View source for NFL on Thanksgiving Day

{{about|the series of National Football League games|the Canadian Football League games|Thanksgiving Day Classic|the black college football rivalry|Turkey Day Classic}}
[[File:NFL Thanksgiving logo.svg|thumb|right|The NFL Thanksgiving logo used for 2016; the year is updated annually, with the new NFL shield being used for the first time in 2008.]]
Since its inception in 1920, the [[National Football League]] has '''played games on [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving Day]]''', patterned upon the historic playing of [[college football]] games on and around the Thanksgiving holiday.

Since 1978, the NFL's Thanksgiving Day games have traditionally included one game hosted by the [[Detroit Lions]], and one game hosted by the [[Dallas Cowboys]]. Since 2006, with the advent of the NFL's then-new ''[[Thursday Night Football]]'' package, a third [[primetime]] game has also been played on Thanksgiving. Unlike the traditional afternoon games, this game has no fixed host and has  featured different teams annually.

==History==
The concept of [[American football on Thanksgiving|American football games being played on Thanksgiving Day]] dates back to 1876, shortly after the game had been invented, as it was a day that most people had off from work. In that year, the [[college football]] teams at [[Yale Bulldogs football|Yale]] and [[Princeton Tigers football|Princeton]] began an annual tradition of playing each other on Thanksgiving Day.<ref>{{cite web|title=Navy vs Michigan st (NJ)|publisher=College Football Data Warehouse|accessdate=December 2, 2011|url=http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_iaa/ivyleague/yale/opponents_records.php?teamid=2637|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207020242/http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_iaa/ivyleague/yale/opponents_records.php?teamid=2637|archivedate=December 7, 2013|df=}}</ref>  The University of Michigan also made it a tradition to play annual Thanksgiving games, holding 19 such games from 1885 to 1905.<ref>{{cite web|title=1885 Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library |url=http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1885fbt.htm}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=1887 Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library |url=http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1887fbt.htm}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=1888 Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library |url=http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1888fbt.htm}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=1889 Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library |url=http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1889fbt.htm}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=1891 Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library |url=http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1891fbt.htm}}</ref> The Thanksgiving Day games between Michigan and the Chicago Maroons in the 1890s have been cited as "The Beginning of Thanksgiving Day Football."<ref>{{cite news|title=Football on Thanksgiving: A Brief But Comprehensive History|date=November 23, 2011|publisher=Midwest Sports Fans |url=http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/2011/11/football-on-thanksgiving-a-brief-but-comprehensive-history/}}</ref> In some areas, high-school teams play on Thanksgiving, usually to wrap-up the regular-season.

By the time football had become a professional event, playing on Thanksgiving had already become an institution. Records of pro football being played on Thanksgiving date back to as early as the 1890s, with the first [[pro–am]] team, the [[Allegheny Athletic Association]] of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1902, the [[National Football League (1902)|"National" Football League]], a [[Major League Baseball]]-backed organization based entirely in [[Pennsylvania]] and unrelated to the current NFL, attempted to settle its championship over Thanksgiving weekend; after the game ended in a tie, eventually all three teams in the league claimed to have won the title. Members of the [[Ohio League]], during its early years, usually placed their marquee matchups on Thanksgiving Day. For instance, in 1905 and 1906 the [[Latrobe Athletic Association]] and [[Canton Bulldogs]], considered at the time to be two of the best teams in professional football (along with the [[Massillon Tigers]]), played on Thanksgiving. A [[Canton Bulldogs-Massillon Tigers Betting Scandal|rigging scandal with the Tigers]] leading up to the 1906 game led to severe drops in attendance for the Bulldogs and ultimately led to their suspension of operations. During the 1910s, the Ohio League stopped holding Thanksgiving games because many of its players coached high school teams and were unavailable. This was not the case in other regional circuits: in 1919, the [[New York Pro Football League]] featured a Thanksgiving matchup between the [[Buffalo (NFL)|Buffalo Prospects]] and the [[Rochester Jeffersons]]. The game ended in a scoreless tie, leading to a rematch the next Sunday for the league championship.

Several other NFL teams played regularly on Thanksgiving in the first eighteen years of the league, including the [[Chicago Bears]] and [[Chicago Cardinals (NFL, 1920–59)|Chicago Cardinals]] (1922–33; the Bears played the Lions from 1934 to 1938 while the Cardinals switched to the [[Green Bay Packers]] for 1934 and 1935), [[Frankford Yellow Jackets]], [[Pottsville Maroons]], [[Buffalo All-Americans]], [[Canton Bulldogs]] (even after the team [[Cleveland Bulldogs|moved to Cleveland]] they played the 1924 Thanksgiving game in Canton), and the [[New York Giants]] (1929–38, who always played a [[crosstown rivalry|crosstown rival]]). The first owner of the Lions, [[George A. Richards]], started the tradition of the Thanksgiving Day game as a gimmick to get people to go to Lions football games, and to continue a tradition begun by the city's [[Detroit (NFL)|previous NFL teams]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.detroitlions.com/team/history/thanksgiving-day-in-motor-city.html |title=The Origins of the Thanksgiving Day Tradition |publisher=Detroit Lions |accessdate=2007-10-04}}</ref> What differentiated the Lions' efforts from other teams that played on the holiday was that Richards owned radio station [[WJR]], a major affiliate of the NBC [[Blue Network]]; he was able to negotiate [[NFL on NBC Radio|an agreement with NBC]] to carry his Thanksgiving games live across the network.<ref>Jaworowski, Matt (November 24, 2016). [http://wivb.com/2016/11/23/timeline-how-football-became-a-thanksgiving-tradition/ Timeline: How football became a Thanksgiving tradition]. ''WIVB-TV''. Retrieved November 24, 2016.</ref>

During the [[Franksgiving]] controversy in 1939 and 1940, the only two teams to play the game were the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] and [[Philadelphia Eagles]], as both teams were in the same state ([[Pennsylvania]]). (At the time, then-president [[Franklin Roosevelt]] wanted to move the holiday [[Great Depression|for economic reasons]] and many states were resistant to the move; half the states recognized the move and the other half did not. This complicated scheduling for Thanksgiving games. Incidentally, the two teams were also exploring the possibility of a merger at the time.<ref>See also: [[Pennsylvania Keystoners]]</ref>) Because of the looming World War II and the resulting shorter seasons, the NFL did not schedule any Thanksgiving games in 1941, nor did it schedule any in the subsequent years until the war ended in 1945. When the Thanksgiving games resumed in 1945, only the Lions' annual home game would remain on the Thanksgiving holiday. In 1951, the Packers began a thirteen-season run as the perpetual opponent to the Lions each year through 1963.

The [[All-America Football Conference]] and [[American Football League]], both of which would later be absorbed into the NFL, also held Thanksgiving contests, although neither of those leagues had permanent hosts. Likewise, the [[American Football League (1926)|AFL of 1926]]  also played two Thanksgiving games in its lone season of existence, while the [[American Football League (1936)|AFL of 1936]] hosted one in its first season, which featured the [[Cleveland Rams]], a future NFL team, and the [[American Football League (1940)|1940–41]] incarnation of the American Football League played two games in 1940 on the earlier "Franksgiving" date.

In 1966, the [[Dallas Cowboys]], who had been founded six years earlier, adopted the practice of hosting Thanksgiving games. It is widely rumored that the Cowboys sought a guarantee that they would regularly host Thanksgiving games as a condition of their very first one (since games on days other than Sunday were uncommon at the time and thus high attendance was not a certainty).<ref>{{cite web|last=Scales|first=Kristi|title=Why Do the Cowboys Play on Thanksgiving Day?|url=http://www.5pointsblue.com/cowboys-play-thanksgiving-day/|publisher=5 Points Blue (Dallas Cowboys)|date=November 26, 2014|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref> This is only partly true; Dallas had in fact decided to host games on Thanksgiving by their own decision because there was nothing else to do or watch on that day. In 1975 and 1977, at the behest of then-Commissioner [[Pete Rozelle]], the [[St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis Cardinals]] replaced Dallas as a host team (Dallas then hosted St. Louis in 1976). Although the Cardinals, at the time known as the "Cardiac Cards" due to their propensity for winning very close games, were a modest success at the time, they were nowhere near as popular nationwide as the Cowboys, who were regular Super Bowl contenders during this era. This, combined with St. Louis's consistently weak attendance, a series of ugly Cardinals losses in the three-game stretch, and opposition from the [[Kirkwood–Webster Groves Turkey Day Game]] (a local [[high school football]] contest) led to Dallas resuming regular hosting duties in 1978; it was then, after Rozelle asked Dallas to resume hosting Thanksgiving games, that the Cowboys requested (and received) an agreement guaranteeing the Cowboys a spot on Thanksgiving Day forever.<ref>McManaman, Bob (November 22, 2017). [https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nfl/cardinals/2017/11/22/cardinals-nfl-thanksgiving-dallas-cowboys-host-team/883790001/ Cardinals, not Cowboys, could have been an NFL Thanksgiving Day staple]. ''azcentral.com''. Retrieved November 23, 2017.</ref>

Since 1978, Thanksgiving games have been hosted in Detroit and Dallas every year, with Detroit in the early time slot and Dallas in the late afternoon slot. Because of TV network commitments in place through the 2013 season, to make sure that both the AFC-carrying network (NBC from 1965 to 1997, and CBS since 1998) and the NFC-carrying network (CBS from 1956 to 1993, and Fox since 1994) got at least one game each, one of these games was between NFC opponents, and one featured AFC-NFC opponents. Thus, the AFC could showcase only one team on Thanksgiving, and the AFC team was always the visiting team.

Since 2006, a third NFL game on Thanksgiving has been played in primetime. It originally aired on the [[NFL Network]] as part of its ''[[Thursday Night Football]]'' package until 2011; in 2012, the game was moved to NBC as part of its ''[[NBC Sunday Night Football|Sunday Night Football]]'' package. The night game never had any conference tie-ins, meaning the league could place any game into the time slot. In 2014, [[#Broadcasting|a series of changes to the broadcast contracts]] freed CBS from its obligation to carry an AFC team; by 2018, the last vestiges of conference ties to the Thanksgiving games were eliminated (in practice, games on Fox remain all-NFC contests).

===Throwback uniforms===
Since {{nfly|2001}} teams playing on Thanksgiving have worn [[throwback uniform]]s on numerous occasions. In some years (namely 2002), it extended to nearly all games of the weekend, and in some cases also involved classic field logos at the respective stadiums.

In 2001–2004, and again in 2008, 2010, and 2017 the Detroit Lions have worn throwback uniforms based on their very early years.

From 2001 to 2003, Dallas chose to represent the 1990s Cowboys dynasty by wearing the navy "Double-Star" jersey not seen since [[1995 NFL season|1995]]. In {{nfly|2004}}, the team wore uniforms not seen since {{nfly|1963}}. In 2009, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the [[American Football League|AFL]], both Dallas and [[Oakland Raiders|Oakland]] played in a "AFL Legacy Game." In 2013, the Cowboys intended to wear their 1960s throwbacks, but chose not to do so after the NFL adopted a new policy requiring players and teams to utilize only one helmet a season to address the league's new [[Concussions in American football|concussion protocol]]; rather than sport an incomplete throwback look, the Cowboys instead wore their standard blue jerseys at home for the first time since 1963.<ref>{{cite web|last=Eatman|first=Nick|title=Cowboys To Wear Blue Jerseys At Home Thursday|url=http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2013/11/26/cowboys-wear-blue-jerseys-home-thursday|publisher=Dallas Cowboys|date=November 26, 2013|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref> In 2015, the Cowboys resurrected their 1994 white  "Double-Star" jerseys only this time wore them with white pants as part of the league's "Color Rush", a trial run of specially-designed, monochromatic jerseys to be worn during Thursday games.<ref>[http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-1/Splash-of-Color-for-Thursday-Night-Teams/a49ec3b0-d3bc-4f95-8881-7b7fd1216685 Splash of color for Thursday Night teams]. Retrieved October 30, 2015.</ref>

===Memorable games===
*'''1920:''' An [[urban legend]] states that the [[Chicago Tigers]] and [[Chicago Bears|Decatur Staleys]] challenged each other to a Thanksgiving [[dueling|duel]], in Chicago, in the league's inaugural season, with the loser being [[promotion and relegation|relegated out of the league]] at the end of the season, purportedly explaining why the Tigers were the only NFL team to fold after the 1920 season (no other team would fold until 1921). The claims of it being a duel are unsubstantiated and no evidence exists that the Tigers were ever officially league members; nevertheless, the Tigers, after a 27–0 win over the non-league Thorn Tornadoes the next week, never played football again. The Staleys would move to Chicago during the next season, later renaming themselves the Bears.
*'''1921:''' In a matchup of two of the league's best teams, the Staleys lose to the [[Buffalo All-Americans]] at home. The Staleys demand a rematch, with Buffalo agreeing to a December match only on the terms of it being considered an off-the-record [[exhibition game]]. That later match, which Chicago won, ended up counting despite the All-Americans' insistence, [[1921 NFL Championship controversy|controversially handing Chicago the championship]].
*'''1952:''' The [[Dallas Texans (NFL)|Dallas Texans]] are forced to move their lone remaining home game to the [[Rubber Bowl]] in Akron, Ohio as the undercard to a high school football contest. Their opponent for that game, the [[Chicago Bears]], underestimated the then-winless Texans and sent their second string team to the game; the Texans scored a 27–23 upset over the Bears for their only win of their existence.
*'''1962:''' The Lions handed the 10–0 [[Green Bay Packers]] their lone defeat of the season.
*'''1964–65:''' The 1964 and 1965 AFL contests featured the [[Buffalo Bills]] and [[San Diego Chargers]], the two teams that would eventually meet in those years' [[American Football League Championship Game]]s.
*'''1974:''' Unknown Cowboys backup quarterback [[Clint Longley]] took over for an injured [[Roger Staubach]] with the team down 16–3 and rallied them to an improbable victory over [[Washington Redskins|Washington]] on two deep passes.
*'''1976:''' The [[Buffalo Bills|Bills]] offense put forth one of the best and the worst performances in Thanksgiving history. [[O. J. Simpson]] set the [[list of National Football League records (individual)|NFL record]] for most rushing yards in a single game, with 273. However, Bills backup quarterback [[Gary Marangi]] completed only 4 of 21 pass attempts, for 29 yards passing, and a [[passer rating|rating]] of 19.7. The Lions defeated the Bills 27-14.<ref>[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197611250det.htm Buffalo Bills at Detroit Lions - November 25th, 1976 | Pro-Football-Reference.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
*'''1980:''' With the Lions and Bears tied 17-17 at the end of regulation, the game went to [[overtime (sports)|overtime]], the first Thanksgiving game to do so (overtime was not added to the NFL regular season until 1974), and the first overtime game at the [[Pontiac Silverdome|Silverdome]]. Bears running back [[Dave Williams (running back)|Dave Williams]] returned the fifth-quarter opening kickoff 95 yards for a game-winning touchdown, ending the shortest overtime period in NFL history at the time (13 seconds).
*'''1986:''' The Lions and the Packers had the highest scoring game in Thanksgiving history. It was the best day of receiver [[Walter Stanley]]'s career; Stanley netted 207 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns, including an 83-yard punt return to win the game for Green Bay, 44–40. Stanley had an otherwise undistinguished career in the NFL.
*'''1989:''' Known as the "[[Bounty Bowl]]", the [[Philadelphia Eagles|Eagles]] crushed the Cowboys by a score of 27–0. Allegations surfaced that the Eagles had placed a bounty on the Cowboys kicker, thus becoming the first of a string of three bitterly contested games between the two teams, the other two being [[Bounty Bowl II]] and the [[Porkchop Bowl]] a year later.
*'''1993:'''  In one of the more famous Thanksgiving Day games in recent history, the Cowboys led the [[Miami Dolphins|Dolphins]] 14–13 with just seconds remaining in a rare, snow-filled [[Texas Stadium]]. Miami's [[Pete Stoyanovich]] attempted a game winning 40-yard field goal that was blocked by the Cowboys' [[Jimmie Jones]]. [[Dick Enberg]] of [[NBC Sports|NBC]] proclaimed "The Cowboys will win."<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrU8z4w8T-4 1993 - Dolphins @ Cowboys - Leon Lett Opps - YouTube<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Indeed, since the kick landed beyond the line of scrimmage, once the ball stopped moving the play would be declared dead and Dallas would gain possession. However, the ball landed and began spinning on its tip, leading Cowboys lineman [[Leon Lett]] to try to gain possession. Lett slipped, fell, and knocked the ball forward. By rule, the ball was live and the Dolphins fell on it at the two yard line. With the recovery, Stoyanovich got a second chance to win the game and hit the much shorter field goal. The Dolphins won 16–14.<ref>[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199311250dal.htm Miami Dolphins at Dallas Cowboys - November 25th, 1993 | Pro-Football-Reference.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
*'''1994:''' [[Troy Aikman]] was injured and third-string quarterback [[Jason Garrett]] was forced to start for Dallas against the [[Green Bay Packers]]. The Cowboys won a 42–31 shoot-out against [[Brett Favre]].
*'''1998:''' In another controversial Thanksgiving Day game, the [[Pittsburgh Steelers|Steelers]] and Lions went to [[Overtime (sports)|overtime]] tied 16–16. Pittsburgh's [[Jerome Bettis]] called the coin toss in the air, but head referee [[Phil Luckett]] awarded Detroit the ball after Bettis tried to call both heads and tails at the same time. The Lions went on to kick a field goal on the first possession, winning 19–16. As a result of the fiasco, team captains are now required to call the coin toss before the coin is tossed, and a later rule change now prevents teams from automatically winning a game by scoring a field goal on the first possession.  The day also saw a memorable performance by the [[1998 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]] in a 46–36 win over the [[1998 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] as Vikings rookie [[Randy Moss]] caught three touchdowns, all of over 50 yards.
*'''2008:''' The 10–1 [[Tennessee Titans|Titans]] routed the 0–11 Lions by a score of 47–10, one of the most lopsided results in history on Thanksgiving. The Lions would go on to finish the season 0–16.
*'''2011:''' The trio of games<ref>{{cite web|author=|url=http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/2011/11/nfl-thanksgiving-day-football-games-schedule-spreads-picks-prediction// |title=NFL Thanksgiving Day Football Preview: Games, TV Schedule, Point Spreads, Picks and Predictions |publisher=Midwestsportsfans.com |date=2011-11-21 |accessdate=2012-11-23}}</ref> was lauded as one of the better Thanksgiving Day slates of games in NFL history.<ref>{{cite web|last=Silver |first=Michael |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ms-silver_morning_rush_nfl_thanksgiving_games_112111 |title=NFL Thanksgiving games are appealing, for once – NFL – Yahoo! Sports |publisher=Sports.yahoo.com |date=2011-11-21 |accessdate=2012-11-23}}</ref> The night game between [[Baltimore Ravens|Baltimore]] and [[San Francisco 49ers|San Francisco]] pitted head coaches and brothers [[John Harbaugh|John]] and [[Jim Harbaugh]] against each other – a preview of [[Super Bowl XLVII]].
*'''2012:''' The prime time contest became infamous for the "[[Butt fumble]]", an incident in which [[New York Jets|Jets]] quarterback [[Mark Sanchez]] ran headfirst into the buttocks of his own offensive lineman. He subsequently fumbled the ball; it was recovered by [[New England Patriots|New England]], who returned it for a touchdown. In the earlier game, one of the NFL's most infamous rule changes came when former [[Detroit Lions|Lions]] coach [[Jim Schwartz]] challenged a play in which [[Houston Texans|Texans]] running back [[Justin Forsett]]'s knee clearly touched the ground before sprinting for an 81-yard touchdown. Referee [[Walt Coleman]] stated that, by rule, scoring plays are automatically reviewed and the play was not challengeable by a coach. Because of the improper attempted challenge, the review was cancelled and Coleman assessed a 15-yard kickoff penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. The NFL then passed a new rule that stated that if a coach attempted to challenge a play that is automatically reviewed, the review would continue. It was called the 'Jim Schwartz rule'.

===Home team controversy===
It has remained a tradition for Dallas and Detroit to host the afternoon games dating back several decades. However, in recent years, other teams have expressed interest in hosting Thanksgiving games. [[Lamar Hunt]], the former owner of the [[Kansas City Chiefs|Chiefs]] (who had hosted Thanksgiving games from 1967–69 as an AFL team prior to the merger), lobbied heavily in favor of his team hosting a game on the holiday. When the NFL adopted a third, prime time game, the Chiefs were selected as the first team to host such a contest, but the team was not made a permanent host, and Hunt's death shortly after the 2006 contest ended the lobbying on behalf of that team.

The host issue came to a head in 2008, focusing particularly on the winless Lions. Going into the game, Detroit had lost their last four Thanksgiving games, and opinions amongst the media had suggested removing Detroit and replacing them with a more attractive matchup.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bakay|first=Nick|url=http://www.nfl.com/thanksgiving/story?id=09000d5d80c6de1b&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true|title=Manly House of Football: Another helping of Lions football for the holiday? No, thanks!|work=NFL.com|date=12 November 2008}}</ref><ref name="lions011">Kulfan, Ted. [http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081125/SPORTS0101/811250360/1004 Annual Lions game is roasted]. [[The Detroit News]]. 25 November 2008</ref> The team also required an extension to prevent a local [[NFL blackout|television blackout]].<ref>{{cite news|title=In Detroit, Tradition Takes a Hike; Annual Thanksgiving Football Game Offers Little Joy for Troubled City|date=November 27, 2008|first=Peter|last=Slevin|newspaper=Washington Post|page=A1}}</ref> The Lions were routed by Tennessee 47–10, en route to the team's [[2008 Detroit Lions season|0–16 season]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.themorningsun.com/articles/2008/11/28/sports/doc492f1bbc99e34289217519.prt|title=Once-beaten Titans dominate winless Lions 47–10|date=November 28, 2008|first=Larry|last=Lage|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> NFL commissioner [[Roger Goodell]] confirmed that the Lions would stay on Thanksgiving for the [[2009 NFL season|2009 season]], but kept the issue open to revisit in the future.<ref>{{cite news|last=Niyo|first=John|title=Turkey game safe ... for now|newspaper=[[Detroit Free Press]]|date=31 January 2009|page=C6}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Kowalski|first=Tom|url=http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/03/lions_president_says_nfl_will.html|title=Lions president says NFL will not take away team's Thanksgiving Day game|work=mlive.com|date=22 March 2009}}</ref>

Conversely, the Dallas Cowboys, who typically represent a larger television draw,<ref>{{cite news|last=Horn|first=Barry|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/football/cowboys/stories/031009dnspocowbriefs.3e449a8.html|title=Networks vie for Dallas Cowboys' home opener|date=10 March 2009|newspaper=Dallas Morning News}}</ref> have had many fewer public calls to be replaced on Thanksgiving. One issue that has been debated is a perceived unfair [[home field advantage|advantage]] of playing at home on Thanksgiving.<ref>{{cite web|last=King|first=Peter|url=http://si.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Dr.+Z+is+best+football+writer+of+our+time+-+Peter+King+-+SI.com&expire=-1&urlID=32774890&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsportsillustrated.cnn.com%2F2008%2Fwriters%2Fpeter_king%2F11%2F30%2Fweek13%2Findex.html&partnerID=2356|title=The best football writer of our time|work=si.com|date=1 December 2008}}</ref> The advantage is given in the form of an extra day of practice for the home team while the road team has to travel to the game site.  This is true for most Thursday games, but with the night games, the visitor can travel to the game site after practice and hold the final walk-thru the following morning.

With the introduction of the prime time game, which effectively allows all teams in the league an opportunity to play on Thanksgiving, along with the introduction of year-long ''Thursday Night Football'' ensuring all teams have one Thursday game during the regular season (thus negating any on-field advantages or disadvantages to being selected for Thanksgiving), the calls for Detroit and Dallas to be removed have curtailed.

==Game results==
(Winning teams are denoted by boldface type; tie games are italicized.)

===1920–1940===
*All three of the generally recognized iterations of the American Football League that played during this era ([[American Football League (1926)|AFL I in 1926]], [[American Football League (1936)|AFL II in 1936]] and [[American Football League (1940)|AFL III in 1940]]) played Thanksgiving games, which are also listed as indicated.
*Non-NFL team games between league teams and non league teams counted in the 1920 standings. The All-Tonawanda Lumberjacks later joined the league as the Tonawanda Kardex, albeit only for one game.
*Thanksgiving fell on the final Thursday in November until 1938 and was held on two conflicting days from 1939 to 1941.

{{col-begin}}
{{col-1-of-2}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! Season !! Visiting Team !! Score !! Home Team !! Score
|-
|rowspan=6|[[1920 NFL season|Nov. 25, 1920]]||[[Canton Bulldogs]]||0|| '''[[Akron Pros]]'''||7
|-
|'''[[Chicago Bears|Decatur Staleys]]'''||6||[[Chicago Tigers]]||0
|-
|[[Detroit Heralds]]||0||'''[[Dayton Triangles]]'''||28
|-
|''[[Columbus Panhandles]]''||0||''[[Elyria Athletics]]''*||0
|-
|[[Hammond Pros]]||0||'''Chicago Boosters'''*||27
|-
|'''[[Tonawanda Kardex|All-Tonawanda]]''' *||14||[[Rochester Jeffersons]]||3
|-
|rowspan=2| [[1921 NFL season|Nov. 24, 1921]]||'''[[Canton Bulldogs]]'''||14||[[Akron Pros]]||0
|-
|'''[[Buffalo All-Americans]]'''||7||[[Chicago Bears|Chicago Staleys]]||6
|-
|rowspan=5|[[1922 NFL season|Nov. 30, 1922]]||'''[[Buffalo All-Americans]]'''||21||[[Rochester Jeffersons]]||0
|-
|[[Chicago Bears]]||0||'''[[Chicago Cardinals (NFL, 1920–59)|Chicago Cardinals]]'''||6
|-
|[[Milwaukee Badgers]]||0||'''[[Racine Legion]]'''||3
|-
|'''[[Oorang Indians]]'''||18||[[Columbus Panhandles]]||6
|-
|[[Akron Pros]]||0||'''[[Canton Bulldogs]]'''||14
|-
|rowspan=4| [[1923 NFL season|Nov. 29, 1923]] || [[Toledo Maroons]] || 0 || '''[[Canton Bulldogs]]''' || 28
|-
|[[Chicago Cardinals (NFL, 1920–59)|Chicago Cardinals]] || 0 || '''[[Chicago Bears]]''' || 3
|-
|[[Hammond Pros]] || 0 || '''[[Green Bay Packers]]''' || 19
|-
|'''[[Milwaukee Badgers]]''' || 16 || [[Racine Legion]] || 0
|-
|rowspan=5| [[1924 NFL season|Nov. 27, 1924]] || [[Buffalo Bisons]] || 0 || '''[[Akron Pros]]''' || 22
|-
|'''[[Chicago Bears]]''' || 21 || [[Chicago Cardinals (NFL, 1920–59)|Chicago Cardinals]] || 0
|-
|[[Dayton Triangles]] || 7 || '''[[Frankford Yellowjackets]]''' || 32
|-
|[[Milwaukee Badgers]] || 10 || '''[[Cleveland Bulldogs]]'''<br><small>(at [[Canton, Ohio|Canton]])</small>|| 53
|-
|'''[[Green Bay Packers]]''' || 17 || [[Kansas City (NFL)|Kansas City Blues]] || 6
|-
|rowspan=4|[[1925 NFL season|Nov. 26, 1925]] || ''[[Chicago Cardinals (NFL, 1920–59)|Chicago Cardinals]]'' || 0 || ''[[Chicago Bears]]'' || 0
|-
|'''[[Kansas City (NFL)|Kansas City Cowboys]]''' || 17 || [[Cleveland Bulldogs]]<br><small>(at [[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]])</small>|| 0
|-
|'''[[Rock Island Independents]]''' || 6 || [[Detroit Panthers]] || 3
|-
|[[Green Bay Packers]] || 0 || '''[[Pottsville Maroons]]''' || 31
|-
|rowspan=8| [[1926 NFL season|Nov. 25, 1926]] || '''[[New York Giants]]''' || 17 || [[Brooklyn Lions]] || 0
|-
| '''[[Los Angeles Buccaneers]]''' || 9 || [[Detroit Panthers]] || 6
|-
| ''[[Chicago Cardinals (NFL, 1920–59)|Chicago Cardinals]]'' || 0 || ''[[Chicago Bears]]'' || 0
|-
| [[Green Bay Packers]] || 14 || '''[[Frankford Yellowjackets]]''' || 20
|-
| [[Providence Steam Roller]] || 0 || '''[[Pottsville Maroons]]''' || 8
|-
| ''[[Akron Pros]]'' || 0 || ''[[Canton Bulldogs]]'' || 0
|-
| ([[1926 American Football League season|AFL I]]) ''[[Los Angeles Wildcats]]'' || 0 || ''[[Chicago Bulls (AFL)|Chicago Bulls]]'' || 0
|-
| (AFL I) '''[[Philadelphia Quakers (AFL)|Philadelphia Quakers]]''' || 13 || [[New York Yankees (NFL)|New York Yankees]] || 10
|-
|rowspan=4| [[1927 NFL season|Nov. 24, 1927]] || '''[[Chicago Cardinals (NFL, 1920–59)|Chicago Cardinals]]''' || 3 || [[Chicago Bears]] || 0
|-
| [[Providence Steam Roller]] || 0 || '''[[Pottsville Maroons]]''' || 6
|-
| '''[[Green Bay Packers]]''' || 17 || [[Frankford Yellowjackets]] || 9
|-
| '''[[Cleveland Bulldogs]]''' || 30 || [[New York Yankees (NFL)|New York Yankees]] || 19
|}
{{col-2-of-2}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! Season !! Visiting Team !! Score !! Home Team !! Score
|-
|rowspan=4| [[1928 NFL season|Nov. 29, 1928]] || '''[[Providence Steam Roller]]''' || 7 || [[Pottsville Maroons]] || 0
|-
| [[Dayton Triangles]] || 0 || '''[[Detroit (NFL)|Detroit Wolverines]]''' || 33
|-
| [[Green Bay Packers]] || 0 || '''[[Frankford Yellow Jackets]]''' || 2
|-
| [[Chicago Cardinals (NFL, 1920–59)|Chicago Cardinals]] || 0 || '''[[Chicago Bears]]''' || 34
|-
| rowspan=3|[[1929 NFL season|Nov. 28, 1929]] || '''[[New York Giants]]''' || 21 || [[Staten Island Stapletons]] || 7
|-
| ''[[Green Bay Packers]]'' || 0 || ''[[Frankford Yellow Jackets]]'' || 0
|-
| '''[[Chicago Cardinals (NFL, 1920–59)|Chicago Cardinals]]''' || 40 || [[Chicago Bears]] || 6
|-
|rowspan=4| [[1930 NFL season|Nov. 27, 1930]] || [[New York Giants]] || 6 || '''[[Staten Island Stapletons]]''' || 7
|-
| [[Providence Steam Roller]] || 12 || '''[[Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL)|Brooklyn Dodgers]]''' || 33
|-
| '''[[Green Bay Packers]]''' || 25 || [[Frankford Yellowjackets]] || 7
|-
| [[Chicago Cardinals (NFL, 1920–59)|Chicago Cardinals]] || 0 || '''[[Chicago Bears]]''' || 6
|-
|rowspan=3| [[1931 NFL season|Nov. 26, 1931]] || '''[[Green Bay Packers]]''' || 38 || [[Providence Steam Roller]] || 7
|-
| [[New York Giants]] || 6 || '''[[Staten Island Stapletons]]''' || 9
|-
| [[Chicago Cardinals (NFL, 1920–59)|Chicago Cardinals]] || 7 || '''[[Chicago Bears]]''' || 18
|-
| rowspan=3| [[1932 NFL season|Nov. 24, 1932]] || '''[[Green Bay Packers]]''' || 7 || [[Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL)|Brooklyn Dodgers]] || 0
|-
| ''[[New York Giants]]'' || 13 || ''[[Staten Island Stapletons]]'' || 13
|-
| [[Chicago Cardinals (NFL, 1920–59)|Chicago Cardinals]] || 0 || '''[[Chicago Bears]]''' || 24
|-
|rowspan=2| [[1933 NFL season|Nov. 30, 1933]] || '''[[New York Giants]]''' || 10 || [[Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL)|Brooklyn Dodgers]] || 0
|-
| '''[[Chicago Bears]]''' || 22 || [[Chicago Cardinals (NFL, 1920–59)|Chicago Cardinals]] || 6
|-
|rowspan=3| [[1934 NFL season|Nov. 29, 1934]] || [[Green Bay Packers]] || 0 || '''[[Chicago Cardinals (NFL, 1920–59)|Chicago Cardinals]]''' || 6
|-
| '''[[New York Giants]]''' || 27 || [[Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL)|Brooklyn Dodgers]] || 0
|-
| '''[[Chicago Bears]]''' || 19 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 16
|-
|rowspan=3| [[1935 NFL season|Nov. 28, 1935]] || [[Green Bay Packers]] || 7 || '''[[Chicago Cardinals (NFL, 1920–59)|Chicago Cardinals]]''' || 9
|-
| '''[[New York Giants]]''' || 21 || [[Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL)|Brooklyn Dodgers]] || 0
|-
| [[Chicago Bears]] || 2 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 14
|-
|rowspan=3| [[1936 NFL season|Nov. 26, 1936]] || [[Chicago Bears]] || 7 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 13
|-
| '''[[New York Giants]]''' || 14 || [[Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL)|Brooklyn Dodgers]] || 0
|-
| ([[1936 American Football League season|AFL II]]) '''[[Cleveland Rams]]''' || 7 || [[Rochester Tigers]] || 6
|-
|rowspan=2| [[1937 NFL season|Nov. 25, 1937]] || '''[[Chicago Bears]]''' || 13 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 0
|-
| ''[[New York Giants]]'' || 13 || ''[[Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL)|Brooklyn Dodgers]]'' || 13
|-
|rowspan=2| [[1938 NFL season|Nov. 24, 1938]] || [[Chicago Bears]] || 7 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 14
|-
|''[[New York Giants]]'' || 7 || ''[[Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL)|Brooklyn Dodgers]]'' || 7
|-
| [[1939 NFL season|Nov. 23, 1939]] || [[Pittsburgh Pirates (NFL)|Pittsburgh Pirates]] || 14 || '''[[Philadelphia Eagles]]''' || 17
|-
|rowspan=2| [[1940 American Football League season|Nov. 21, 1940]] || (AFL III) [[New York Yankees (1940 AFL)|New York Yankees]] || 16 || '''[[Columbus Bullies]]''' || 17
|-
| (AFL III) [[Buffalo Tigers]] || 13 || '''[[Milwaukee Chiefs (AFL)|Milwaukee Chiefs]]''' || 30
|-
| [[1940 NFL season|Nov. 28, 1940]] || [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] || 0 || '''[[Philadelphia Eagles]]''' || 7
|}
{{col-end}}

===1945–1959===
*No Thanksgiving games were held from 1941 to 1944.
*Thanksgiving games were played on the fourth Thursday in November from 1945 onward.
*The [[All-America Football Conference]] (AAFC) also played Thanksgiving games from 1946 to 1949.

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! Season !! League !! Visiting Team !! Score !! Home Team !! Score
|-
| [[1945 NFL season|Nov. 22, 1945]] || NFL || '''[[Los Angeles Rams|Cleveland Rams]]''' || 28 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 21
|-
|rowspan=2| [[1946 NFL season|Nov. 28, 1946]] || NFL ||'''[[Boston Yanks]]''' || 34 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 10
|-
| AAFC || '''[[New York Yankees (AAFC)|New York Yankees]]''' || 21 || [[Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC)|Brooklyn Dodgers]] || 7
|-
|rowspan=3| [[1947 NFL season|Nov. 27, 1947]] || NFL ||'''[[Chicago Bears]]''' || 34 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 14
|-
| AAFC || '''[[Cleveland Browns]]''' || 27 || [[Los Angeles Dons]] || 17
|-
| AAFC || '''[[San Francisco 49ers]]''' || 21 || [[Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC)|Brooklyn Dodgers]] || 7
|-
|rowspan=3| [[1948 NFL season|Nov. 25, 1948]] || NFL ||'''[[Chicago Cardinals (NFL, 1920–59)|Chicago Cardinals]]''' || 28 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 14
|-
| AAFC || '''[[Cleveland Browns]]''' || 31 || [[Los Angeles Dons]] || 14
|-
| AAFC || '''[[Buffalo Bills (AAFC)|Buffalo Bills]]''' || 39 || [[Chicago Rockets]] || 35
|-
|rowspan=3| [[1949 NFL season|Nov. 24, 1949]] || NFL ||'''[[Chicago Bears]]''' || 28 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 7
|-
| AAFC || '''[[New York Yankees (AAFC)|New York Yankees]]''' || 17 || [[Los Angeles Dons]] || 16
|-
| AAFC || '''[[Cleveland Browns]]''' || 14 || [[Chicago Hornets]] || 6
|-
|rowspan=2| [[1950 NFL season|Nov. 23, 1950]] ||rowspan=2| NFL ||[[New York Yanks]] || 14 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 49
|-
| '''[[Pittsburgh Steelers]]''' || 28 || [[Chicago Cardinals (NFL, 1920–59)|Chicago Cardinals]] || 17
|-
| [[1951 NFL season|Nov. 22, 1951]] || NFL ||[[Green Bay Packers]] || 35 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 52
|-
|rowspan=2| [[1952 NFL season|Nov. 27, 1952]] ||rowspan=2| NFL ||[[Green Bay Packers]] || 24 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 48
|-
| [[Chicago Bears]] || 23 || '''[[Dallas Texans (NFL)|Dallas Texans]]''' <small>(at [[Akron, Ohio]])</small>|| 27
|-
| [[1953 NFL season|Nov. 26, 1953]] || NFL ||[[Green Bay Packers]] || 15 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 34
|-
| [[1954 NFL season|Nov. 25, 1954]] || NFL ||[[Green Bay Packers]] || 24 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 28
|-
| [[1955 NFL season|Nov. 24, 1955]] || NFL ||[[Green Bay Packers]] || 10 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 24
|-
| [[1956 NFL season|Nov. 22, 1956]] || NFL ||'''[[Green Bay Packers]]''' || 24 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 20
|-
| [[1957 NFL season|Nov. 28, 1957]] || NFL ||[[Green Bay Packers]] || 6 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 18
|-
| [[1958 NFL season|Nov. 27, 1958]] || NFL ||[[Green Bay Packers]] || 14 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 24
|-
| [[1959 NFL season|Nov. 26, 1959]] || NFL ||'''[[Green Bay Packers]]''' || 24 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 17
|}

===1960–1969===
*The [[American Football League]] (AFL) also played Thanksgiving Day games during this decade.
*The [[Dallas Cowboys]] started playing their traditional series in 1966.
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! Season !! League !! Visiting Team !! Score !! Home Team !! Score
|-
|rowspan=2| [[1960 NFL season|Nov. 24, 1960]] || NFL || [[Green Bay Packers]] || 10 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 23
|-
| AFL || [[Dallas Texans (AFL)|Dallas Texans]] || 35 || '''[[New York Titans (football)|New York Titans]]''' || 41 
|-
|rowspan=2| [[1961 NFL season|Nov. 23, 1961]]  || NFL || '''[[Green Bay Packers]]''' || 17 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 9
|-
| AFL || [[Buffalo Bills]] || 14 || '''[[New York Titans (football)|New York Titans]]''' || 21
|-
|rowspan=2| [[1962 NFL season|Nov. 22, 1962]]  || NFL || [[Green Bay Packers]] || 14 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 26
|-
| AFL || '''[[New York Titans (football)|New York Titans]]''' || 46 || [[Denver Broncos]] || 45
|-
|rowspan=2| [[1963 NFL season|Nov. 28, 1963]]  || NFL || ''[[Green Bay Packers]]'' || 13 || ''[[Detroit Lions]]'' || 13
|-
| AFL || '''[[Oakland Raiders]]''' || 26 || [[Denver Broncos]] || 10
|-
|rowspan=2| [[1964 NFL season|Nov. 26, 1964]]  || NFL || '''[[Chicago Bears]]''' || 27 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 24
|-
| AFL || '''[[Buffalo Bills]]''' || 27 || [[San Diego Chargers]] || 24
|-
|rowspan=2| [[1965 NFL season|Nov. 25, 1965]]  || NFL || ''[[History of the Baltimore Colts|Baltimore Colts]]'' || 24 || ''[[Detroit Lions]]'' || 24
|-
| AFL || ''[[Buffalo Bills]]'' || 20 || ''[[San Diego Chargers]]'' || 20
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[1966 NFL season|Nov. 24, 1966]] ||rowspan=2|NFL || '''[[San Francisco 49ers]]''' || 41 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 14
|-
| [[Cleveland Browns]] || 14 || '''[[Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 26
|-
| AFL || '''[[Buffalo Bills]]''' || 31 || [[Oakland Raiders]] || 10
|-
| rowspan="4"|[[1967 NFL season|Nov. 23, 1967]] ||rowspan=2| NFL || '''[[Los Angeles Rams]]''' || 31 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 7
|-
| [[St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis Cardinals]] || 21 || '''[[Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 46
|-
|rowspan="2"|AFL || '''[[Oakland Raiders]]''' || 44 || [[Kansas City Chiefs]] || 22
|-
| [[Denver Broncos]] || 20 || '''[[San Diego Chargers]]''' || 24
|-
| rowspan="4"|[[1968 NFL season|Nov. 28, 1968]] ||rowspan=2| NFL || '''[[Philadelphia Eagles]]''' || 12 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 0
|-
| [[Washington Redskins]] || 20 || '''[[Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 29
|-
|rowspan="2"|AFL || [[Buffalo Bills]] || 10 || '''[[Oakland Raiders]]''' || 13
|-
|[[Houston Oilers]] || 10 || '''[[Kansas City Chiefs]]''' || 24
|-
| rowspan="4"|[[1969 NFL season|Nov. 27, 1969]] ||rowspan=2| NFL ||'''[[Minnesota Vikings]]''' || 27 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 0
|-
| ''[[San Francisco 49ers]]'' || 24 || ''[[Dallas Cowboys]]'' || 24
|-
|rowspan="2"|AFL || [[Denver Broncos]] || 17 || '''[[Kansas City Chiefs]]''' || 31
|-
| '''[[San Diego Chargers]]''' || 21 || [[Houston Oilers]] || 17
|}

===1970–2005===
*From {{nfly|1970}} to {{nfly|2005}}, three NFC teams and one AFC team played each Thanksgiving.
*The two afternoon games were held at Detroit (12:30&nbsp;p.m. [[Eastern Time Zone (North America)|EST]]) and Dallas (4:15&nbsp;p.m. [[Eastern Time Zone (North America)|EST]]), respectively. Detroit always hosts the "early" game because a 12:30&nbsp;p.m. EST kick-off at Dallas would be 11:30&nbsp;a.m. local time ([[Central Time Zone (North America)|CST]]), and the NFL avoids starting games before noon locally. The two games rotate annually as intra-conference ([[National Football Conference|NFC]] vs. NFC) and inter-conference ([[American Football Conference|AFC]] vs. NFC) games. This is to satisfy the television contract balance between [[NFL on CBS|CBS]] (which broadcasts games in which the visiting team is from the AFC) and [[NFL on Fox|Fox]] (which broadcasts games in which the visiting team is from the NFC).
*The "early" game kicks off at a special time of 12:30&nbsp;p.m. [[Eastern Time Zone (North America)|EST]] as opposed to the typical afternoon start time of 1 p.m. This provides an additional 30 minutes to prevent overlapping of the "late" game, and also gave the network time for a pregame show and some additional time for an expanded halftime show (selected years). When Fox carries the "early" game, they typically start their pregame coverage (''[[Fox NFL Sunday]]'') at 11:30&nbsp;a.m. (with the addition of ''[[Fox NFL Kickoff]]'' to the Fox lineup, its pregame will begin at 10:30&nbsp;a.m. for 2015). When CBS carries the "early" game, they start their pregame coverage (''[[The NFL Today]]'') at 12:00&nbsp;p.m., due to the fact that their [[Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade|morning parade]] coverage runs until noon. The network with the 4:15 "late" game begins pregame coverage at 3:30&nbsp;p.m. EST.
*Dallas was replaced by the [[St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis Cardinals]] as a host team in {{nfly|1975}} and {{nfly|1977}}; Dallas and St. Louis faced each other at [[Texas Stadium]] in 1976. Because of the [[Missouri Turkey Day Game]], the long-established [[Kirkwood High School|Kirkwood]]–[[Webster Groves School District|Webster Groves]] [[high school football]] game that takes place on Thanksgiving in St. Louis, weak fan support in St. Louis, and general [[America's Team|national preference of the Cowboys]] over the historically weaker Cardinals, the Cardinals' hosting of the Thanksgiving game was not popular. Dallas returned to hosting the game in 1978 and has hosted since. Likewise, the [[Los Angeles Rams|Rams]] never played on Thanksgiving while in St. Louis, in part because of the Turkey Day Game and also because the [[Missouri State High School Activities Association]] has held its state football championship games on Thanksgiving weekend at [[The Dome at America's Center]] since 1996.
*Since the time NFL began its current alignment in 2002, no team from the [[AFC North]] can play a Thanksgiving Day game against the traditional hosts. This is because [[National Football League regular season#Current formula|under the current rotation]], the Cowboys and the Lions each play AFC North teams in years that FOX is scheduled to broadcast its Thanksgiving Day game, requiring an NFC opponent. To date, the last game to feature a team currently in the AFC North was the Lions matchup against the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] in 1998. AFC North teams can play in the prime time game, as the [[Cincinnati Bengals]] did in [[2010 NFL season|2010]].

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! Season !! Visiting Team !! Score !! Home Team !! Score !! OT
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1970 NFL season|Nov. 26, 1970]] || [[Oakland Raiders]] || 14 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 28 ||
|-
| [[Green Bay Packers]] || 3 || '''[[Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 16 ||
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1971 NFL season|Nov. 25, 1971]] || [[Kansas City Chiefs]] || 21 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 32 ||
|-
| [[Los Angeles Rams]] || 21 || '''[[Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 28 ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1972 NFL season|Nov. 23, 1972]] || [[New York Jets]] || 20 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 37 ||
|-
| '''[[San Francisco 49ers]]''' || 31 || [[Dallas Cowboys]] || 10 ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1973 NFL season|Nov. 22, 1973]] || '''[[Washington Redskins]]''' || 20 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 0 ||
|-
| '''[[Miami Dolphins]]''' || 14 || [[Dallas Cowboys]] || 7 ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1974 NFL season|Nov. 28, 1974]] || '''[[Denver Broncos]]''' || 31 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 27 ||
|-
| [[Washington Redskins]] || 23 || '''[[Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 24 ||
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1975 NFL season|Nov. 27, 1975]] || '''[[Los Angeles Rams]]''' || 20 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 0 ||
|-
| '''[[Buffalo Bills]]''' || 32 || [[St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis Cardinals]] || 14 ||
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1976 NFL season|Nov. 25, 1976]] || [[Buffalo Bills]] || 14 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 27 ||
|-
| [[St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis Cardinals]] || 14 || '''[[Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 19 ||
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1977 NFL season|Nov. 24, 1977]] || '''[[Chicago Bears]]''' || 31 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 14 ||
|-
| '''[[Miami Dolphins]]''' || 55 || [[St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis Cardinals]] || 14 ||
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1978 NFL season|Nov. 23, 1978]] || [[Denver Broncos]] || 14 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 17 ||
|-
| [[Washington Redskins]] || 10 || '''[[Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 37 ||
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1979 NFL season|Nov. 22, 1979]] || [[Chicago Bears]] || 0 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 20 ||
|-
| '''[[Houston Oilers]]''' || 30 || [[Dallas Cowboys]] || 24 ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1980 NFL season|Nov. 27, 1980]] || '''[[Chicago Bears]]''' || 23 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 17 || (OT)
|-
| [[Seattle Seahawks]] || 7 || '''[[Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 51 ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1981 NFL season|Nov. 26, 1981]] || [[Kansas City Chiefs]] || 10 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 27 ||
|-
| [[Chicago Bears]] || 9 || '''[[Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 10 ||
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1982 NFL season|Nov. 25, 1982]] || '''[[New York Giants]]''' || 13 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 6 ||
|-
| [[Cleveland Browns]] || 14 || '''[[Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 31 ||
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1983 NFL season|Nov. 24, 1983]] || [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] || 3 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 45 ||
|-
| [[St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis Cardinals]] || 17 || '''[[Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 35 ||
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1984 NFL season|Nov. 22, 1984]] || [[Green Bay Packers]] || 28 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 31 ||
|-
| [[New England Patriots]] || 17 || '''[[Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 20 ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1985 NFL season|Nov. 28, 1985]] || [[New York Jets]] || 20 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 31 ||
|-
| [[St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis Cardinals]] || 17 || '''[[Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 35 ||
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1986 NFL season|Nov. 27, 1986]] || '''[[Green Bay Packers]]''' || 44 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 40 ||
|-
|  '''[[Seattle Seahawks]]''' || 31 || [[Dallas Cowboys]] || 14 ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1987 NFL season|Nov. 26, 1987]] || '''[[Kansas City Chiefs]]''' || 27 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 20 ||
|-
|  '''[[Minnesota Vikings]]''' || 44 || [[Dallas Cowboys]] || 38 || (OT)
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1988 NFL season|Nov. 24, 1988]] || '''[[Minnesota Vikings]]''' || 23 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 0 ||
|-
|  '''[[Houston Oilers]]''' || 25 || [[Dallas Cowboys]] || 17 ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1989 NFL season|Nov. 23, 1989]] || [[Cleveland Browns]] || 10 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 13 ||
|-
| '''[[Philadelphia Eagles]]''' || 27 || [[Dallas Cowboys]] || 0 ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1990 NFL season|Nov. 22, 1990]] || [[Denver Broncos]] || 27 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 40 ||
|-
| [[Washington Redskins]] || 17 || '''[[Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 27 ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1991 NFL season|Nov. 28, 1991]] || [[Chicago Bears]] || 6 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 16 ||
|-
| [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] || 10 || '''[[Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 20 ||
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1992 NFL season|Nov. 26, 1992]] || '''[[Houston Oilers]]''' || 24 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 21 ||
|-
| [[New York Giants]] || 3 || '''[[Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 30 ||
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1993 NFL season|Nov. 25, 1993]] || '''[[Chicago Bears]]''' || 10 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 6 ||
|-
| '''[[Miami Dolphins]]''' || 16 || [[Dallas Cowboys]] || 14 ||
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1994 NFL season|Nov. 24, 1994]] || [[Buffalo Bills]] || 21 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 35 ||
|-
| [[Green Bay Packers]] || 31 || '''[[Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 42 ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1995 NFL season|Nov. 23, 1995]] || [[Minnesota Vikings]] || 38 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 44 ||
|-
| [[Kansas City Chiefs]] || 12 || '''[[Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 24 ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1996 NFL season|Nov. 28, 1996]] || '''[[Kansas City Chiefs]]''' || 28 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 24 ||
|-
| [[Washington Redskins]] || 10 || '''[[Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 21 ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1997 NFL season|Nov. 27, 1997]] || [[Chicago Bears]] || 20 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 55 ||
|-
| '''[[Tennessee Oilers]]''' || 27 || [[Dallas Cowboys]] || 14 ||
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1998 NFL season|Nov. 26, 1998]] || [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] || 16 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 19 || (OT)
|-
| '''[[Minnesota Vikings]]''' || 46 || [[Dallas Cowboys]] || 36 ||
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1999 NFL season|Nov. 25, 1999]] || [[Chicago Bears]] || 17 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 21 ||
|-
| [[Miami Dolphins]] || 0 || '''[[Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 20 ||
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[2000 NFL season|Nov. 23, 2000]] || [[New England Patriots]] || 9 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 34 ||
|-
|'''[[Minnesota Vikings]]''' || 27 || [[Dallas Cowboys]] || 15 ||
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[2001 NFL season|Nov. 22, 2001]] || '''[[Green Bay Packers]]''' || 29 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 27 ||
|-
| '''[[Denver Broncos]]''' || 26 || [[Dallas Cowboys]] || 24 ||
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[2002 NFL season|Nov. 28, 2002]] || '''[[New England Patriots]]''' || 20 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 12 ||
|-
| [[Washington Redskins]] || 20 || '''[[Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 27 ||
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[2003 NFL season|Nov. 27, 2003]] || [[Green Bay Packers]] || 14 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 22 ||
|-
| '''[[Miami Dolphins]]''' || 40 || [[Dallas Cowboys]] || 21 ||
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[2004 NFL season|Nov. 25, 2004]] || '''[[Indianapolis Colts]]''' || 41 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 9 ||
|-
| [[Chicago Bears]] || 7 || '''[[Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 21 ||
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[2005 NFL season|Nov. 24, 2005]] || '''[[Atlanta Falcons]]''' || 27 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 7 ||
|-
| '''[[Denver Broncos]]''' || 24 || [[Dallas Cowboys]] || 21 || (OT)
|}

===2006–present===
*Since 2006, three contests have been played on Thanksgiving. In addition to the traditional Detroit and Dallas home afternoon games, a third game is now played in primetime and televised by [[NFL Network]] (2006–2011) or [[NBC Sunday Night Football|NBC]] (since 2012). Current plans call for the various NFL teams (other than the Lions and Cowboys) to take turns hosting the night game on a rotation basis.
*In {{nfly|2006}}, Kansas City hosted the first [[prime time]] Thanksgiving game. The game marked a new "Thanksgiving Tripleheader" tradition. The Denver/Kansas City game marked the first time more than two games were played on Thanksgiving (as well as the first all-AFC holiday matchup) since the [[AFL–NFL merger]] in {{nfly|1970}}.
*The 2014 season was the first in which all three games feature NFC vs. NFC opponents; since then, none of the three Thanksgiving games have been bound to any conference.<ref name=petracrossflex>{{cite web|last=Patra|first=Kevin|title=2014 NFL Schedule: No AFC teams on Thanksgiving Day|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000343516/article/2014-nfl-schedule-no-afc-teams-on-thanksgiving-day|publisher=''NFL.com''|date=23 April 2014|accessdate=24 April 2014}}</ref><ref name="CBS20180419">{{cite web|last=Brinson|first=Will|title=2018 NFL Schedule: Thanksgiving has three great division rivalry games, Bears-Lions on CBS|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2018-nfl-schedule-thanksgiving-has-three-great-division-rivalry-games-bears-lions-on-cbs/|publisher=CBS Sports|date=19 April 2018|accessdate=19 April 2018}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! Season !! Visiting Team !! Score !! Home Team !! Score !! OT
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[2006 NFL season|Nov. 23, 2006]] || '''[[Miami Dolphins]]''' || 27 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 10 ||
|-
| [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] || 10 || '''[[Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 38 ||
|-
| [[Denver Broncos]] || 10 || '''[[Kansas City Chiefs]]''' || 19 ||
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[2007 NFL season|Nov. 22, 2007]] || '''[[Green Bay Packers]]''' || 37 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 26 ||
|-
| [[New York Jets]] || 3 || '''[[Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 34 ||
|-
|  '''[[Indianapolis Colts]]''' ||31 || [[Atlanta Falcons]] ||13 ||
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[2008 NFL season|Nov. 27, 2008]] || '''[[Tennessee Titans]]''' ||47 || [[Detroit Lions]] ||10 ||
|- 
| [[Seattle Seahawks]] ||9 || '''[[Dallas Cowboys]]''' ||34 ||
|-
| [[Arizona Cardinals]] ||20 || '''[[Philadelphia Eagles]]''' ||48 || 
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[2009 NFL season|Nov. 26, 2009]] || '''[[Green Bay Packers]]''' || 34 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 12||
|- 
| [[Oakland Raiders]] || 7 || '''[[Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 24 ||
|-
| [[New York Giants]] || 6 || '''[[Denver Broncos]]''' || 26 || 
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[2010 NFL season|Nov. 25, 2010]] || '''[[New England Patriots]]''' || 45|| [[Detroit Lions]] || 24 ||
|- 
|  '''[[New Orleans Saints]]''' || 30 || [[Dallas Cowboys]] || 27 ||
|-
| [[Cincinnati Bengals]] || 10 || '''[[New York Jets]]''' || 26 || 
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[2011 NFL season|Nov. 24, 2011]] || '''[[Green Bay Packers]]''' || 27 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 15 ||
|- 
| [[Miami Dolphins]] || 19 || '''[[Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 20 ||
|-
| [[San Francisco 49ers]] || 6 || '''[[Baltimore Ravens]]''' || 16 || 
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[2012 NFL season|Nov. 22, 2012]] || '''[[Houston Texans]]''' || 34 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 31 || (OT)
|-
|  '''[[Washington Redskins]]''' || 38 || [[Dallas Cowboys]] || 31 ||
|-
|  '''[[New England Patriots]]''' || [[Butt fumble|49]] || [[New York Jets]] || [[Butt fumble|19]] || 
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[2013 NFL season|Nov. 28, 2013]] || [[Green Bay Packers]] || 10 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 40 ||
|-
| [[Oakland Raiders]] || 24 || '''[[Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 31 ||
|-
| [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] || 20 || '''[[Baltimore Ravens]]''' || 22 ||
|- 
| rowspan="3"|[[2014 NFL season|Nov. 27, 2014]] || [[Chicago Bears]] || 17 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 34 ||
|-
| '''[[Philadelphia Eagles]]''' || 33 || [[Dallas Cowboys]] || 10 ||
|-
| '''[[Seattle Seahawks]]''' || 19 || [[San Francisco 49ers]] || 3 ||
|- 
| rowspan="3"|[[2015 NFL season|Nov. 26, 2015]] || [[Philadelphia Eagles]] || 14 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 45 ||
|-
| '''[[Carolina Panthers]]''' || 33 || [[Dallas Cowboys]] || 14 ||
|-
| '''[[Chicago Bears]]''' || 17 || [[Green Bay Packers]] || 13 ||
|- 
| rowspan="3"|[[2016 NFL season|Nov. 24, 2016]] || [[Minnesota Vikings]] || 13 || '''[[Detroit Lions]]''' || 16 ||
|-
| [[Washington Redskins]] || 26 || '''[[Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 31 ||
|-
| '''[[Pittsburgh Steelers]]''' || 28 || [[Indianapolis Colts]] || 7 ||
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[2017 NFL season|Nov. 23, 2017]] || '''[[Minnesota Vikings]]''' || 30 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 23 ||
|-
| '''[[Los Angeles Chargers]]''' || 28 || [[Dallas Cowboys]] || 6 ||
|-
| [[New York Giants]] || 10 || '''[[Washington Redskins]]''' || 20 ||
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[2018 NFL season|Nov. 22, 2018]] || [[Chicago Bears]] || 0 || [[Detroit Lions]] || 0 ||
|-
| [[Washington Redskins]] || 0 || [[Dallas Cowboys]] || 0 ||
|-
| [[Atlanta Falcons]] || 0 || [[New Orleans Saints]] || 0 || 
|}

==Thanksgiving Day standings==
''Of current NFL franchises. This includes [[American Football League]] (AFL) games; however, it does not include [[All-America Football Conference]] (AAFC) games.''
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|- style="background:#e3e3e3;"
! Team
! Last Game
! Wins
! Losses
! Ties
! Win %
! Other names appeared under
|-
|align=left|[[Baltimore Ravens]]||2013||2||0||&nbsp;||{{winpct|2|0}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[Carolina Panthers]]||2015||1||0||&nbsp;||{{winpct|1|0}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[Houston Texans]]||2012||1||0||&nbsp;||{{winpct|1|0}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[New Orleans Saints]]||2010||1||0||&nbsp;||{{winpct|1|0}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[Philadelphia Eagles]]||2015||6||1||&nbsp;||{{winpct|6|1}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[Minnesota Vikings]]||2017||6||2||&nbsp;||{{winpct|6|2}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[Los Angeles Rams]]||1975||3||1||&nbsp;||{{winpct|3|1}}
|align=left|<small>[[History of the Cleveland Rams|Cleveland Rams]] (1937–1945), does not include 1936 AFL's Cleveland Rams</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Miami Dolphins]]||2011||5||2||&nbsp;||{{winpct|5|2}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[Tennessee Titans]]||2008||5||2||&nbsp;||{{winpct|5|2}}
|align=left|<small>[[History of the Houston Oilers|Houston Oilers]] (1960–1996)<br />Tennessee Oilers (1997–1998)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Los Angeles Chargers]]||2017||3||1||1||{{winpct|3|1|1}}
|align=left|<small>[[History of the San Diego Chargers|San Diego Chargers]] (1961–2016)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Indianapolis Colts]]||2016||2||1||1||{{winpct|2|1|1}}
|align=left|<small>[[History of the Baltimore Colts|Baltimore Colts]] (1953–1983)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Dallas Cowboys]]||2017||30||19||&nbsp;|1||{{winpct|30|18|1}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[New York Giants]]||2017||7||6|| &nbsp; |3||{{winpct|7|4|3}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[New England Patriots]]||2012||3||2||&nbsp;||{{winpct|3|2}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[Chicago Bears]]||2015||17||15||2||{{winpct|17|15|2}}
|align=left|<small>Decatur Staleys (1920)<br>Chicago Staleys (1921)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Kansas City Chiefs]]||2006||5||5||&nbsp;||{{winpct|5|5}}
|align=left|<small>Dallas Texans (1960–1962), does not include 1–0 record of [[Dallas Texans (NFL)|unrelated NFL Dallas Texans]].</small>
|-
|align=left|[[New York Jets]]||2012||4||4||&nbsp;||{{winpct|4|4}}
|align=left|<small>New York Titans (1960–1962)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[San Francisco 49ers]]||2014||2||2||&nbsp;|1||{{winpct|2|2|1}}
|align=left|<small>Does not include 1–0 record when team was a member of the [[All-America Football Conference|AAFC]].</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Seattle Seahawks]]||2014||2||2||&nbsp;||{{winpct|2|2}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[Atlanta Falcons]]||2007||1||1||&nbsp;||{{winpct|1|1}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[Detroit Lions]]||2017||37||39||&nbsp;|2||{{winpct|37|38|2}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[Buffalo Bills]]||1994||3||4||1||{{winpct|3|4|1}}
|align=left|<small>Does not include 1–0 record of [[Buffalo Bills (AAFC)|unrelated AAFC team of same name]].</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Oakland Raiders]]||2013||3||4||&nbsp;||{{winpct|3|4}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[Green Bay Packers]]||2015||14||20||&nbsp;|2||{{winpct|14|20|2}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[Denver Broncos]]||2009||4||7||&nbsp;||{{winpct|4|7}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[Washington Redskins]]||2017||3||7||&nbsp;||{{winpct|3|7}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[Arizona Cardinals]]||2008||6||15||2||{{winpct|6|15|2}}
|align=left|<small>[[History of the Chicago Cardinals|Chicago Cardinals]] (1920–1959)<br />[[History of the St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis Cardinals]] (1960–1987)<br />Phoenix Cardinals (1988–1993)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Pittsburgh Steelers]]||2016||2||6||&nbsp;||{{winpct|2|6}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[Cincinnati Bengals]]||2010||0||1||&nbsp;||{{winpct|0|1}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]]||2006||0||1||&nbsp;||{{winpct|0|1}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[Cleveland Browns]]||1989||0||3||&nbsp;||{{winpct|0|3}}
|align=left|<small>Does not include 3–0 record when team was a member of the [[All-America Football Conference|AAFC]].</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Jacksonville Jaguars]]||None||0||0||&nbsp;||{{winpct|0|0}}
|align=left|<small>Only active franchise to have never played on Thanksgiving.</small>
|}

===Notable appearance droughts===
The last currently active franchise to have never played on [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]] through {{nfly|2018}} is the [[Jacksonville Jaguars]], who joined the league in {{nfly|1995}}. 

An idiosyncrasy in the NFL's current scheduling formula, which has been in effect in its basic form since 2002, effectively prevented teams from the [[AFC North]] from playing the Lions or Cowboys on Thanksgiving, as the formula had the AFC North playing in Dallas or Detroit in years when the other team was slated to play the AFC game on Thanksgiving. These teams, under the television contracts in place at the time, could only play in the third (night) game. With the changes in the scheduling practices in 2014, the division is no longer barred from participating in the game (since both CBS and Fox can choose teams from either conference; because of the idiosyncrasy, the AFC North team would, if chosen, always play on Fox). In practice, the changes have led to ''fewer'' AFC games, as the league has regularly scheduled the Lions' and Cowboys' division rivals for the contests so that ratings are maximized; seven out of the ten Thanksgiving games involving the Lions or Cowboys since 2014 have involved a team in the same division, while only one (a 2017 contest between the Cowboys and [[Los Angeles Chargers]]) has involved the AFC.

The [[Los Angeles Rams]] have the longest active appearance drought of any team, with their last appearance coming in 1975. Among current NFL markets, Cleveland has had the longest wait to have a team from its city play on Thanksgiving; the [[Cleveland Browns|Browns]] last appeared in 1989, several years before being suspended in the [[Cleveland Browns relocation controversy]], and have not appeared in the game since rejoining the league as an expansion team.

Since 2010, the league has made efforts to end the longest droughts. [[New Orleans Saints|New Orleans]], [[Cincinnati Bengals|Cincinnati]], [[Baltimore Ravens|Baltimore]], [[Houston Texans|Houston]], and [[Carolina Panthers|Carolina]] all played their first Thanksgiving games during this time frame. [[San Francisco 49ers|San Francisco]] likewise played their first Thanksgiving game since 1972 in 2011, and the Los Angeles Chargers, who last played on the holiday in 1969 (while the team was still an AFL franchise in San Diego) before actually joining the league, appeared for the first time as an NFL member in 2017.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bergman|first=Jeremy|title=Previewing the 2017 Thanksgiving Day slate|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000801421/article/previewing-the-2017-thanksgiving-day-slate|publisher=National Football League|date=April 20, 2017|accessdate=April 21, 2017}}</ref>

===Thanksgiving Day records of defunct teams===
:''League teams only, since 1920.''
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|- style="background: #e3e3e3;"|
! Team
! Wins
! Losses
! Ties
! Win Pct.
! Other names appeared under
|-
|align=left|[[Frankford Yellow Jackets]] || 2||0||&nbsp;||1.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1931)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[New York Yankees (AAFC)|New York Yankees]]<sup>*</sup> || 2||0||&nbsp;||1.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1949)</small>
|- 
|align=left|[[Pottsville Maroons]] || 2||0||&nbsp;||1.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1928)</small>
|- 
|align=left|[[Boston Yanks]] || 1||0||&nbsp;||1.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1948)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Buffalo Bills (AAFC)|Buffalo Bills]]<sup>*</sup> || 1||0||&nbsp;||1.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1949), unrelated to current NFL team with this name</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Dallas Texans (NFL)|Dallas Texans]] || 1||0||&nbsp;||1.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1952), does not count AFL's Dallas Texans, which are now the Kansas City Chiefs</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Los Angeles Buccaneers]] || 1||0||&nbsp;||1.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1926)</small>
|- 
|align=left|[[Oorang Indians]] || 1||0||&nbsp;||1.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1923)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Rock Island Independents]] || 1||0||&nbsp;||1.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1925)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Tonawanda Kardex|All-Tonawanda Lumberjacks]] || 1||0||&nbsp;||1.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1921)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Akron Pros]] || 3||1||1||.700
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1926)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Buffalo (NFL)|Buffalo Bisons]] || 1||1||&nbsp;|1||.500
|align=left|<small>Buffalo All-Americans (1920–1923), Defunct (1929)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Canton Bulldogs]] || 1||1||1||.500
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1926)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Cleveland Bulldogs]] || 1||1||&nbsp;||.500
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1927)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Dayton Triangles]] || 1||1||&nbsp;||.500
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1929)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Kansas City (NFL)|Kansas City Cowboys]] || 1||1||&nbsp;||.500
|align=left|<small>Kansas City Blues (1924), Defunct (1926)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Milwaukee Badgers]] || 1||1||&nbsp;||.500
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1926)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Brooklyn Lions]] || 0||1||&nbsp;||.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1926)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Chicago Tigers]] || 0||1||&nbsp;||.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1920)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Detroit (NFL)|Detroit Heralds]] || 0||1||&nbsp;||.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1920)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[New York Yanks]] || 0||1||&nbsp;||.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1950)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Providence Steam Roller]] || 0||1||&nbsp;||.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1931)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Racine Legion/Tornadoes|Racine Legion]] || 0||1||&nbsp;||.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1926)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Toledo Maroons]] || 0||1||&nbsp;||.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1923)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC)|Brooklyn Dodgers]]<sup>*</sup> || 0||2||&nbsp;||.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1949)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Chicago Hornets]]<sup>*</sup> || 0||2||&nbsp;||.000
|align=left|<small>Chicago Rockets (1946–1948), Defunct (1949)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Columbus Panhandles]] || 0||2||&nbsp;||.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1926)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Detroit (NFL)|Detroit Panthers]] || 0||2||&nbsp;||.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1926)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Hammond Pros]] || 0||2||&nbsp;||.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1926)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Rochester Jeffersons]] || 0||2||&nbsp;||.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1925)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Los Angeles Dons]]<sup>*</sup> || 0||3||&nbsp;||.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1949)</small>
|}

<small>*[[All-America Football Conference]] team.</small>

==Game MVPs==
<!-- All-Iron Award, Turkey Leg Award, Galloping Gobbler, and Pudding Pie Award redirect here. -->
Since 1989, informal and sometimes lighthearted [[Man of the Match]] awards have been issued by the networks broadcasting the respective games. Running back [[Emmitt Smith]] holds the record for most Thanksgiving MVPs with five (1990, 1992, 1994, 1996 and 2002). Voting on the respective awards is typically done informally by the announcing crew themselves, and criteria are loose. Noteworthy statistical accomplishments weigh heavily, and "group" awards are common. The announcement of the winner(s), and the presentation of the award is normally done immediately following the game, during post-game network coverage.

===Turkey Leg Award (CBS & FOX)===
In {{nfly|1989}}, [[John Madden]] of [[NFL on CBS|CBS]] awarded the first "Turkey Leg Award", for the game's most valuable player. Pursuant to its name, it was an actual cooked turkey leg, and players typically took a celebratory bite out of the leg for the cameras during post-game interviews. [[Reggie White]] of the [[Philadelphia Eagles|Eagles]] was the first recipient. The gesture was seen mostly as a humorous gimmick relating to Madden's famous [[turducken|multi-legged turkey]],<ref name="Madden11232016">{{cite news|title=John Madden talks Thanksgiving, his health, Raiders rise, 49ers fall, NFL TV ratings|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/11/23/john-madden-talks-thanksgiving-his-health-raiders-rise-49ers-fall-nfl-tv-ratings/|first=Cam|last=Imnam|newspaper=The Mercury News|date=November 23, 2016|accessdate=November 27, 2016}}</ref> cooked and delivered by local restaurant owner Joe Pat Fieseler of Harvey's Barbecue (located less than a mile from [[Texas Stadium]]). Since then, however, the award has gained subtle notoriety. Madden brought the award to [[NFL on Fox|FOX]] in {{nfly|1994}}, and it continued through 2001.

Because of the loose and informal nature of the award, at times it has been awarded to multiple players. On one occasion in 1994, it was given to players of both teams.

===Galloping Gobbler / Game Ball (FOX)===
When John Madden left FOX after 2001, the network introduced a new award starting in 2002, named the "Galloping Gobbler." It was represented by a small figurine of a silver [[domesticated turkey|turkey]] wearing a football helmet<ref name="Fox-GG">{{cite news|url=http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/laces-out/galloping-gobbler-an-evolution-of-greatness-112112|title=Galloping Gobbler: An evolution of greatness|publisher=Fox Sports|work=Laces Out – Fox Blog|date=November 21, 2013|accessdate=December 2, 2014}}</ref> striking a [[Heisman Trophy|Heisman-like]] pose.<ref name="geek">{{cite news|url=http://www.sportsgeekery.com/3815/nfl-thanksgiving-day-football-history-and-fun-facts/|title=NFL Thanksgiving Day Football History, Trivia, and Fun Facts|publisher=Sports Geekery|date=November 24, 2014|accessdate=December 2, 2014}}</ref> Much like [[Fox NFL Sunday#Cleatus the Fox Sports Robot|Cleatus]] and [[NASCAR on Fox#Criticisms|Digger]], the original Galloping Gobbler trophy reflected Fox's irreverent mascots, and went through several iterations.<ref name="Fox-GG"/> Unimpressed by its tackiness, 2002 winner [[Emmitt Smith]] (who holds the record for most Thanksgiving MVP awards and had won the Turkey Leg Award four previous times) famously threw his in a trash can.<ref name="Fox-GG"/>

In 2007, the [[kitsch]]y statuette was replaced with a [[bronze]]-colored statue of a nondescript turkey holding a football.<ref name="geek"/> In 2011, the trophies were discarded altogether and replaced by an attractive [[Commemorative plaque|plaque]]. Unlike the aforementioned "Turkey Leg Award", the "Galloping Gobbler" is normally awarded to only one player annually,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sportsgeekery.com/3815/nfl-thanksgiving-day-football-history-and-fun-facts/|title=NFL Thanksgiving Day Football History, Trivia, and Fun Facts - Sports Geekery|date=2010-11-24|language=en-US|access-date=2016-09-28}}</ref> however in 2016, co-winners were honored.<ref>[http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/video/ezekiel-elliott-dak-prescott-win-galloping-gobbler-after-thanksgiving-win-vs-washington-112416 Ezekiel Elliott, Dak Prescott win Galloping Gobbler after Thanksgiving win vs. Washington]</ref>

For 2017, the Galloping Gobbler was permanently retired, and replaced with the "Game Ball," an stylish, ornate football-shaped trophy, reminiscent of the tradition where game-used balls are typically awarded to players of the game. No one at Fox seemed to notice the first ball awarded has the stripe markings of a college ball.

===All-Iron Award (CBS)===
When the NFL returned to CBS in {{nfly|1998}}, they introduced their own award, the "All-Iron Award", which is, suitably enough, a small silver [[Ironing|iron]], a reference to [[Phil Simms]]' All-Iron team for toughness. The All-Iron winner also receives a skillet of blackberry [[Cobbler (food)|cobbler]] made by Simms' mother.

Through 2006, the trophy was only awarded to one player annually. Occasionally, it has been issued as a "group award" in addition to a single player award. In 2008, Simms stated it was "too close to call" and named four players to the trophy; he then gave the award to several people every year until 2013, after which he reverted to a single MVP in 2014.

Simms was removed from the broadcast booth for the 2017 season and no player of the game was chosen that year.

===Prime time games (NFLN & NBC)===
During the time when [[Thursday Night Football|NFL Network]] held the broadcast rights the prime time game, from 2007 to 2011 they gave out the "Pudding Pie Award" for MVPs. The award was an actual pie. In 2009, NFL Network gave [[Brandon Marshall]] a [[pumpkin pie]] rather than the [[chocolate pudding]] pie of the previous two years.

[[NFL on NBC|NBC]], which carried Thanksgiving afternoon games through 1997, did not issue an MVP award during that time. NBC began broadcasting the Thanksgiving prime time game in 2012, at which point the MVP award was added. The award is currently called the '''Sunday Night Football on Thanksgiving Night Player of the Game''', and is typically awarded to multiple players on the winning team.<ref>2016 Steelers-Colts Game Broadcast on NBC, Post-game coverage: November 24, 2016</ref> From 2012 to 2015, the NBC award was referred to as the "Madden Thanksgiving Player-of-the-Game", honoring John Madden (who announced [[NBC Sunday Night Football|NBC]] games from 2006 to 2008).<ref name="NBC Madden Award">{{cite web|url=http://www.mcall.com/sports/mc-finetuning-thanksgviving-1120-20121120,0,7863149.column|title=Easton-P'burg TV coverage won't crash gate|quote=As an added bonus, John Madden will return to NBC to open the broadcast and will give his first "Madden Thanksgiving Player of the-Game" award | publisher=[[The Morning Call]] | date=November 20, 2012 | accessdate=November 20, 2012}}</ref><ref name="NBC Madden Award2">{{cite press release | url=http://www.nbcumv.com/mediavillage/sports/nbcsports/pressreleases?pr=contents/press-releases/2012/11/20/thanksgivingnig1353447484614.xml | title=Thanksgiving Night Game on NBC New England Patriots vs. New York Jets | publisher=NBCUniversal | date=November 20, 2012 | accessdate=November 20, 2012}}</ref> In the first few years, the award specifically went to players on both offense and defense, but in recent years, defensive players have not necessarily been recognized. The winning players are presented with ceremonial game balls and, as a gesture to Madden, a cooked turkey leg.<ref>[https://www.sbnation.com/2016/11/24/13736780/turkey-leg-award-nfl-thanksgiving-john-madden-yum-food Turkey Leg Award is the best NFL football on Thanksgiving tradition]. ''SB Nation'' (November 24, 2016). Retrieved November 25, 2016.</ref>

===Complete list===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-1-of-3}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
| style="background:#fcc; text-align:center;" colspan=2| '''CBS Turkey Leg Award'''
|-
! Year !! MVP (Team)
|- 	
|1989
|[[Reggie White]] ([[Philadelphia Eagles|Phi]])<br>
|-
|1990
|[[Troy Aikman]] & [[Emmitt Smith]] ([[Dallas Cowboys|Dal]])
|-
|1991
|[[Barry Sanders]] ([[Detroit Lions|Det]])
|-
|1992
|[[Emmitt Smith]] & [[Dallas Cowboys|Cowboys]] [[American football positions#Offensive line|Offensive line]]
|-
|1993
|[[Richard Dent]] ([[Chicago Bears|Chi]])
|-
| style="background:#fcc; text-align:center;" colspan=2| '''CBS All-Iron Award'''
|-
|1998
|[[Stephen Boyd (American football)|Stephen Boyd]] ([[Detroit Lions|Det]])
|-
|1999
|[[Dexter Coakley]] ([[Dallas Cowboys|Dal]])
|-
|2000
|[[Charlie Batch]] ([[Detroit Lions|Det]])
|-
|2001
|[[Mike Anderson (running back)|Mike Anderson]] ([[Denver Broncos|Den]])
|-
|2002
|[[Troy Brown]] ([[New England Patriots|NE]])
|-
|2003
|[[Jay Fiedler]] & [[Chris Chambers]] ([[Miami Dolphins|Mia]])
|-
|2004
|[[Peyton Manning]] & [[Indianapolis Colts|Colts]] [[American football positions#Offensive line|Offensive line]]
|-
|2005
|[[Ron Dayne]] ([[Denver Broncos|Den]])
|-
|2006
|[[Joey Harrington]] ([[Miami Dolphins|Mia]])
|-
|2007
|[[Tony Romo]] & [[Dallas Cowboys|Cowboys]] defense*
|-
|2008
||[[Albert Haynesworth]] ([[Tennessee Titans|Ten]])<br />[[Chris Johnson (running back)|Chris Johnson]] ([[Tennessee Titans|Ten]])<br />[[Kevin Mawae]] ([[Tennessee Titans|Ten]])<br />[[LenDale White]] ([[Tennessee Titans|Ten]])
|-
|2009
|[[Miles Austin]] ([[Dallas Cowboys|Dal]])<br />[[Tony Romo]] ([[Dallas Cowboys|Dal]])<br />[[Jason Witten]] ([[Dallas Cowboys|Dal]])
|-
|2010
|[[Tom Brady]] ([[New England Patriots|NE]])
|-
|2011
|[[DeMarcus Ware]] ([[Dallas Cowboys|Dal]])
|-
|2012
|[[Andre Johnson]] ([[Houston Texans|Hou]])<br />[[Matt Schaub]] ([[Houston Texans|Hou]])<br />[[J. J. Watt|J.J. Watt]]  ([[Houston Texans|Hou]])
|-
|2013
|[[Tony Romo]] ([[Dallas Cowboys|Dal]])<br />[[DeMarco Murray]] ([[Dallas Cowboys|Dal]])<br />[[Lance Dunbar]] ([[Dallas Cowboys|Dal]])<br />[[Honorable mention|HM]]: [[Matthew McGloin]] ([[Oakland Raiders|Oak]])
|-
|2014
|[[Calvin Johnson]] ([[Detroit Lions|Det]])
|-
|2015
|[[Luke Kuechly]] ([[Carolina Panthers|Car]])<br />[[Jerricho Cotchery]] ([[Carolina Panthers|Car]])<br />[[Kurt Coleman]] ([[Carolina Panthers|Car]])<br /> [[Cam Newton]] ([[Carolina Panthers|Car]]) 
|-
|2016
|[[Matt Prater]] ([[Detroit Lions|Det]])<br />[[Darius Slay]] ([[Detroit Lions|Det]])<br />[[Matthew Stafford]] ([[Detroit Lions|Det]])
|-
|2017
|no award
|}
{{col-2-of-3}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
| style="background:#d0e7ff; text-align:center;" colspan=2| '''FOX Turkey Leg Award'''
|-
! Year !! MVP (Team)
|-
|1994
|[[Emmitt Smith]] & [[Jason Garrett]] ([[Dallas Cowboys|Dal]])<br />[[Brett Favre]] & [[Sterling Sharpe]] ([[Green Bay Packers|GB]])
|-
|1995
|[[Herman Moore]] ([[Detroit Lions|Det]])<br />[[Brett Perriman]] ([[Detroit Lions|Det]])<br />[[Johnnie Morton]] ([[Detroit Lions|Det]])<br />
|-
|1996
|[[Emmitt Smith]] ([[Dallas Cowboys|Dal]])
|-
|1997
|[[Luther Ellis]] ([[Detroit Lions|Det]])
|-
|1998
|[[Randy Moss]] ([[Minnesota Vikings|Min]])
|-
|1999
|[[Gus Frerotte]] ([[Detroit Lions|Det]])<br />[[Greg Hill (running back)|Greg Hill]] ([[Detroit Lions|Det]])<br />[[Johnnie Morton]] ([[Detroit Lions|Det]])<br />[[Robert Porcher]] ([[Detroit Lions|Det]])
|-
|2000
|[[Robert Smith (running back)|Robert Smith]] ([[Minnesota Vikings|Min]])<br />[[Randy Moss]] ([[Minnesota Vikings|Min]])<br />[[Daunte Culpepper]] ([[Minnesota Vikings|Min]])<br />[[Cris Carter]] ([[Minnesota Vikings|Min]])
|-
|2001
|[[Brett Favre]] & [[Ahman Green]] ([[Green Bay Packers|GB]])
|-
| style="background:#d0e7ff; text-align:center;" colspan=2| '''FOX Galloping Gobbler Award'''
|-
|2002
|[[Emmitt Smith]] ([[Dallas Cowboys|Dal]])
|-
|2003
|[[Dré Bly]] ([[Detroit Lions|Det]])
|-
|2004
|[[Julius Jones (American football)|Julius Jones]] ([[Dallas Cowboys|Dal]])
|-
|2005
|[[Michael Vick]] ([[Atlanta Falcons|Atl]])
|-
|2006
|[[Tony Romo]] ([[Dallas Cowboys|Dal]])
|-
|2007
|[[Brett Favre]] ([[Green Bay Packers|GB]])
|-
|2008
|[[DeMarcus Ware]] ([[Dallas Cowboys|Dal]])
|-
|2009
|[[Donald Driver]] ([[Green Bay Packers|GB]])
|-
|2010
|[[Drew Brees]] ([[New Orleans Saints|NO]])
|-
|2011
|[[Aaron Rodgers]] ([[Green Bay Packers|GB]])
|-
|2012
|[[Robert Griffin III]] ([[Washington Redskins|Was]])
|-
|2013
|[[Reggie Bush]] ([[Detroit Lions|Det]])
|-
|2014
|[[LeSean McCoy]] ([[Philadelphia Eagles|Phi]])
|-
|2015
|[[Matthew Stafford]] ([[Detroit Lions|Det]])
|-
|2016
|[[Dak Prescott]] & [[Ezekiel Elliott]] ([[Dallas Cowboys|Dal]])
|-
| style="background:#d0e7ff; text-align:center;" colspan=2| '''FOX Game Ball'''
|-
|2017
|[[Case Keenum]] ([[Minnesota Vikings|Min]])
|}
{{col-3-of-3}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|- 
| style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;" colspan=2| '''NFLN Pudding Pie Award'''
|-
! Year !! MVP (Team)
|-
|2006
| Not given
|-
|2007
|[[Reggie Wayne]] ([[Indianapolis Colts|Ind]])
|-
|2008
|[[Donovan McNabb]] & [[Brian Westbrook]] ([[Philadelphia Eagles|Phi]])
|-
|2009
|[[Brandon Marshall]] ([[Denver Broncos|Den]])
|-
|2010
|[[Brad Smith (American football)|Brad Smith]] & [[Darrelle Revis]] ([[New York Jets|NYJ]])
|-
|2011
|[[Terrell Suggs]] ([[Baltimore Ravens|Bal]])
|- 
| style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;" colspan=2| '''NBC Player of the Game'''
|-
|2012
|[[Tom Brady]] ([[New England Patriots|NE]])<br />[[Vince Wilfork]] ([[New England Patriots|NE]])<br />[[Steve Gregory (American football)|Steve Gregory]] ([[New England Patriots|NE]])
|-
|2013
|[[Jacoby Jones]] ([[Baltimore Ravens|Bal]])<br />[[Justin Tucker]] ([[Baltimore Ravens|Bal]])
|-
|2014
|[[Russell Wilson]] ([[Seattle Seahawks|Sea]])<br />[[Richard Sherman (American football)|Richard Sherman]] ([[Seattle Seahawks|Sea]])
|-
|2015
|[[Jay Cutler (American football)|Jay Cutler]] ([[Chicago Bears|Chi]])<br/>[[Tracy Porter]] ([[Chicago Bears|Chi]])
|-
|2016
|[[Le'Veon Bell]] ([[Pittsburgh Steelers|Pit]])<br/>[[Ben Roethlisberger]] (Pit)<br/>[[Antonio Brown]] (Pit)
|-
|2017
|[[Kirk Cousins]] ([[Washington Redskins|Was]])<br/>[[Jamison Crowder]] (Was)<br/>[[Ryan Kerrigan]] (Was)
|}{{col-end}}
*<small>Of the members of the 2007 Cowboys defense, [[Chris Canty (defensive end)|Chris Canty]], [[DeMarcus Ware]], [[Terence Newman]] and [[Greg Ellis (American football)|Greg Ellis]] were particularly noted.</small>
*<small>In 2017 no official CBS award was handed out, though [[Philip Rivers]] and [[Keenan Allen]] (both of the Chargers) were interviewed after the game during post-game coverage.</small>

==Broadcasting==
[[NFL on DuMont|DuMont]] was the first network to [[NFL on television|televise]] Thanksgiving games in {{nfly|1953}}; [[NFL on CBS|CBS]] took over in {{nfly|1956}}, and in {{nfly|1965}}, the first ever [[color television]] broadcast of an NFL game was the Thanksgiving match between the Lions and the [[1965 Baltimore Colts season|Baltimore Colts]].

Starting in [[2012 NFL season|2012]], all three broadcast networks with NFL rights will carry one game apiece. The first two games are split between [[NFL on CBS|CBS]] and [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]. These games are rotated annually, with CBS getting the 12:30&nbsp;p.m. ([[Eastern Time Zone|EST]]) "early" game, and Fox getting the 4:25&nbsp;p.m. "late" game in even-numbered years, while Fox likewise gets the "early" game and CBS the "late" game in odd-numbered years. The third game, with a prime time 8:30&nbsp;p.m. start, is carried by [[NBC Sunday Night Football|NBC]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nbcsports.com/our-history#decade_5|title=NBC’s “Turkey Day” tradition begins|last= |first= |date= |website=NBC Sports History Page|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref>.  The NFL may involve the Flexible Scheduling rule in the future to reassign games if the night game has less importance than the Dallas or Detroit game.

In 2014, two developments would eventually allow for the networks to carry teams from either of the two conferences, something that was not allowed prior to this point. First, a system known as "cross-flex" was imposed, in which the two networks bound by conference restrictions, CBS and Fox, could carry Sunday afternoon games that would otherwise air on the other network.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7265289/week-13-flex-detroit-lions-new-orleans-saints-now-night-denver-broncos-minnesota-vikings-fox | title=NFL announces Week 13 flex plan |publisher=ESPN | accessdate=November 21, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Newsday_NewTVContract">{{cite web | url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/media/nfl-renews-lucrative-tv-deals-1.3389953 | title=NFL renews lucrative TV deals | publisher=Newsday | first=Neil | last=Best | date=December 14, 2011 | accessdate=October 29, 2013}}</ref> That same year, in order to accommodate CBS's new contract to simulcast ''[[Thursday Night Football]]'', the network was given permission to air games with teams from either conference on Thursdays in a deal separate from its Sunday afternoon rights.<ref name=cbs-nflthursday>{{cite web|title=CBS to broadcast eight Thursday night football games in 2014|url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24431657/cbs-to-take-eight-thursday-night-games-in-2014|work=[[CBS Sports]]|accessdate=February 5, 2014}}</ref> From that year through 2016, CBS carried all-NFC contests every year on Thanksgiving, and in 2014 and 2015, no AFC teams played in any of the Thanksgiving games. It was initially unclear what mechanism was involved that allowed CBS to carry the NFC vs. NFC matchups; two separate articles on the NFL's official Web site gave conflicting possibilities, with one by Kevin Patra speculating that it was covered under the cross-flex rule<ref name=petracrossflex/> and another by Gregg Rosenthal stating that, because the Thanksgiving matchup was on a Thursday, the cross-flex rule did not apply.<ref name=noflex>{{cite web|last=Rosenthal|first=Gregg|title=2014 NFL Schedule: Flex games can now start in Week 5|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000343369/article/2014-nfl-schedule-flex-games-can-now-start-in-week-5|publisher=National Football League|date=April 23, 2014|accessdate=June 4, 2015|quote=Thursday, Saturday, and Monday games are not affected.}}</ref>{{Failed verification|talk=Cross-flex DOES NOT APPLY|reason=This quote appears in the paragraph BEFORE the paragraph about the cross-flexing mechanism, thus the claim does not appear to be explicitly stated in the source the cross-flexing  was definitely excluded from Thanksgiving games|date=April 2018}} 

CBS's ''Thursday Night Football'' rights expired after the 2017 season, after which Fox won the bidding. The league then scheduled all three games in 2018 to feature NFC vs. NFC opponents, with CBS given the Chicago Bears as the Lions' opponent for the early game while Fox carries the Washington at Dallas late afternoon game. NBC still held the rights to the Thanksgiving night game, Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints.<ref name="CBS20180419"/> (The same year, the league expanded its flexible scheduling policies to include days other than Sundays.)<ref name="NFLOps">{{cite web | url=https://operations.nfl.com/updates/the-game/nfl-announces-the-2018-regular-season-schedule/ | title=NFL Announces the 2018 Regular Season Schedule | publisher=NFL Football Operations | date=April 19, 2018 | accessdate=April 23, 2018}}</ref> To date, the NFL has never assigned an AFC road game to Fox on Thanksgiving.

[[NFL on Westwood One Sports|Westwood One]] most recently held national radio broadcast rights to all three games, with [[Compass Media Networks]] sharing rights to the Cowboys contest. (Under league rules, only radio stations that carry at least 12 Cowboys games in a season are allowed to carry the Compass broadcast.) The participating teams also air the games on their local [[flagship (broadcasting)|flagship]] stations and regional radio networks.

The Cowboys Thanksgiving game has regularly been the most watched NFL regular season telecast each year, with the Lions Thanksgiving game usually in the top five.

==See also==
*[[American football on Thanksgiving]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
*''2003 NFL Record and Fact Book'' ({{ISBN|0-7611-3148-5}}) <small>(for game results through 2002)</small>
*[[Detroit Lions]] [http://www.nfl.com/teams/schedule/DET/2003 2003], [http://www.nfl.com/teams/schedule/DET/2004 2004] and [http://www.nfl.com/teams/schedule/DET/2005 2005] game schedules <small>(for game results 2003 to 2005)</small>
*[[Dallas Cowboys]] [http://www.nfl.com/teams/schedule/DAL/2003 2003], [http://www.nfl.com/teams/schedule/DAL/2004 2004] and [http://www.nfl.com/teams/schedule/DAL/2005 2005] game schedules <small>(for game results 2003 to 2005)</small>


In 1993 The Miami Dolphins Defeated The Dallas Cowboys not the Chicago Bears.
Thank You
Pepsi
From N.E.P.A.

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100403094240/http://www.nfl.com/thanksgiving NFL.com Thanksgiving Page]
*[http://www.profootballhof.com/football-history/thanksgiving-day-game-results/ Thanksgiving Day Game Results], from the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]]
*[http://www.remembertheafl.com/AFLThanksgiving.htm American Football League Thanksgiving game boxscores]

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[[Category:NFL on Thanksgiving Day| ]]
[[Category:History of the National Football League]]
[[Category:National Football League competitions]]
[[Category:American Football League]]
[[Category:Detroit Lions]]
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[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1920]]
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