What Football Teams Play on Thanksgiving 2023?

October 10, 2023 by

Enjoying football on Thanksgiving has become a cherished tradition for many families. There are NFL games on from the afternoon until late evening, and America is watching.

Last year, the Dallas Cowboys game against the New York Giants drew 42 million viewers. It became the most-watched NFL regular season game on record. Even if your team isn’t playing, it offers an easy way to connect with extended family who also love football.

The matchups are set for this year, and we’ll go over who you can look forward to watching. Find out how this tradition began and the history of NFL teams playing on Thanksgiving.

When Did NFL Teams Begin Playing on Thanksgiving?

The NFL has been playing on Thanksgiving Day since the league’s inaugural year in 1920. The decision was made to play during the holiday in hopes of attracting a larger audience. While football wasn’t new, they wanted to familiarize fans with the NFL.

There were a total of six games played on Thanksgiving in 1920. In the first game, the Akron Pros beat the Canton Bulldogs 7-0 in a matchup that would set the stage for future Thanksgiving classics.

Here’s a breakdown of the other historic matchups that day:

Decatur Staleys 6, Chicago Tigers 0
Elyria Athletics 0, Columbus Panhandles 0
Dayton Triangles 28, Detroit Heralds 0
Chicago Boosters 27, Hammond Pros 0
All-Tonawanda 14, Rochester Jeffersons 3

These games were played between NFL and non-league teams, which counted in standings that year. By 1934, the tradition was solidified. The only years the NFL didn’t play a game during the holiday was 1941 to 1944 during World War II.

In 1953, the Green Bay Packers game against the Detroit Lions was the first Thanksgiving game aired nationwide on television. It was shown by the Dumont Television Network, one of the United State’s earliest commercial TV networks. Since then, families have been able to watch Thanksgiving Day games across the country from home.

Over the years, other teams have joined the Thanksgiving Day lineup. The NFL has recognized the importance of this holiday tradition by adding a third game in 2006.

Why Do the Cowboys and Lions Always Play on Thanksgiving?

Two NFL teams are tied to the tradition of playing on Thanksgiving Day. You can always count on the Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions taking the field. But why have they become synonymous with Thanksgiving football?

Detroit Lions

In 1934, Lions owner George A. Richards scheduled his team to play a Thanksgiving Day game against the Chicago Bears. A radio executive, Richards got the game broadcasted nationally on a radio network.

The game was a resounding success, drawing an unexpectedly large audience. The game’s success led to the Thanksgiving tradition in Detroit. The Lions have played on the holiday ever since, with few exceptions.

Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys’ Thanksgiving Day tradition dates back to 1966. The Cowboys’ general manager, Tex Schramm, envisioned creating an annual Thanksgiving Day game for the team. He saw how many viewers the Lions were getting and wanted his team to get the same attention.

In the first game, the Cowboys defeated the Cleveland Browns, 26-14, in front of 80,259 fans. The Cowboys played on Thanksgiving every year since then, except in 1975 and 1977. The NFL wanted to market the St. Louis Cardinals on Thanksgiving Day over the Cowboys those years. In 1976, the Cardinals played at Dallas and lost for the third straight time on the holiday.

After the Cowboys played the following year, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle asked Schramm if he wanted to take back the game. Schramm agreed to have his team play on Thanksgiving in 1978 if they got the game permanently.

Which NFL Teams Are Playing This Thanksgiving?

The matchups for Thanksgiving Day are locked in. Here is who you can look forward to watching on Turkey Day.

Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions: 12:30 p.m. ET

In a historic rivalry matchup, the Lions will host the Packers in the day’s first game. The Packers and Lions have played the most games against each other on Thanksgiving Day in NFL history. This holiday’s game will be the 22nd in the series, with the Lions winning most of the matchups (12-8-1).

The Lions played the Packers on Thanksgiving during the following years:

1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1984
1986
2001
2003
2007
2009
2011
2013

Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys: 4:30 p.m. ET

The Dallas Cowboys will host the Washington Commanders in the late afternoon game. This heated rivalry will make for an entertaining game. The Cowboy’s rivalry with the Commanders dates back to 1961, when they started playing in the same division. Dallas has owned the series, with a 76-48-2 record over Washington.

They have played ten times on Thanksgiving, with the Cowboys holding an 8-2 record over the Commanders. Dallas won the first six matchups against Washington on Thanksgiving. The Commanders beat Dallas on Turkey Day for the first time in 2012, 38-31.

They also beat the Cowboys the last time they met in the holiday classic 41-16. Washington’s first win on Thanksgiving was a 38-31 victory in 2012. The last time these teams met in the holiday classic was in 2020. Washington won 41-16 after scoring three fourth-quarter touchdowns.

San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks: 8:20 p.m. ET

The San Francisco 49ers will play the Seattle Seahawks in the prime-time game. The Seahawks will be hosting a Thanksgiving Day game for the first time. They played the 49ers on Thanksgiving in 2014 and won 19-3.

What NFL Teams Have Never Played on Thanksgiving?

Most teams in the NFL have played on Thanksgiving Day by now. However, not every franchise has made it on the schedule for a holiday matchup.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are the lone team that has never played on Thanksgiving. They are a relatively young franchise, established in 1995. However, besides a few playoff runs, they have never found great success in the league. Their record may be a part of the reason they have yet to play on Turkey Day.

After the Jaguars, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cincinnati Bengals, and Carolina Panthers have the fewest Thanksgiving games played. Each team has only been a part of one game.

Tampa Bay traveled to Dallas in 2006 to face the Cowboys in their sole Thanksgiving Day game. Former Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was making his fifth career start. He completed 22 of his 29 passes for 306 yards and five touchdowns to lead his team to a 38-10 victory.

The Carolina Panthers’ only Turkey Day game came in 2015 against the Cowboys. The Panthers dominated against America’s team, winning 33-14. Carolina finished the season with a 15-1 record and a win in the NFC Championship to reach the Super Bowl, where they came up short against the Denver Broncos.

The Cincinnati Bengals Thanksgiving Day game was in 2010. The New York Jets walked away with the 26-10 win. The Bengals did recently volunteer to host a Black Friday game every year, which may be something the league considers in the future.

A Standing Tradition

Thanksgiving will continue to be a day married to football, and you can look forward to watching some great division games this holiday. Even if your team isn’t playing, there’s nothing better than relaxing on the couch with delicious food and an exciting matchup. If you plan on attending, TickPick has the best deals on NFL tickets.

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