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Which NFL teams always play on Thanksgiving?
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Which NFL teams always play on Thanksgiving?

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It’s a sight as warm and familiar as your grandma’s apple crumble: the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving.

Well, familiar at least.

Like stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy and your annoying, slightly drunk uncle, the Cowboys and Lions are a Turkey Day staple, giving fans a sense of deja vu every year as they prepare their birds and open the cans of cranberry sauce.

In a tradition dating back to the 1930s, the Lions graced television sets across the country. Things are a little different in 2024, as the Lions are legitimate Super Bowl contenders – a label that has rarely been bestowed on the team in recent years.

And in what appears to be a bizarre turn of events, the Cowboys are almost completely out of the playoff race by the time a turkey leg hits the fine china. With an injury to Dak Prescott and a season full of disappointments, the Cowboys won’t get a chance to play for a Lombardi Trophy in 2024.

That is, barring an early Christmas miracle.

Here’s what you need to know about the two squads that are Thanksgiving Day mainstays:

Which NFL teams always play on Thanksgiving?

The Lions and Cowboys are the two mainstays on Thanksgiving, with Detroit playing their first game in 1934 and Dallas joining the tradition in 1966.

Both teams have been fixtures ever since, with four other teams selected each year to round out the holiday schedule.

Lions Thanksgiving record

Detroit has played a total of 84 games on Thanksgiving, by far the most in the NFL, and is 37-45-2 on the holiday. Here are the most common matchups they’ve had:

  • Lions-Packers (22 games): Lions lead 12-9-1
  • Lions-Bears (19 games): Bears lead 11-8
  • Lions-Vikings (5 games): Vikings lead 3-2

Cowboys Thanksgiving record

Dallas has played a total of 56 games on Thanksgiving with a record of 33-22-1 on the holiday entering 2024. Unlike the Lions, they do not have a popular pre-game rivalry; Dallas played 24 different teams over the holidays. These are their most common opponents:

  • Cowboys Commanders (11 games): Cowboys lead 9-2
  • Cowboys-Dolphins (5 games): Dolphins lead 3-2
  • Cowboys-Cardinals (4 games): Cowboys lead 4-0