Who Plays on Thanksgiving in the NFL?
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Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and football. But who plays on Thanksgiving in the NFL? Here’s a look at the schedule.
The History of Thanksgiving Football
The first Thanksgiving football game was played on November 25, 1869, between two college teams: Rutgers and Princeton. The game was played in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and Rutgers won by a score of 6–4. Thanksgiving football games became a tradition at many colleges, and professional football teams began playing on Thanksgiving in the early 20th century.
The First Thanksgiving Football Game
The first Thanksgiving football game was played on November 26, 1869, between Rutgers and Princeton. The game was played in New York City and was won by Princeton, six goals to four.
The first professional Thanksgiving football game was played on November 28, 1898, between the Hamilton Tigers and the Toronto Argonauts. The game was played in Toronto and was won by Hamilton.
In the early years of the NFL, several teams played on Thanksgiving Day. In 1934, the Detroit Lions began hosting an annual Thanksgiving Day game. The Lions have hosted a Thanksgiving Day game every year since 1934 with the exception of 1939-1944 (due to World War II).
Since 1945, the Dallas Cowboys have also been regular hosts of a Thanksgiving Day game. In 1966, the NFL added a third Thanksgiving Day game which has rotated among various teams over the years.
Currently, there are three NFL games played on Thanksgiving Day each year: The Detroit Lions play at home in Detroit, the Dallas Cowboys play at home in Dallas, and one other NFL team plays at home (the rotating host).
The First Professional Thanksgiving Football Game
The first professional Thanksgiving football game was played on November 25, 1892 between the Allegheny Athletic Association and the Pittsburgh Athletic Club. The game ended in a 0-0 tie. However, this game is not recognized as an official NFL game because the two teams were not members of the league.
In 1920, the NFL was formed and two Thanksgiving games were scheduled and played. The first game was between the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions. The Lions won this game 7-6. The second game was between the Cleveland Indians (now the Browns) and the St. Louis Cardinals (now in Arizona). The Cardinals won this game 20-0.
The Chicago Bears have played more Thanksgiving games than any other team, a total of 62 times as of 2018. They are followed bythe Detroit Lions with 54 games,the Dallas Cowboyswith 51 games, andthe Green Bay Packerswith 47 games.
The Teams That Play on Thanksgiving
The NFL has been playing games on Thanksgiving Day since its inception in 1920. The tradition began with the Detroit Lions hosting the Chicago Bears, and has continued ever since. This year, there are three games being played on Thanksgiving Day. The Lions will host the Bears, the Cowboys will host the Bills, and the Texans will host the Falcons.
The Dallas Cowboys
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 headquartered in Frisco, Texas, and play their home games at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, which opened for the 2009 season. The stadium took the place of the Cotton Bowl as the home stadium of the Cowboys. The team’s head coach is Mike McCarthy.
As of 2019, the Cowboys have played in 60 NFL seasons, compiling an all-time record of 341 wins, 408 losses and 5 ties. In those 60 seasons they have reached 16 postseason games (8 NFC Championships and 4 Super Bowls), and won 8 of them – all 8 within a span from 1971 to 1995 – with 5 Super Bowl victories: Super Bowl VI in 1972 against AFC champion Miami Dolphins; Super Bowl XII against AFC championDenver Broncos; Super Bowl XXVII against Buffalo Bills; Super Bowl XXVIII agaionst Bills; and most recently added another Lombardi Trophy with their victory against Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XXX following the 1995 season.
In 2019 they clinched their first NFC East title since 2016, making it their 25th divisional championship since joining the NFL as an expansion team in 1960. With their playoff victory over Seattle Seahawks on January 5, 2020 they reached an NFL-record 30th conference championship game. They will face off againsttheGreen Bay Packers for a trip toSuper Bowl LIV in Miami on February 2nd 2020.
The Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions have played on Thanksgiving Day more than any other NFL team, with their first game held in 1934. The club hosted the game until 1938, when they began traveling to play either the Chicago Bears or the Green Bay Packers. The Lions faced off against the Bears every year from 1939-1944 and then again from 1946-1951. They took on the Packers from 1953-1963 and then again from 1965-1971. In 1968, the Lions became the first NFL team to play two Thanksgiving games in a single season, hosting Cleveland and then traveling to Dallas. The doubleheader necessitated by television broadcasts didn’t become a regular occurrence until 2006. From 1972 onward, Detroit has hosted a Thanksgiving game every year except for 1975 and 1977.
The Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers have played on Thanksgiving Day nine times (tied for most in the NFL) and have compiled a 6-3-0 record on the holiday. The Packers’ first Thanksgiving game was in 1923, a 26-0 victory over the Hammond Pros. That game was also the Packers’ first road game in franchise history. The Packers have played at home on Thanksgiving five times, most recently in 1998 versus the Detroit Lions.
The Rivalries on Thanksgiving
The NFL has played games on Thanksgiving Day since its inception in 1920. In the early years, it was common for multiple games to be played on Thanksgiving, but that changed in 1934 when the Detroit Lions began hosting an annual Thanksgiving Day game. Today, there are three games played on Thanksgiving, and they are always divisional rivalries.
The Cowboys and the Lions
The National Football League (NFL) schedule for Thanksgiving Day is typically made up of divisional matchups, as most teams have the day off. The Dallas Cowboys have played on Thanksgiving Day more times than any other team in the NFL, with their first appearance coming in 1966. The Detroit Lions have also appeared on Thanksgiving numerous times, playing every year from 1934-1938 and from 1945-present.
The Cowboys and Lions have one of the oldest and most storied rivalries in the NFL, with their first meeting dating back to 1960. The two teams have played each other every year on Thanksgiving since 1975, making it one of the most tradition-rich rivalries in all of sports.
The rivalry took on new meaning in the late 1990s when the two teams became dominant forces in the NFC. From 1995-1998, the Cowboys and Lions combined to win four straight NFC titles, with Dallas winning Super Bowl XXX following the 1995 season and Detroit winning Super Bowl XXXV following the 1997 season.
In recent years, the rivalry has been relatively one-sided, with Dallas winning 14 of the last 16 meetings between the two teams. However, given the history and tradition of this rivalry, there is always a chance that things could change on a moment’s notice.
The Packers and the Lions
The Packers-Lions rivalry is one of the oldest and most storied in the NFL. The two teams have played each other 186 times, with the Packers holding a slim 92-91-7 lead in the all-time series.
The rivalry dates back to1921, when the teams met for the first time in a game that ended in a tie. Since then, they’ve met every year except for one (in 1932) and have played on Thanksgiving Day 34 times, more than any other matchup in NFL history.
The Packers have had the upper hand in recent years, winning 19 of the last 25 meetings between the two teams. But with both teams currently sporting winning records, this year’s Thanksgiving Day matchup could be one of the best games in years.
The Fans That Watch on Thanksgiving
Every year, on the fourth Thursday of November, the NFL plays games on Thanksgiving. This tradition started in 1876, when the Chicago Athletic Association decided to play a game on Thanksgiving to raise money for the struggling association. This game was so popular that other teams started to play on Thanksgiving as well.
The Die-Hard Fans
Not everyone has the day off on Thanksgiving, and for some people, that’s just fine. In fact, there are die-hard football fans who wouldn’t dream of missing their team’s big game, even if it falls on the holiday.
For these fans, Thanksgiving is just another day to cheer on their favorite team. They might not have the time (or the energy) to prepare a big feast, but they’ll make sure to catch every minute of the game. Some might even host a Thanksgiving viewing party so they can watch with fellow fans.
Whether they’re at home or in the stadium, these fans will be cheering loud and proud for their team. So if you see someone wearing a turkey hat or seated next to a pie at a football game on Thanksgiving Day, don’t be surprised – they’re just there for the love of the game.
The Casual Fans
There are two types of people who watch football on Thanksgiving: those who watch because they love the sport and those who watch because they love the food. The former are the ones who will be glued to the TV all day, from the early games to thelate games, cheering on their favorite teams. The latter are the ones who will tune in for a few minutes during halftime to see what’s going on, then go back to preparing/eating their Thanksgiving feast. You can’t really fault them—after all, that’s what Thanksgiving is all about.
But for those of us who fall into the first category, we have a few questions: Who plays on Thanksgiving in the NFL? And more importantly, how can we make sure we don’t miss any of the action?
The Future of Thanksgiving Football
The NFL has been a staple on Thanksgiving for many years. Millions of people tune in every year to watch the turkey day game. But, with the recent decline in viewership, is the NFL’s future on Thanksgiving in jeopardy? Let’s take a look.
The NFL’s Plans
It’s no secret that the NFL has been struggling in recent years. Ratings are down, and the league has been embroiled in a number of scandals. Many fans have grown tired of the product on the field, and some have even called for a complete overhaul of the league.
One area where the NFL has been struggling is Thanksgiving football. In recent years, ratings for the Thanksgiving games have been down, and many fans have complained about the quality of the matchups. In an effort to improve the quality of the games, the NFL has reportedly considered changing its schedule for Thanksgiving day.
According to reports, the NFL is considering adding two additional games to Thanksgiving day. These games would be played in prime time, and would feature some of the league’s best teams. This would be a major change from the current format, which features three early games followed by a late game.
It remains to be seen if this change will actually happen, but it is clear that the NFL is looking for ways to improve its product on Thanksgiving day. If this change is made, it could be a major boost for ratings and attendance.
The Fans’ Plans
The Detroit Lions have had a stranglehold on the holiday game since 1934, but they haven’t been the only team to make an appearance. The Dallas Cowboys joined the ranks in 1966, followed by the Miami Dolphins in 1970. The tradition has continued in recent years with games featuring the Green Bay Packers, New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers.
This year, there are three games on the schedule: Detroit vs. Dallas, Miami vs. Dallas and New York vs. Washington. For fans of the holiday tradition, it’s a chance to enjoy some good football and spending time with family and friends.
But what about the future of Thanksgiving football? Will the Detroit Lions continue to dominate the holiday? Will we see more teams added to the schedule?
Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: Thanksgiving football is here to stay.
