2025 NFL Thanksgiving schedule: Cowboys host Chiefs to highlight loaded triple-header

We are now 13 weeks into the NFL season, and each each game takes on increased importance as we move later and later in the year.

And while it’s true that each game technically counts as much as any other when it comes to determining who will play make the playoffs (or win tiebreakers or have a higher draft pick) and have a chance to compete for the right to take the Lombardi Trophy to the Eagles, some matchups stand out above the rest. And this year, the Thanksgiving Day list has a few of them.

As an annual tradition, the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys will host games on Thanksgiving afternoon. But we also have a potential barnburner of a prime-time matchup at our fingertips – and it looks like we’ll have some good news on the injury front for Joe Burrow. Read below for more details on the 2025 Thanksgiving list.

Date: November 27 | Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Ford Field (Detroit, Michigan)
TV: Fox | Streaming: fubo

This is a highly anticipated rematch of the Week 1 matchup in which the Packers absolutely pummeled the Lions. Detroit will surely have their sights set on getting revenge for this one, while Green Bay will look to pick up another win and claim the division title.

The Lions have played more Thanksgiving games than any other team, playing 85 times since 1934. They are 38-45-2 all-time, but they finally got a win last year after losing every season from 2017 to 2023. Last year’s game, of course, was notable for the abomination of clock management that resulted in the firing of then-Bears coach, Matt Eberflus (now Cowboys defensive coordinator).

For the Lions, this game is part of a tough post-bye schedule, in which they face the Vikings (loss), Commanders (win), Eagles, Giants, Packers, Cowboys and Rams, all in a row. This game against Dallas the week after Thanksgiving also airs on “Thursday Night Football.”

The Packers, as many know, were once the Lions’ annual Thanksgiving opponent, playing them every year from 1951 to 1963. In their 38 total Thanksgiving games, the Packers are 16-20-2. They last played on Thanksgiving, well, last year. They beat the Dolphins 30-13 in the prime time game. This will actually be their third straight Thanksgiving game, as they played and beat the Lions 29-22 in 2023.

The game comes amid a tough divisional stretch for the Packers, who will face the Vikings in Week 12, Detroit in Week 13 and the Bears in Week 14.

Date: November 27 | Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Location: AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
TV: CBS | Streaming: Paramount+

Even if the Cowboys are already on the absolute margins of the playoffs, this game will generate monster audience figures. Dallas is still a ratings factory and the Chiefs are, as of right now, probably the second biggest draw in the NFL – and that’s only if they haven’t actually overtaken the Cowboys.

Oh, and this should be a fascinating football game, absolutely loaded with stars on both sides of the ball. Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Chris Jones, Rashee Rice, Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Quinnen Williams and many others all on the same field at the same time? Yes please. Sign me up.

Dallas has played 57 Thanksgiving games in its history and has established an all-time record of 34-22-1. The Cowboys have won three straight Thanksgiving games, each of those wins coming against a divisional opponent: the Giants twice and Washington once. The last time they lost on Thanksgiving was in 2021, when they lost an overtime game to the Las Vegas Raiders while playing without Lamb and Amari Cooper.

This match is part of a hellish end-of-season sprint for the Cowboys, who successively face the Eagles, the Chiefs, the Lions, the Vikings and the Chargers before closing the season against the Commanders and the Giants.

Chiefs vs. Cowboys Prediction: Can Patrick Mahomes Keep Up with Dak Prescott and Dallas’ Powerful Offense?

Douglas Clawson

Kansas City is 5-5 in its 10 Thanksgiving games, but hasn’t played on the holiday since 2006, when Larry Johnson ran for 157 yards to lead the Chiefs to a victory over the division rival Broncos. This was also the first year that the league played a Thursday night game on Thanksgiving in addition to games hosted by the Lions and Cowboys.

The last time the Cowboys and Chiefs played on Thanksgiving was in 1995, with the Cowboys winning 24-12 behind an 11-catch, 121-yard game from Michael Irvin.

Date: November 27 | Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
Location: M&T Bank Stadium
TV: BNC

Here we have another big division match that matches the one that starts the day. The Bengals and Ravens played two of the most entertaining games of the 2024 season, and hopefully we’ll be treated to a rematch on Thanksgiving night. At the very least, we hope to see Joe Burrow back in action for this game, as Week 13 has been targeted as a potential return date for the injured quarterback. (Even if we don’t, the Joe Flacco-led Bengals offense is pretty exciting and could provide some fireworks here.)

The Bengals have played only one Thanksgiving game in their history, losing 26-10 to the Jets in 2010 in what was a rematch of the playoff game the two teams played the year before. The Bengals have an interesting schedule starting with this game, as they travel to Baltimore before traveling to Buffalo to face the Bills and then returning home to host the Ravens again in Week 15.

The Ravens have only played twice on Thanksgiving, winning each of their games in 2011 and 2013. The last time they played was when they faced the Steelers in 2013, with the Ravens becoming the defending Super Bowl champions. Baltimore hosts the Steelers between these two games against Cincinnati.