What Two Teams Played The First Nfl Thanksgiving Day Game?

The first NFL Thanksgiving Day game was played on November 26, 1920 between the Detroit Heralds and the Toledo Maroons.

The History of the NFL Thanksgiving Day Game

The National Football League (NFL) has played games on Thanksgiving Day, usually in the afternoon, every year since its inception in 1920. In that first year, the Detroit Lions (then known as Portsmouth Spartans) played host to the Buffalo All-Americans. The game was so lopsided that the Spartans owner George A. Richards decided to have his team disbanded and replaced by the Lions the following year. From 1934 onwards, the Lions have been a permanent fixture on Thanksgiving, playing almost every year except 1939, 1944, and 1945 (during WWII).

The first NFL game on Thanksgiving Day was not televised until 1956. In 1966, Dallas Cowboys created a tradition of their own by becoming the first team to play on Thanksgiving Day every year. As of 2018, three NFL teams play on Thanksgiving Day every year: the Cowboys, Detroit Lions, and Miami Dolphins (who play in Canada).

The First NFL Thanksgiving Day Game

In the year 1920, there were only twelve professional football teams in existence. Out of those twelve teams, there were only two who had byes during the Thanksgiving week- the Chicago Tigers and the Decatur Staleys. The two teams were persuaded by George Halas to play each other on Thanksgiving day.

Who played in the first NFL Thanksgiving Day game?

The Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions were the first two teams to play in an NFL Thanksgiving Day game. The game was played on November 26, 1920, and it resulted in a 7-6 victory for the Packers.

What was the final score of the first NFL Thanksgiving Day game?

The first NFL Thanksgiving Day game was played on November 26, 1920, between the Chicago Bears and the Decatur Staleys. The game was held at Chicago’s Stargel Stadium, which was also the site of the first American Legion Junior World Series baseball game that same year. The final score of the game was 7-6 in favor of the Bears.

The teams that have played the most NFL Thanksgiving Day games

The Lions have played on Thanksgiving Day more than any other team, a tradition that began in 1934. They’ve played on Thanksgiving Day every year since, with the exception of 1939-1944 (due to the NFL’s suspension of play during World War II) and in 2020 (due to the COVID-19 pandemic). The Cowboys have also played on Thanksgiving Day a lot, almost every year since their inception in 1960. So, these are the two teams that have played the most NFL Thanksgiving Day games.

Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions have played on Thanksgiving Day more than any other team in the NFL, a tradition that dates back to 1934. The Lions have hosted a Thanksgiving Day game every year since 1945, with the exception of 1959, when they declined to host any home games due to the poor condition of their stadium.

The Lions have had mixed results on Thanksgiving, posting a record of 37-38-2. They have won three Thanksgiving Day games in a row on three occasions (1952-1954, 1957-1959, and 2016-2018), and they have lost three in a row on four occasions (1935-1937, 1971-1973, 2006-2008, and 2010-2012).

Their most recent Thanksgiving Day game was a 23-16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in 2019.

Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys have played on Thanksgiving Day a total of 39 times, the most of any NFL team. The Cowboys have played on Thanksgiving every year since 1966, with the exception of 1975 and 1977. In recent years, the tradition has continued with the team playing host to a game on Thanksgiving Day.

The teams with the most NFL Thanksgiving Day wins

The first NFL Thanksgiving Day game was played between the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears in 1934. Since then, the Lions have played on Thanksgiving Day more times than any other team. They have played on Thanksgiving Day every year since 1934, with the exception of 1939-1944. In that timespan, the Lions have amassed a record of 22-38-2 on Thanksgiving Day.

Detroit Lions

On Thanksgiving Day in 1934, the Lions beat the Chicago Bears, 19-16. The Lions have played on Thanksgiving every year since, with the exception of 1939-1944 (due to a scheduling conflict with the Detroit Tigers baseball team) and again in 1945. In total, the Lions have played on Thanksgiving 34 times, compiling a record of 23-11-0.

Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys are one of the most dominant teams in NFL history, and that extends to their success on Thanksgiving Day. The Cowboys have an all-time record of 32-16-1 on Thanksgiving, which is the most wins by any team on the holiday. Dallas has also won four of their last six Thanksgiving games, with their only losses coming against the NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles in 2013 and 2016.