What Two NFL Teams Always Play on Thanksgiving?
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Two NFL teams always play on Thanksgiving Day: the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys. This tradition started in 1934, and it has continued ever since. So, if you’re looking for some Thanksgiving Day football, you know where to find it!
The Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys have played on Thanksgiving Day a NFL-record 38 times, including every year since 1966. The Cowboys have been featured in more Thanksgiving games than any other NFL team. As of 2019, they have appeared on Thanksgiving 17 times in the last 18 years.
The team’s history
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league’s National Football Conference (NFC) East division. They are one of the most successful teams in the history of the NFL, having appeared in eight Super Bowls and winning five, all under the guidance of head coach Tom Landry. The franchise has made it to the Super Bowl eight times, tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos for second most Super Bowl appearances, and behind only the New England Patriots’ ten appearances.
The team’s Thanksgiving Day games
The Dallas Cowboys have played on Thanksgiving Day more times than any other team in the league, a tradition that began in 1966. The team has played on Turkey Day every year since, with the exception of 1975 and 1977. In 2006, the Cowboys began hosting a Thanksgiving Day game at their new stadium, and they’ve done so every year since. So, if you’re looking for a team to root for on Thanksgiving, the Cowboys are a good choice.
The Detroit Lions also have a long tradition of playing on Thanksgiving, dating back to 1934. The Lions have hosted a game on Thanksgiving every year since 1945, with the exception of 1968 and 1969. The Lions have played the Cowboys on Thanksgiving several times, most recently in 2013. So, if you’re looking for a traditionaal Thanksgiving matchup, keep an eye out for the Lions and Cowboys.
The Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions have played on Thanksgiving every year since 1934. In fact, they are the only team in the NFL to have played on Thanksgiving every year since the league began. The Lions have a long tradition of playing on Thanksgiving, and they usually play a good game.
The team’s history
The Lions began play in Portsmouth, Ohio, in 1929 as the Portsmouth Spartans. They joined the NFL in 1930 as part of an expansion that doubled the size of the league. The Spartans won their first NFL game, 7–6, over the New York Giants. From 1934 to 1938, they reached the NFL championship game four times. In 1935 and 1936, they won back-to-back NFL championships, becoming the first team to do so.
The Lions have won four NFL championships (1935,1936,1953,1997). They have also won six divisional titles (1935,1936,1953, 1957, 1993, 1994) and four conference championships (1952, 1953 1954). The Lions have appeared in ten NFL Championship games and four Super Bowls.
The team’s Thanksgiving Day games
The Detroit Lions play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit. They currently hold the NFL record for the longest losing streak in a single season, having lost 19 games in a row during the 2008 season. The previous record was held by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who lost 26 games in a row from 1976 to 1977. The Lions have also won 12 NFL Championships, the most recent coming in 1957.
The team’s Thanksgiving Day games are a tradition that dates back to 1934, when they defeated the Chicago Bears, 19-16. Since then, the Lions have played on Thanksgiving Day every year except for 1939 and 1944, when they could not agree on terms with the Detroit Tigers (who also played at Briggs Stadium) and chose instead to play on Black Friday. In 1941, the game was moved to Friday due to the attack on Pearl Harbor; it was played on Saturday in 1942 due to wartime travel restrictions. Since 1945, the game has been held on Thanksgiving Day every year except for 2020, when it was rescheduled due to COVID-19.
The Lions’ chief rivals are the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings. They also have a historic rivalry with the Chicago Bears, whom they have played in over 170 games since 1930 (more than any other team in the NFL).
