Who Played Football on Thanksgiving 2024? Full NFL Schedule

By Sarah Miller · February 26, 2050

The NFL games on Thanksgiving Day 2024 featured the Detroit Lions hosting the Chicago Bears, the Dallas Cowboys facing the New York Giants, and the Kansas City Chiefs playing against the Philadelphia Eagles in the primetime matchup.

Thanksgiving Day NFL Schedule 2024

Each year, the National Football League (NFL) celebrates Thanksgiving with a tripleheader featuring some of the league's most storied franchises. In 2024, fans enjoyed three exciting matchups broadcast nationally, continuing a long-standing American tradition that blends football and holiday festivities.

Traditional Thanksgiving Matchups

Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears – A historic NFC North rivalry renewed annually on Thanksgiving.
Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants – The Cowboys continue their decades-long tradition of hosting a Thanksgiving game.
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles – A primetime interconference showdown handpicked for national viewership.

Game Details and Broadcast Information

The 2024 Thanksgiving schedule offered fans coast-to-coast action across multiple networks, including CBS, FOX, and NBC/Peacock. Each game was strategically scheduled to maximize audience engagement during the holiday.

Game	Date	Time (ET)	Location	Broadcast Network	Result
Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears	November 28, 2024	12:30 PM	Ford Field, Detroit, MI	CBS	Lions win 27–20
Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants	November 28, 2024	4:30 PM	AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX	FOX	Cowboys win 24–17
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles	November 28, 2024	8:20 PM	Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA	NBC / Peacock	Eagles win 31–28

Table data source:1, 2

The table above outlines the full Thanksgiving Day 2024 NFL slate, including start times, venues, broadcasters, and final scores. Viewership peaked during the primetime matchup, reflecting strong interest in the Chiefs-Eagles rematch of Super Bowl LVII. The Lions and Cowboys both delivered competitive games, maintaining their roles as Thanksgiving anchors.

History of Football on Thanksgiving

The tradition of playing football on Thanksgiving dates back to 1934 when the Detroit Lions began hosting annual games to boost interest in the NFL. The Dallas Cowboys followed suit in 1966, turning the holiday into a marquee NFL event. Today, Thanksgiving games are among the most-watched regular-season broadcasts.

The Lions have hosted a Thanksgiving game nearly every year since 1934.
The Cowboys have played on Thanksgiving every year since 1966, except for 1975 and 1977 due to stadium conflicts.
In 2006, the NFL introduced a third prime-time game to expand the holiday lineup.

About Thanksgiving Football: Common Questions

Who played football on Thanksgiving Day 2024?

The teams that played on Thanksgiving Day 2024 were the Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants, and Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles.

Why do the Lions and Cowboys play every Thanksgiving?

The Detroit Lions began the tradition in 1934 to attract fans and media attention. The Dallas Cowboys adopted it in 1966 for similar promotional reasons. Both teams have since become synonymous with Thanksgiving football.

What time did the Thanksgiving NFL games start in 2024?

In 2024, the early game started at 12:30 PM ET, the afternoon game at 4:30 PM ET, and the primetime game at 8:20 PM ET.

Which network broadcasted the Thanksgiving games in 2024?

The Detroit Lions game aired on CBS, the Dallas Cowboys game on FOX, and the primetime matchup between the Chiefs and Eagles aired on NBC and streamed live on Peacock.

Has there always been a third Thanksgiving night game?

No. The NFL added the primetime Thanksgiving game in 2006 to increase exposure. Before that, only the Lions and Cowboys hosted games. The third game now features rotating interconference or high-profile matchups.