green Bay Packers haven't played a night game since their season opener in Brazil. It feels like a million years ago.
Well, if you enjoy Packers primetime games, you're in luck. Their next four games are under the lights, beginning on Thanksgiving evening against the Miami Dolphins. They will play on Thursday Night Football next week before Sunday and Monday night games to follow.
This is a big one for both teams. The Packers can almost guarantee a playoff berth with a victory on Thanksgiving. It would give them nine for the season, the same number of wins that earned them a wild-card berth in 2023. And they would still have five games to go.
It's a little more urgent for the Dolphins, who, despite entering Thanksgiving on a three-game winning streak, are still 5-6 and in need of a win.
READ MORE: Tucker Kraft makes Jordan Love a Thanksgiving promise 1 year in the making
With Miami four games behind the Buffalo Bills (effectively five due to the head-to-head tiebreaker), its only shot at a playoff spot comes via the wild-card route. Mike McDaniel's team sits 1.5 games behind the seventh-seeded Denver Broncos. While there is some margin for error, the Dolphins need a near-perfect end to the season.
Announcers for Packers vs. Dolphins
- Network: NBC
- Lead play-by-play announcer: Mike Tirico
- Color commentator: Jason Garrett
- Sideline reporter: Melissa Stark
Referees for Packers vs. Dolphins
Head referee: Shawn Smith
It has been a while since Shawn Smith's crew officiated a Packers game, with the last coming in the 40-33 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on November 27, 2022. It was the game Jordan Love came off the bench and threw for 113 yards and a touchdown. It's also Smith's first Dolphins game since their 24-17 win over the New England Patriots in Week 2 of the 2023 season.
Per NFL Penalties, Smith's crew is averaging 15 penalties per game, ranking ninth in the NFL. So that's... OK? We'll take it.
Full officiating crew
- Referee: Shawn Smith
- Umpire: Alex Moore
- Down Judge: Jay Bilbo
- Line Judge: Jeff Seeman
- Field Judge: Dyrol Prioleau
- Side Judge: Boris Cheek
- Back Judge: Dino Pagnelli