By Blessing 
The NFL is rolling out a full Thanksgiving tripleheader this Thursday, giving fans a day packed with football on both streaming services and free TV. The schedule features three major matchups: the Detroit Lions hosting the Green Bay Packers, the Dallas Cowboys facing the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Baltimore Ravens taking on the Cincinnati Bengals.
Thanksgiving football is one of the sport’s oldest traditions, going back to the NFL’s earliest days in 1920. The Detroit Lions stamped their mark on the holiday in 1934 when they hosted, and ultimately lost to, the Chicago Bears, 19–16. Since then, Detroit has become a Thanksgiving fixture, playing annually except for a break during World War II between 1939 and 1944. Entering 2024, the Lions hold a Thanksgiving record of 38-44-2.
The Dallas Cowboys have a tradition of their own. They began hosting Thanksgiving games in 1966 and have continued almost every year since. The only interruptions came in 1975 and 1977, when the NFL briefly shifted the matchups (via The Sporting News). Aside from those two seasons, Dallas has been the holiday host since 1978 and carries a 34-22-1 Thanksgiving record.
In 2006, the NFL expanded the schedule by adding a third Thanksgiving game, rotating the teams instead of assigning a permanent host.
Below is the first matchup of the day, along with kickoff information and broadcast details.
Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers
Kickoff Time: The defending NFC North champion Detroit Lions (7-4) welcome the Green Bay Packers (7-3-1) to Ford Field at 1 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT. Detroit continues to rely on quarterback Jared Goff, while Green Bay enters with Jordan Love leading the offense.
The Packers arrive with a Thanksgiving history of their own, holding a 16-20-2 record, including a 9-12-1 mark specifically against Detroit on the holiday.
Where To Watch: The game airs on FOX for free over the air. Streaming options include FoxOne and NFL+ (phones and tablets only), though both require active
subscriptions.