Who Plays On Thanksgiving Nfl?
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It’s that time of year again! The leaves are changing, the weather is cooling off, and the NFL is getting ready for Thanksgiving. So, who will be playing on Thanksgiving this year?
The History of the NFL on Thanksgiving
The NFL has been playing games on Thanksgiving Day since its inception in 1920. The first game was between the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions, which the Bears won. Since then, the NFL has become synonymous with Thanksgiving, and many people tune in to watch the games on television.
The first NFL game on Thanksgiving
The first Thanksgiving Day NFL game took place on November 26, 1920, between the Detroit Heralds and the Buffalo All-Americans. Meant to be a one-time event to generate winter interest in the sport, the game was such a success that it returned the following year. A tradition was born.
In 1934, the Detroit Lions hosted their first Thanksgiving Day game. That same year, the Chicago Bears played their first Thanksgiving contest against the Lions in Detroit. Although the Packers have never played on Thanksgiving Day, they did host a game on Thanksgiving Eve in 1921, defeating the Cardinals 27-7.
The Detroit Lions’ Thanksgiving tradition
Since 1934, the Detroit Lions have hosted a game on Thanksgiving Day every year. With the exceptions of 1939, 1944 and 1945—due to the events of World War II—the Lions have played on Thanksgiving Day every year. The tradition began in 1934 when then-Lions owner George A. Richards decided to move the final home game of the season from October to Thanksgiving Day to take advantage of the larger crowds that holiday draws.
The first Thanksgiving Day game in Detroit was against the Chicago Bears, a rivalry that would continue for decades. The Lions won that first match-up, 19-16, and continued their winning streak on Thanksgiving Day for several years thereafter. In fact, between 1934 and 1946, the Lions won 12 out of 14 Thanksgiving games.
While the Lions have not always fared so well in recent years—they have only won four of their past 20 Thanksgiving games—they continue to host a game on the holiday each year, making them the only NFL team with this distinction.
The NFL’s Thanksgiving Schedule
The National Football League (NFL) schedule for Thanksgiving Day games are typically set many months in advance. This season, there are three NFL games scheduled for Thanksgiving: the Detroit Lions vs. the Dallas Cowboys, the Houston Texans vs. the Detroit Lions, and the New Orleans Saints vs. the Dallas Cowboys.
The Thanksgiving games in 2019
This year, there are three games on Thanksgiving:
The Detroit Lions will host the Chicago Bears at 12:30 p.m. ET on FOX.
The Dallas Cowboys will host the Buffalo Bills at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
And the New Orleans Saints will host the Atlanta Falcons at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.
The Thanksgiving games in 2020
The 2020 NFL season will feature three games on Thanksgiving Day, with all four division leaders from 2019 in action.
The Detroit Lions will host the Houston Texans at Ford Field in the early game, while the Dallas Cowboys will host the Minnesota Vikings at AT&T Stadium in the afternoon. The nightcap will feature a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship Game, as the Baltimore Ravens travel to face the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field.
All three games will be televised nationally, with the Lions-Texans game airing on Fox, the Cowboys-Vikings game airing on CBS, and the Ravens-Steelers game airing on NBC.
How to Watch the NFL on Thanksgiving
Thanks to the NFL, you can enjoy a full day of football on Thanksgiving. All three games will be broadcast on national television, so you can catch every single play. To make sure you don’t miss a minute of the action, here’s how to watch the NFL on Thanksgiving.
Live stream the NFL on Thanksgiving
If you’re looking to kick back and watch some NFL football on Thanksgiving day, you have a few options. All three of the traditionalThanksgiving games will be televised on either CBS or FOX this year, so you can just fire up your TV and enjoy.
If you want to get a little more creative with your viewing experience, however, there are a few other ways to watch the NFL on Thanksgiving. Here are a few of our favorites:
1. Live stream the NFL on Thanksgiving
If you don’t have a cable or satellite subscription, or if you’re looking for a way to watch the games while you’re on the go, you can live stream all three of the Thanksgiving games via NFL Game Pass.
2. Listen to the NFL on Thanksgiving
If you can’t watch the games but still want to stay updated on all of the action, tune into one of the many radio broadcasts of the games. You can find a list of all of the radio affiliates for each team here.
3. Watch Highlights from past NFL Thanksgiving games
Not in the mood for live football? You can always check out some of the best moments from past NFL Thanksgiving games by visiting NFL.com/thanksgiving.
Watch the NFL on Thanksgiving on TV
On Thanksgiving, four NFL games are played. They are:
– The Detroit Lions play at home against the Minnesota Vikings. The game starts at 12:30 p.m. ET on Fox.
– The Dallas Cowboys play at home against the Buffalo Bills. The game starts at 4:15 p.m. ET on CBS.
– The Miami Dolphins play at home against the New York Jets. The game starts at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.
