PONTIAC, Michigan -- Despite what the calendar says, it's National Football League playoff time for the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions.


That's the attitude the teams will have when they meet on Thanksgiving Day. It's a game neither can afford to lose.


In the other Thursday game, Green Bay travels to Troy Aikman-less Dallas, where the Cowboys say third-string Jason Garrett will give the Packers a big surprise.


Buffalo and Detroit have plenty of talent, but haven't played well this year.


The Bills (6-5), losers of the last four Super Bowls, are one game in back of the Miami Dolphins in the AFC East. The Lions (5-6), two games behind the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears in the NFC Central, face almost certain elimination from the playoff picture with another loss.


"Our playoffs started last week," Buffalo quarterback Jim Kelly said. "That's what we've decided."


The Cowboys (9-2) are confident that Garrett, Princeton smart and back-alley tough, can fill in for Aikman against Green Bay (6-5).


"He did a great job against the New York Giants and Phoenix when he had to play last year," fullback Daryl Johnston said. "Jason can't throw the ball like Troy but he can do good things and the whole team believes he can get it done," running back Emmitt Smith said.


Garrett starts for the Cowboys on Thursday against the Packers because Aikman has a sprained knee and backup Rodney Peete has a strained right thumb.


As insurance, the Cowboys will use Tommy Hodson as a backup. He and fellow veteran free agent Mike Pagel were brought in to compete for the role, and Hodson was chosen because he was in better shape.