Thanksgiving NFL games are returning for 2024, with three exciting matchups scheduled for the national holiday. For the 19th consecutive year, the NFL will feature three games on Thanksgiving Day. The Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys will each play in one of these games, continuing their long-standing traditions. This marks the 59th year in a row that both teams will play on Thanksgiving, with Detroit participating every year since 1934, except for the seasons between 1939 and 1945 due to the Great Depression and World War II. Meanwhile, the Cowboys have been playing on the holiday since 1966.
This year, both teams will face divisional opponents in their respective games. The Lions will kick off the day's festivities with a matchup against the Chicago Bears, while the Cowboys will square off against the New York Giants in the late afternoon. The final game of the day will feature the Miami Dolphins against the Green Bay Packers in a prime-time clash.
Thanksgiving Day, one of the most cherished holidays in the United States, arrives on November 28, 2024. Observed every year on the fourth Thursday of November, this day is a time to give thanks for the harvest and the blessings of the past year. While it is primarily celebrated in the United States and Canada, Thanksgiving is closely linked with food, fun, and football. Traditionally, it was a day for farmers to offer gratitude to God for a bountiful autumn harvest.
Thanksgiving NFL Games 2024 Schedule:
Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears
- Location: Detroit, Michigan
- Venue: Ford Field
- Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
- Channel: CBS
The Detroit Lions return home in Week 13 after a road game against the Indianapolis Colts the previous Sunday. This Thanksgiving matchup marks Chicago’s third consecutive divisional game. The Bears will enter the game after facing the Green Bay Packers in Week 11 and the Minnesota Vikings in Week 12. Detroit’s divisional rivalry with Chicago will kick off the holiday action.
Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants
- Location: Arlington, Texas
- Venue: AT&T Stadium
- Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
- Channel: Fox
In Dallas, the Cowboys will play host to the New York Giants in a divisional showdown. This will be Dallas’ second straight divisional matchup, following a Week 12 clash with the Washington Commanders. For the Giants, the Thanksgiving game will come after their Week 11 bye and a home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 12. Due to key injuries—Dak Prescott's season-ending hamstring injury and Daniel Jones' struggles—both teams are expected to play their backup quarterbacks in this matchup.
Green Bay Packers vs. Miami Dolphins
- Location: Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Venue: Lambeau Field
- Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
- Channel: NBC
The final game of the day will be a prime-time meeting between the Green Bay Packers and Miami Dolphins at Lambeau Field. The Dolphins will travel to Green Bay after playing two home games against the Las Vegas Raiders and the New England Patriots in Weeks 11 and 12. The Packers, on the other hand, will be playing their second consecutive home game after hosting the Bears in Week 11 and the San Francisco 49ers in Week 12. This holiday matchup is a rematch from Christmas Day in 2022, when the Packers defeated the Dolphins.
