Pass the mashed potatoes, but don't you dare block the TV. For anyone living in the 54301 zip code or carrying a sliver of Green Bay DNA, the Thanksgiving Day Packer game isn't just "on in the background." It is the schedule. Everything else—the turkey, the weird cranberry mold your aunt brings, the nap—rotates around kickoff.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a weird obsession if you aren't from around here. Most of the country associates Thanksgiving football with the Dallas Cowboys or the Detroit Lions because of those decades-long hosting streaks. But Green Bay has this sporadic, high-stakes relationship with the holiday that makes every appearance feel like a massive event rather than just another Thursday.
The Detroit Connection and the 2023 Shock
We have to talk about Detroit. Because the Lions host every year, the Packers end up at Ford Field more often than anywhere else on the fourth Thursday of November.
Remember 2023? Nobody gave the Packers a shot. Jordan Love was still "the new guy" trying to find his footing, and the Lions were actually good—like, "Super Bowl contender" good. Then the game started. Love looked like a seasoned vet, dropping dimes to Christian Watson and Jayden Reed. The Packers walked out of there with a 29-22 win that basically announced to the NFL that the post-Rodgers era wasn't going to be the disaster everyone predicted.
It was glorious. It was also a reminder that the Thanksgiving Day Packer game usually serves as a season turning point. Win that game, and you're usually hunting a playoff spot in December. Lose it, and the leftover turkey tastes like ash.
A Brief History of Turkey Day Heartbreak and Heroics
The Packers have played over 30 times on Thanksgiving. That’s a lot of football. It started way back in the 1920s against teams like the Hammond Pros and the Pottsville Maroons, names that sound like they belong in a black-and-white movie because they do.
But for modern fans, the memories are more vivid.
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Take 1962. It’s known as the "Thanksgiving Day Massacre." The Packers were 10-0. They were the juggernaut of the Vince Lombardi era. Then they went to Detroit and got sacked 11 times. Eleven! Bart Starr spent most of the afternoon looking at the ceiling of Tiger Stadium. It was their only loss of the season, and it still stings for the old-timers who remember listening to it on the radio.
Then you have the 1986 game. Walter Stanley. If you know, you know. He returned a punt 83 yards for a touchdown with basically no time left to beat the Lions 44-40. It was one of those "where were you" moments that defines a generation of fans.
Why the NFL Keeps Putting Green Bay on the Big Stage
Money. It’s always money. But it’s also ratings.
Green Bay is the smallest market in professional sports, yet they pull some of the highest TV numbers in the league. When you put a Thanksgiving Day Packer game on the schedule, you aren't just getting Wisconsin. You're getting the "expats." There are Packer bars in Tokyo, Berlin, and every corner of Florida.
The NFL knows that a holiday game featuring the Green and Gold is a guaranteed ratings bonanza. Plus, there is the aesthetics. There is something about the frozen tundra—or even just the idea of it—that fits the Thanksgiving vibe perfectly. Even when they play indoors in Detroit, the broadcast always leans into that "NFL Films" nostalgia of cold-weather football and grit.
The Logistics of a Holiday Game Day
How do you actually pull off a Thanksgiving Day Packer game if you’re a fan? It’s a logistical nightmare.
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If the game is the early slot (11:30 AM CST), you’re eating dinner at 4:00 PM. If it’s the afternoon slot, you’re trying to sneak peaks at the score while passing the gravy. And if it’s the night game? Forget it. Everyone is too tired from the "turkey coma" to stay awake for the fourth quarter unless it’s a one-score game.
For the players, it’s even weirder. They basically lose their holiday. They have a "short week" which means practice is compressed, recovery time is non-existent, and they are usually eating a team-catered meal in a hotel ballroom instead of being with their families.
"It’s a business trip," former players always say. But you can tell by the way they jump into the stands or celebrate with a literal turkey leg on the field after a win that it means more. Getting that nationally televised win while the whole country is watching is the ultimate "I’ve made it" moment.
The Starr, Favre, and Rodgers Legacy
Every great Green Bay quarterback has had their Thanksgiving moment.
Bart Starr had the grit. Brett Favre had the chaos—like the 2001 game where he threw for nearly 400 yards against Detroit. Aaron Rodgers had the efficiency, including a 2011 masterclass where he dismantled the Lions while everyone else was finishing their second helping of pie.
But the 2015 game was different. That was the night they retired Brett Favre's number. It was raining. It was miserable. The Packers actually lost to the Bears at Lambeau Field. It was a rare Thanksgiving home game, and while the result sucked, the atmosphere was hauntingly beautiful. Seeing Bart Starr and Brett Favre on the same field one last time... that’s the kind of stuff that makes this more than just a game. It’s a family reunion for an entire state.
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What to Expect Moving Forward
The NFL’s "flexible scheduling" and the addition of the Black Friday game have changed things slightly. We might see the Packers featured on the Friday after Thanksgiving more often in the coming years.
However, the Detroit-Green Bay rivalry is too lucrative to move. It’s the "Old Reliable" of the NFL holiday schedule.
Expect the league to keep leaning into this matchup. The young core of the current Packers squad—guys like Jordan Love, Romeo Doubs, and Quay Walker—are built for this kind of spotlight. They play a fast, aggressive style that looks great on a high-definition holiday broadcast.
Actionable Strategies for the Next Big Game
If you are planning to host or attend a Thanksgiving Day Packer game party, don't wing it. You'll end up stressed and miss the best plays.
- The Two-TV Setup. If the game is at the same time as dinner, put a smaller TV in the dining room or ensure the main TV is visible from the table. Don't fight the inevitable.
- Prep the Apps Early. Have the heavy hitters—cheese curds, brat slides, buffalo chicken dip—ready for kickoff. Once the turkey hits the table, the game might already be in the third quarter.
- Sync Your Audio. If you’re listening to Wayne Larrivee and Larry McCarren on the radio while watching the TV, use an app like Tunity or a digital delay to make sure the "And he's got a dagger!" call doesn't happen five seconds before the play develops on screen.
- The Post-Game Walk. Win or lose, get outside for 15 minutes after the game. It clears the head and helps digest that third piece of pumpkin pie.
The Thanksgiving Day Packer game isn't just about the standings. It’s about the shared experience of a community that treats a football team like a family member. It’s the noise of a house full of people cheering for a first down while the smell of roasting poultry wafts through the hallways. It's Green Bay. It's tradition. And frankly, it’s the best part of the holiday.
Pack your jerseys and get the grill ready—because when the Packers play on Thanksgiving, nothing else matters until the clock hits zero.