You're sitting there with a plate of turkey, maybe some questionable cranberry sauce, and the TV is already tuned to a stadium that looks suspiciously like a giant juice box. It's a scene played out in millions of American living rooms every November. But have you ever actually stopped to wonder why what football teams play on thanksgiving day seems so predictable? It’s not a coincidence. It’s a mix of marketing genius from the 1930s and a desperate 1960s PR stunt that somehow became a national law.
Football on Turkey Day isn't just about the current standings. Honestly, it's about a tradition that is older than most of the people watching it. The Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys are the anchors of the day, but the schedule has expanded quite a bit in recent years to satisfy our collective hunger for more hits and fewer awkward conversations with distant relatives.
The 2025 Thanksgiving Lineup: Who’s On Your Screen
If you were looking for the 2025 slate, the NFL didn't disappoint with its triple-header. We saw the usual suspects hosting, but the matchups had some serious playoff implications.
The early slot featured the Green Bay Packers visiting the Detroit Lions. This is basically a family feud at this point. They’ve played each other on Thanksgiving more than 20 times. For the Lions, this was their 86th time taking the field on the holiday.
Later in the afternoon, the Kansas City Chiefs traveled to face the Dallas Cowboys. This was a massive draw. You had Patrick Mahomes going into AT&T Stadium—a game that actually broke viewership records, pulling in over 57 million people. That's more people than live in most countries.
The nightcap featured an AFC North brawler: the Cincinnati Bengals at the Baltimore Ravens. The NFL likes to use this primetime slot for rotating teams, usually division rivals who genuinely dislike each other. It’s the perfect way to cap off a day of overeating.
✨ Don't miss: What Place Is The Phillies In: The Real Story Behind the NL East Standings
Why Detroit and Dallas Always Get the Invite
It feels sort of unfair, doesn't it? Why do these two specific cities get the national spotlight every single year?
The Lions started it back in 1934. George A. Richards had just bought the team (they were the Portsmouth Spartans before that) and moved them to Detroit. The problem? Nobody cared. The Detroit Tigers were the only show in town. Richards, who happened to own a major radio station, decided to stage a game on Thanksgiving to drum up interest. He used his connections to get NBC to broadcast it on 94 stations across the country. It worked. People tuned in, the stadium sold out, and a tradition was born out of a desperate need for ticket sales.
Dallas joined the party much later, in 1966. Tex Schramm, the legendary Cowboys GM, wanted more national exposure for his young team. The NFL was looking for a second host, and Schramm jumped at it. He even guaranteed the league a certain amount of gate revenue just to prove it would work. It was a massive hit. Since then, the Cowboys have only missed hosting twice—in 1975 and 1977—when the league tried to let the St. Louis Cardinals host instead. Those games were such flops that the NFL basically apologized and gave the holiday back to Dallas for good.
The Team That Never Plays
While most teams have had their turn in the Thanksgiving sun, there is one glaring exception. The Jacksonville Jaguars are currently the only NFL team that has never played on Thanksgiving Day.
It’s a weird stat. Even newer franchises or teams with smaller fanbases have been pulled into the primetime slot eventually. But for whatever reason, the Jags are still waiting for their invitation to the big table.
🔗 Read more: Huskers vs Michigan State: What Most People Get Wrong About This Big Ten Rivalry
How the Schedule Actually Works Now
Since 2006, the NFL has moved to a three-game format. This changed the game for fans. Before that, you only had the Lions in the morning and the Cowboys in the afternoon. Now, we get a "Primetime" game that doesn't have a fixed host.
- The Early Window: Always the Detroit Lions at home. Usually kicks off around 1:00 PM ET.
- The Afternoon Window: Always the Dallas Cowboys at home. Usually starts around 4:30 PM ET.
- The Night Window: A rotating cast. The NFL uses this to showcase high-stakes matchups or big-market teams like the Eagles, Giants, or Packers.
This third game was a response to other owners complaining that Detroit and Dallas had an "unfair advantage" by always playing at home on a short week. By adding a third game, the league could spread the Thanksgiving love (and the massive ad revenue) to other markets.
The "Madden" Factor and Turkey Legs
You can't talk about what football teams play on thanksgiving day without mentioning the late, great John Madden. He turned a football game into a food festival. Starting in the 80s, Madden began awarding a "Turkey Leg" to the MVP of the game.
It started with a single leg. Then he realized he couldn't give one leg to two players, so he found a six-legged turkey (or had one made, let's be real). It became a badge of honor. To this day, seeing a 300-pound lineman gnawing on a drumstick on national TV is the peak of the holiday. In 2022, the NFL officially renamed the holiday slate the "John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration" to honor that legacy.
The Black Friday Expansion
In a move that surprised absolutely no one, the NFL decided three games on Thursday wasn't enough. Starting recently, we now have the Black Friday game. In 2025, we saw the Chicago Bears take on the Philadelphia Eagles on Amazon Prime.
💡 You might also like: NFL Fantasy Pick Em: Why Most Fans Lose Money and How to Actually Win
It’s basically an extension of the holiday weekend. If you’re a football fan, your Friday is now just as booked as your Thursday. This game usually features teams that are big draws for streaming audiences, as the league continues to shift away from traditional cable for these special event windows.
What to Watch For Next Season
If you're planning your 2026 holiday already, you can bet your mortgage on two things: the Lions will play early and the Cowboys will play in the late afternoon. The NFL usually announces the specific opponents in May when the full schedule drops.
Keep an eye on the divisional rotations. The NFL loves putting the NFC North teams (Bears, Vikings, Packers) in Detroit and the NFC East rivals (Giants, Commanders, Eagles) in Dallas. It guarantees high stakes and high emotions, which is exactly what keeps 50 million people from falling asleep after their second helping of stuffing.
To stay ahead of the curve for the next holiday season:
- Check the NFL schedule release in mid-May to see who is traveling to Detroit and Arlington.
- Look for the "Primetime" announcement separately, as the league often saves a "sexy" matchup for the NBC night slot.
- Factor in the Black Friday game when planning your travel; you might find your favorite team playing the day after the big feast.