The NFL is expanding its Thanksgiving football tradition. Starting with the Detroit Lions hosting in 1934, the Dallas Cowboys joined in 1966, and a third game was added in 2006. The league introduced Black Friday football in 2023 and now adds Thanksgiving Eve in 2025.
Thanksgiving Eve — Nov. 25
The Packers travel to warmer weather for a holiday-week showdown against a team expected to be in the playoff picture. Both the Packers and the Rams made the 2025 playoffs, with the Packers losing to the Bears in the Wild Card Round and the Rams falling to the eventual Super Bowl-champion Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game.
Key note: Packers star EDGE Micah Parsons should be back by this game. He tore his ACL in December and may miss time to begin the season.
Thanksgiving — Nov. 26
1 p.m. ET on CBS, Paramount+
The Lions host an NFC North rival as the Bears come to town. Chicago is coming off a breakthrough 11-6 season that included its first division crown since 2018 and its first playoff win since 2010. The Lions' streak of division titles ended at two, and at 9-8, Detroit missed the playoffs entirely.
First-year coach Ben Johnson led Caleb Williams to a strong second season with six fourth-quarter comebacks. The Bears also led the NFL with 33 turnovers forced.
Detroit swept Chicago and has won seven of the last eight meetings. Jahmyr Gibbs produced over 1,800 yards from scrimmage for the second straight year and made the Pro Bowl for the third time in three seasons, while Amon-Ra St. Brown produced more than 1,400 yards receiving.
The Lions have lost eight of their last nine Thanksgiving games, though the lone win came against the Bears in 2024.
Afternoon Game
The Eagles visit the Cowboys for the second part of the Thanksgiving triple-header. Dallas has won four straight Thanksgiving games but lost its last game against Philadelphia on Turkey Day, back in 2014.
The Cowboys boasted one of the NFL's best offenses in 2025, with Dak Prescott throwing for 30 touchdowns and over 4,500 yards. Both George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb exceeded 1,000 receiving yards, and Javonte Williams went for over 1,200 yards on the ground. Still, Dallas finished just 7-9-1 due to a porous defense.
Offseason moves: The Cowboys brought in Christian Parker (most recently the Eagles' secondary coach) as defensive coordinator and drafted former Ohio State star Caleb Downs 11th overall.
The Eagles became the first team in more than 20 years to repeat as NFC East champions but lost in the Wild Card Round. Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith and a stellar offensive line return, but A.J. Brown won't join them. First-round rookie Makai Lemon will have big shoes to fill immediately.
Night Game
One of the NFL's best non-divisional rivalries serves as the Thanksgiving nightcap as the Chiefs visit the Bills, who will open a new stadium this year.
Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen represent the premier quarterback showdown of this generation. Allen is a stellar 5-1 against Mahomes in the regular season, but Mahomes owns a perfect 4-0 record against Allen in the playoffs.
Both teams are coming off 2025 seasons that ended in difficult fashion. Mahomes suffered a torn ACL in December.