NFL’s Thanksgiving Day Games: A Holiday Dilemma

The NFL is set to unveil its complete schedule this Thursday evening, adding the usual dramatics expected from the league. However, we already know what to expect on the biggest holiday for football fans: the Thanksgiving Day games are, quite frankly, disappointing.

It’s worth mentioning that the NFL came up with “Thanksgiving Eve” to squeeze another game into the lineup, but in doing so, they seem to have missed the mark entirely. The day kicks off with the Bears facing the Lions at 12:30 p.m., followed by the Eagles against the Cowboys at 4:30 p.m., and ending with the Bills taking on the Chiefs at 8:30 p.m.

This might sound fine on the surface, but there’s a significant issue. To be frank, two divisional matchups on Thanksgiving present a unique challenge. While it’s become somewhat of a tradition for the NFL to showcase important games during holidays, having teams compete in crucial matchups with minimal rest raises concerns about fairness and, perhaps more importantly, the experience for fans.

Ultimately, the schedule reflects a disconnect between what fans hope for and what the NFL delivers. Thanksgiving football should be a background event, something to enjoy while socializing. But on this day, fans in cities like Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, and beyond will find themselves glued to their screens, potentially missing out on the family time that’s supposed to be the highlight of the day.

Lions fans, in particular, have felt the strain of this trend. This marks the fourth consecutive year that Detroit will face a divisional rival on Thanksgiving. They played the Packers in 2025, the Bears in 2024, and the Packers again in 2023. It’s almost become routine for loyal Lions supporters to have their holiday interrupted by a game they can’t ignore.

The NFL strategically promotes these matchups to maximize ad revenue, marketing them as “premier games.” But this approach often neglects the fans’ needs. Thanksgiving is a time when people typically gather and might be away from home, making it difficult to focus on the game with all the distractions around. The day is really about food and family—with football serving as a side attraction.

While football is certainly part of the holiday traditions, no one should feel forced to choose between watching a significant game or spending quality moments with family. It seems time to rethink the Thanksgiving schedule; nobody should have to miss crucial plays or drives.

This dilemma raises a broader question about the NFL’s holiday broadcasts, especially when, in contrast, the NBA’s Christmas lineup remains so enjoyable. December basketball games don’t carry the same weight, allowing fans to dip in and out without the emotional stakes they usually feel. Perhaps Thanksgiving football should be similarly casual, as it’s not that the Cowboys, Eagles, Bears, and Lions don’t attract viewers; they simply shouldn’t be forced to face each other.

Divisional games can and should be played throughout the fall on Sundays, when football is the clear focus. The NFL shouldn’t feel pressured to squeeze in a short week during the holidays when there are already so many distractions competing for our attention.