Which NFL teams always play on Thanksgiving?

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

At least familiar.

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

In a tradition that dates back to the 1930s, the Lions have graced television sets across the country. Things are a little different in 2024, as the Lions are legitimate Super Bowl contenders – a label rarely given to 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 when a turkey leg hits the fine china. Due to an injury to Dak Prescott and a season full of disappointments, the Cowboys won’t have an opportunity to play for a Lombardi Trophy in 2024.

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That is, unless an early Christmas miracle occurs.

Here’s what you should know about the two teams that are Thanksgiving mainstays:

Which NFL teams always play on Thanksgiving?

The Lions and Cowboys are the two main players on Thanksgiving. Detroit played its first game in 1934 and Dallas joined the tradition in 1966.

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

NFL FOR Thanksgiving:Why Detroit and Dallas always play on holidays

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:

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Which NFL teams always play on Thanksgiving?

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