Thanksgiving NFL Games: Teams and Matchups Overview

Bassyonni

ago 2 hours

This Thanksgiving, the NFL continues its long-standing tradition of hosting football games on the holiday. This year marks the 20th consecutive year of Thanksgiving games, featuring three exciting matchups. The Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys each have a rich history of playing on Thanksgiving, continuing their legacies established decades ago.

Thanksgiving NFL Games: Teams and Matchups Overview

Historical Significance

The NFL’s Thanksgiving football tradition dates back to 1920, when it was initially known as the American Professional Football Association. Excluding the years 1941 to 1944 during World War II, at least one game has been played every Thanksgiving since.

The Detroit Lions have hosted a Thanksgiving game since 1934, though they missed from 1939 to 1944 due to the Great Depression and wartime restrictions. The Dallas Cowboys joined the tradition in 1966 and have played nearly every year since, with just two missed games in 1975 and 1977.

This Year’s Matchups

For Thanksgiving 2025, fans can look forward to the following games:

Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers

Location: Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Channel: Fox

Dallas Cowboys vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Channel: CBS

Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Location: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
Channel: NBC

Detailed Match Insights

The Lions and Packers will face each other for the second time in the season. Green Bay won their first matchup 27-13 in Week 1 and is looking to extend their winning streak on Thanksgiving.

The Cowboys will celebrate their 58th Thanksgiving game, coming off a challenging matchup with the Eagles, the current NFC frontrunners. They will host the reigning AFC champions, the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Ravens and Bengals matchup will also be pivotal. This marks their first of two meetings in a brief period. Baltimore is on a four-game winning streak, while Cincinnati hopes to have quarterback Joe Burrow back in action after his absence due to injury.