You’ve probably been there. You’re halfway through a second plate of stuffing, the couch is calling your name, and you realize the Detroit Lions are on TV. Again. You might even find yourself asking the same question millions of Americans ask every November: Why? Why is it always the Lions and the Dallas Cowboys?
Honestly, it feels like a glitch in the simulation. Every year, regardless of their record or how much they’re struggling, these two teams are the anchors of your holiday. It turns out, who plays on thanksgiving football isn't just about random scheduling or current rankings. It’s a mix of desperate 1930s marketing, a "guarantee" made decades ago, and a primetime slot that finally lets the rest of the league join the party.
The Lions Started It Because Nobody Cared About Them
Let's go back to 1934. The Lions weren't the "Lions" as we know them; they were a new team in town, having just moved from Portsmouth, Ohio. They were playing second fiddle to the Detroit Tigers baseball team. In fact, they were lucky to get 15,000 people to show up to a game.
George A. Richards, the team's owner at the time, was a radio guy. He knew he needed a gimmick. He decided to host a game on Thanksgiving Day against the Chicago Bears. Because he owned a powerful radio station (WJR), he talked NBC into broadcasting the game across 94 stations nationwide.
It worked. The game sold out, the radio audience was massive, and a tradition was born. The Lions have played on Thanksgiving every year since 1945. They’ve become the "early game" of the holiday marathon.
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How Dallas Hooked a Permanent Seat at the Table
Fast forward to 1966. The NFL wanted to add a second game because, well, people like football and turkey. But they were worried. Would people actually show up to a game in late November in Texas?
Tex Schramm, the legendary (and somewhat opportunistic) General Manager of the Dallas Cowboys, saw a golden opportunity for national exposure. He volunteered his team, but with a catch. He wanted a guarantee that the Cowboys would host the game every year. He knew that consistency was the only way to build a brand.
The league agreed, mostly because they didn't think it would be a huge hit. They were wrong. Over 80,000 people showed up to the Cotton Bowl that year, and the Cowboys have held onto that late-afternoon slot with a death grip ever since. There was a brief period in the 70s where the NFL tried to give the slot to the St. Louis Cardinals, but it flopped. Fans wanted Dallas.
The "New" Tradition: The Night Game
For a long time, it was just those two. Two games, two hosts. But in 2006, the NFL realized they were leaving money on the table. They added a third game—the primetime slot—which doesn't have a permanent host.
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This is where the variety comes in. While you can bet your last piece of pumpkin pie on seeing Detroit at 12:30 PM ET and Dallas at 4:30 PM ET, the 8:20 PM ET game is a wildcard.
Who Plays on Thanksgiving Football in 2025?
If you're planning your 2025 holiday around the TV, here is how the tripleheader shakes out:
- 1:00 PM ET: Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions (FOX)
- 4:30 PM ET: Kansas City Chiefs at Dallas Cowboys (CBS)
- 8:20 PM ET: Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens (NBC)
Basically, it's a divisional bloodbath in the morning, a massive cross-conference showdown with Patrick Mahomes in the afternoon, and a gritty AFC North rivalry to finish the night.
The Logistics of Who Plays Who
The NFL doesn't just throw darts at a map to pick the opponents for Detroit and Dallas. There are actual rules—kinda.
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- Network Swapping: Historically, CBS got the AFC games and FOX got the NFC games. This meant the Cowboys and Lions usually played teams from the opposite conference so both networks got a slice of the pie. Nowadays, "cross-flexing" means the league has more freedom to put whatever matchup they want on whatever network.
- The Divisional Factor: The league loves putting divisional rivals in these slots because the stakes are higher. That's why you see the Packers or the Vikings in Detroit so often.
- The "Short Week" Problem: Playing on Thursday is hard. Teams that play on Thanksgiving usually have to play the previous Sunday, giving them only three days of rest and prep. Because of this, the NFL tries to avoid making teams travel across the country for these games if they can help it.
Why Doesn't the League Change It?
Every few years, someone writes an article saying it’s "unfair" that Detroit and Dallas always get the home-field advantage and the national spotlight. And every year, the NFL basically ignores them.
The truth is, these games are some of the highest-rated television programs of the entire year. Fans expect them. It’s part of the holiday rhythm. If you moved the Lions out of that slot, it wouldn't feel like Thanksgiving to a lot of people. Plus, the Lions and Cowboys have it written into their DNA at this point; they build their entire season schedules around this one short week.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're hosting this year or just trying to keep up with the conversation, here’s how to handle the football side of the holiday:
- Check the Friday Schedule: Remember that the NFL has started doing "Black Friday" games too. In 2025, the Chicago Bears play the Philadelphia Eagles the day after Thanksgiving. Don't assume the football ends on Thursday night.
- Streaming Matters: If you don't have cable, make sure you have your apps ready. The 2025 games are on FOX (morning), CBS/Paramount+ (afternoon), and NBC/Peacock (night).
- Respect the Traditions: If you're watching the Detroit game, look out for the "Turkey Leg" award. Since the John Madden era, the MVP of the game usually gets to chow down on a massive turkey leg on live TV. It's weird, it's greasy, and it's peak Thanksgiving.
Understanding who plays on thanksgiving football is really about understanding the history of the league itself. It’s a mix of old-school grit, smart business moves, and the simple fact that nothing goes better with a nap than the sound of a stadium crowd in the background.
Key Takeaways for Your 2025 Plan
- Plan for three games: The action starts early and goes late.
- Expect the usuals: Detroit and Dallas aren't going anywhere.
- Watch the Night Game: The Ravens/Bengals matchup is likely to have huge playoff implications.
- Don't forget Friday: The Black Friday game is becoming a new staple in the NFL diet.