We’re now 13 weeks deep into the NFL season, and every and each sport is taking up added significance as we get later and later into the yr.
And whereas it is true that each single sport technically issues simply as a lot as another with regards to figuring out who will make the playoffs (or win tiebreakers or have a greater draft choice) and have an opportunity to vie for the proper to take the Lombardi Trophy away from the Eagles, there are some matchups that stand out above the others. And this yr’s Thanksgiving day slate has just a few of them.
As an annual custom, the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys will host video games on Thanksgiving afternoon. However we have additionally received a possible barn-burner of a prime-time sport on faucet — and it seems like we’ll get some excellent news on the damage entrance for Joe Burrow. Learn on beneath for particulars on the 2025 Thanksgiving slate.
Date: Nov. 27 | Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Ford Discipline (Detroit, MI)
TV: Fox | Streaming: fubo
It is a much-anticipated rematch of the Week 1 sport whereby the Packers completely laid the smack down on the Lions. Detroit will certainly have revenge on its thoughts for this one, whereas Inexperienced Bay shall be seeking to pull off one other win and stake a declare to the division title.
The Lions have performed extra Thanksgiving video games than another workforce, taking part in 85 occasions since 1934. They’re 38-45-2 all time, however they lastly received a win final yr after shedding every season from 2017 by way of 2023. Final yr’s sport, after all, was notable for the clock-management abomination that resulted in then-Bears coach Matt Eberflus (now the defensive coordinator for the Cowboys) being fired.
For the Lions, this sport is a part of a tricky post-bye week schedule, whereby they play the Vikings (loss), Commanders (win), Eagles, Giants, Packers, Cowboys and Rams all in a row. That sport towards Dallas the week after Thanksgiving can also be on “Thursday Evening Soccer.”
The Packers, as many know, had been as soon as the Lions’ annual opponent on Thanksgiving, taking part in them yearly from 1951 by way of 1963. Of their 38 whole Thanksgiving video games, the Packers are 16-20-2. They final performed on Thanksgiving, properly, final yr. They beat the Dolphins 30-13 within the prime-time sport. This may really mark their third straight Thanksgiving sport, as they performed and beat the Lions 29-22 again in 2023.
The sport comes in the midst of a tricky divisional stretch for the Packers, who play the Vikings in Week 12, Detroit in Week 13 and the Bears in Week 14.
Date: Nov. 27 | Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Location: AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX)
TV: CBS | Streaming: Paramount+
Regardless that the Cowboys are already solely on absolutely the fringes of playoff competition, this sport goes to do monster viewership numbers. Dallas is at all times a scores manufacturing facility and the Chiefs are, proper now, in all probability the second-biggest draw within the NFL — and that is provided that they have not really surpassed the Cowboys.
Oh, and it ought to be an enchanting soccer matchup completely loaded with stars on either side of the ball. Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Chris Jones, Rashee Rice, Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Quinnen Williams and extra all on the identical discipline on the identical time? Sure, please. Signal me up.
Dallas has performed 57 Thanksgiving video games in its historical past and has compiled a 34-22-1 all-time document. The Cowboys have gained three Thanksgiving video games in a row, with every of these victories coming towards a divisional opponent: the Giants twice and Washington as soon as. The final time they misplaced on Thanksgiving was in 2021, once they misplaced an time beyond regulation sport to the Las Vegas Raiders whereas taking part in with out each Lamb and Amari Cooper.
This sport is a part of a hellacious end-of-season dash for the Cowboys, who face the Eagles, Chiefs, Lions, Vikings and Chargers all in a row earlier than closing out the season towards the Commanders and Giants.
Chiefs vs. Cowboys prediction: Can Patrick Mahomes preserve tempo with Dak Prescott and the potent Dallas offense?
Douglas Clawson
Kansas Metropolis is 5-5 in its 10 Thanksgiving contests, however has not performed on the vacation since 2006, when Larry Johnson rushed for 157 yards to steer the Chiefs to a win over the division-rival Broncos. That was additionally the primary yr that the league performed a Thursday night time sport on Thanksgiving along with the video games hosted by the Lions and Cowboys.
The final time the Cowboys and Chiefs performed on Thanksgiving was in 1995, with the Cowboys prevailing 24-12 behind an 11-catch, 121-yard sport from Michael Irvin.
Date: Nov. 27 | Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
Location: M&T Financial institution Stadium
TV: NBC
Right here we’ve got one other massive divisional matchup to match the one which will get the day began. The Bengals and Ravens performed two of probably the most entertaining video games of the 2024 season, and here is hoping we get handled to a rematch on Thanksgiving night time. On the very least, here is hoping we get to see Joe Burrow again in motion for this sport, as Week 13 has been focused as a possible return date for the injured quarterback. (Even when we do not, the Joe Flacco-led Bengals offense is fairly thrilling, and will present some fireworks right here.)
The Bengals have performed only one Thanksgiving sport of their historical past, shedding 26-10 to the Jets in 2010 in what was a rematch of the playoff sport the 2 groups performed the yr earlier than. The Bengals have an attention-grabbing stretch of schedule starting with this sport, as they journey to Baltimore earlier than heading to Buffalo to tackle the Payments after which return residence to host the Ravens once more in Week 15.
The Ravens have performed simply twice on Thanksgiving, profitable every of their video games in 2011 and 2013. The final time they performed was once they took on the Steelers again in 2013, with the Ravens coming into because the defending Tremendous Bowl champions. Baltimore hosts the Steelers in between these two video games towards Cincinnati.
