Why Do The Same 2 NFL Teams Play EVERY Thanksgiving?

[@nirvanaguitar]

OH no. You're not gonna take this away from us Lions fans now that our team is good.

[@Robert3398]

I don't think this Thanksgiving game can beat last year's. Even though we lost that's a great game. Then again if we can bear GB and go to 9-2 for the first time in my life well that will do. You're right though what a tradition for us fans.

[@CharlieStubbs11]

Yea the lions are top 5 this year

[@apctoolfrk]

Lions will ALWAYS play on Thanksgiving

[@apctoolfrk]

@@Robert3398it was a good game last year. But a win is always more fun than a loss. We win tomorrow, I’ll be overjoyed

[@stanhry]

As a Bears fan we get them about every three years. Lion do only play in conference games on thanksgiving. Thursday night games are now every week . Lions crush those Packers. Last Sundays game was a close one . But you cannot beat Goff .

[@HonoluluBlue81]

Speaking as a Lions fan, Thanksgiving is our game. The tradition exists because we created it. It is sacred in Detroit. For us the Thanksgiving parade and the Lions game is every bit apart of our Thanksgiving tradition as Turkey and mashed potatoes. Thanksgiving football exist because of the Lions. You’re welcome America.

[@channingbloom7125]

As a cowboys fan, THANK YOU DETROIT LIONS.

[@rabbitgundam4420]

Well said

[@LiquorandCheeseburgers]

Damn straight!

[@OldDood]

You BetCha! I am 68 yrs old and we have ALWAYS Watched and Enjoyed the Lions on Thanksgiving.

[@Cornerback80]

And yall can't seem to ever win on Thanksgiving, even when your good

[@jerryalexander8803]

The Lions carried Thanksgiving, there would be no Thanksgiving football without the early success of Football in Detroit on Thanksgiving.. Trying to take away the cowboys and lions on thanksgiving is like trying to take away the Army/Navy game

[@SneakyVito]

stop Detroit is poverty.

[@davidmccann9811]

I'm not a Lions or Cowboys fan, in fact I'm not even American (I'm British) but I think tradition is important and shouldn't just be thrown away. The third game works well, but the Lions and Cowboys are a traditional part of your thanksgiving day.

[@John-ct9zs]

These two teams invented it, Detroit especially back when nobody wanted to play on Thanksgiving way way back in the 1930s. Even when Dallas joined in the early 1960s, people still didn't want to play on Thanksgiving. I think it was only by the 1970s and definitely by the 80s and 90s that everyone else started to get jealous of the Lions and Cowboys having Thanksgiving games, but by then it became popular. Let the original team that invented it, Detroit keep it, as well as Dallas for having the insight to see that Detroit figured out something, regarding mass marketing. No one else thought of this before them. There's nothing the rest of us can do except protest, but the original teams that started it should just go ahead and keep it.

[@michaelthomas7898]

The NFL did try to take away the Lion's game, but the Ford family said they would yank all their advertising money away from anything related to the NFL. They have had a game since 1934 and they were going to keep it. Not sure how true the story is but that's what I was told.

[@BTipp24]

If it weren't for the Lions, there wouldn't be a Thanksgiving game.

[@TheSloppyjoejr]

There would probably be the normal TNF game

[@Gixsir]

Yup no one would’ve ever thought of it, ever

[@cubeman6639]

"Tolerate the lions on thankgiving". Crazy this year theyre probably gonna be the most watched thanksgiving game. As a lions fan i love seeing my team on thanksgiving good or bad

[@JaredBruski]

Lol cant have shit in Detroit

[@Reggie2000]

Uh no. How bout dem Cowboys!!! 😂

[@JaredBruski]

@@Reggie2000 ain't no one even remember yall rivals with the bum ass not redskins no more, however everyone knows the NFC North fight on sight.

[@Robert3398]

Not me. That last game of Patricia was hard to watch. Houston spanked us. Too many games pissed me off on Thanksgiving. Looking forward to a 9-2 record if we win.

[@Reggie2000]

Last year, Cowboys vs Giants: 42 million viewers. Most watched regular season game ever. Dallas puts butts in the seats. The lions are just smell like butt. FACTS. 🤓

[@JoeSmith-ey2xp]

Going to the game with my dad and coming home afterwards to the dinner mom made are some of the best memories of my childhood. That's the tradition in Detroit and why we always play at noon.

[@sisenor4091]

Your mom wasn’t allowed to go to the game? Meanwhile she was slaving in the kitchen? SHAME!! P.S. Just joking! I hope you guys continue that tradition and if not, good memories.

[@adamsauve]

This isn't an nfl tradition, it's a lions tradition the nfl adopted.

[@rdaws73]

Full Stop

[@Wetearwax]

theres a twist it is a nfl tradition also its a not an

[@stevenanderson4690]

truth

[@SneakyVito]

nope

[@ront3333]

Tradition still means something. God bless the Lions and the Cowboys.

[@TheHintz62]

The Lions should always have it since they started it back in 1934

[@austinsmith7731]

These commentators not appriciating tradition is wild to me. Who cares if its the same team? Thanksgiving and football go hand in hand man, just enjoy it.

[@steviesavagegs8791]

The lions on Thanksgiving isnt just a NFL tradition its a family tradition for millions of people who live in michigan.

[@obviouslyPSM]

i will say this is the first year im genuinely most excited for the lions game. im a steelers fan so i couldnt care less about the nfc but i want to see them do well for the lions fans. yall earned it at this point

[@Zander2212]

Come on, you can't take this away from us Lions fans. I don't live anywhere near Detroit, and we're rarely good enough to earn a primetime game. For most of my childhood, Thanksgiving was my only chance to watch them on TV.

[@BenWillyums]

if you don't live anywhere near Detroit, why are you a DETROIT Lions fan? you've made a glaring mistake

[@Zander2212]

@@BenWillyums I know. My parents are from Detroit, so I grew up rooting for all Detroit teams, and I've just stuck with them.

[@spiritboxyxbox]

​@@BenWillyumsmany people are fans of different state team lol 😂 can be due to family or what teams they thought were cool while growing up

[@jamesreeves9282]

As a huge Cowboys fan I've always loved watching them on Thanksgiving. It's just tradition. Eat and watch football !

[@chuckbisbee7520]

I think the answer can be found from the movie 'Fiddler on the Roof'. Tradition. Keep it coming Detroit.

[@austinsmith7731]

I love that song and musical, good call

[@VulcanLogic]

The Lions invented it, and Dallas followed soon after joining the league They added a 3rd game during the period when neither Dallas nor Detroit had been very good (2006). If more teams want to play on Thanksgiving, they should get together with other owners to set that up.

[@sawcpancakes8710]

I'm not a fan of either team but I'd love to see this tradition upheld

[@Jerryemcse]

In Detroit, the Lions are just as important to us as the Turkey Dinner. This year, we are on a roll, and the game should be extra special.

[@amb3007]

Speaking as a Lions fan, you got to let us have the Thanksgiving game. Its the only tradition we have right now lol

[@thethirstycactus8794]

The Lions Thanksgiving game has been a huge tradition in my family. And now that the Lions are finally a good team, many more people will wanna watch them on Thanksgiving.

[@shawnchristianson324]

Yup and they just got dominated in front of a national audience to a team that has been far from great this year. Congrats on your tradition of losing

[@jmommy881]

Its sort of ironic, now the networks want to have the Lions. It probably started the last game of the season last year when they were moved to prime time against the Packers. It became the game with the largest audience last year during the season.

[@benjaminvarner3076]

I've always wondered this question.... thanks for the history on it. I never cared for the Lions or Cowboys, but growing up it was always great to watch football before eating Thanksgiving dinner with family. Watching Barry Sanders on a national spotlight, and cheering for any team playing against the Cowboys... great memories. P.S. factoid: Playstation's first console (PS1) released in the US September of 1995, after the Cowboys last Super Bowl. 28 years of video games and no Cowboy Superbowls!! Want to see a Cowboy Super Bowl... gotta bust out a VHS player.

[@jaanru10]

The Lions created it, so they keep it.. It's that simple plus the Lions are extremely good this year so it's going to make it more exciting.

[@clarkmenard3948]

Only good thing the Lions had since 1962 (until now) and other fans wanted to strip it from us? 😐 Last year, until they flexed us that last game... we were the only team in the league with no actual prime time games. Except 1... Thanksgiving. Let us have our 1 thing.

[@RudieObias]

Let Detroit have their day. It’s pretty much all the Lions have, as of late

[@DeeDaKaang1]

This might be the 1st year since Barry Sanders played that I'll actually watch The Lions game

[@AnotherSportsChannel]

🤣

[@JaredBruski]

As of late? Lol we start playing good finally and looking good and yall wanna take Thanksgiving from us? Thats some fuck shit, damn cant have shit in detroit

[@charleskotovich4102]

Lol plus 1St o line best r b duo, best coaches fastest w r and amon ra 100% catch St. Brown also tons of typing rookie talent.

[@charleskotovich4102]

Lmfao we went to Lambeau and leaped CBS fuckhead.😂

[@kenpoirot7628]

I really do love watching my lions Every year on Thanksgiving. Especially when they're doing really, really great. With a little hiccups.

[@mikem6206]

For DECADES these 2 teams played when the rest of the league complained about having to play them. Now that its a big money maker the tune has changed..

[@stephennejordan6026]

I don't mind watching Cowboys and Lions every year on thanksgiving! Also I am glad the lions are actually a good team this year. As long as it is football I am okay! lol

[@simonk4946]

Tradition is everything. Every year since I can remember I’ve cheered for my lions and whoever plays Dallas!

[@cowboyschamps8331]

Buddy, Cowboys are Thanksgiving day. GO COWBOYS!

[@4knanapapa]

As A Lions fan the thanksgiving day game is part of our heritage, born from our beginnings. I know Lamar Hunt Sr. lobbied hard 20 years ago to get into the rotation with no luck. Detroit GRIT prevailed, the game remains with the innovators the Lions.

[@sparkyguitar0058]

And for me I don't think I would want to watch any other games at noon on Thanksgiving. For me it's a 64 yr old tradition. Before that I wasn't watching cause I wasn't here yet. But as an old single guy living in a different area than where I was raised sometimes I had to go somewhere where the game was showing and I had to buy dinner. But I got to see the Game.

[@4knanapapa]

@@sparkyguitar0058 been around that long as well so it's ingrained in me, if you haven't see the lions this year, hopefully you are in for a treat, to say the play a unconventional game is a understatement, they definitely dance to their own drum.

[@sparkyguitar0058]

@@4knanapapa Ya Living down in So Fla we don't get too much out of state sports news. But I have watched many KZbin versions of repeats of the games. And of course this week's game is on for everybody. And then Sat is the BIG GAME. Both noon starts. What a fun yr so far. Fords won all 3 classes in Nascar, Lions might actually do something great this yr and Mich against O State is always fun but this yr could be special. Only bad could/ would be if Lions don't beat Minnesota so bad that they make the playoffs and we have to play them 3 times.

[@jthiel0711]

As a Texan, we love our traditions. We got Cowboys on Thanksgiving. Red River Rivalry between TX/OU. And then that one school that is nothing but tradition, A&M. We will never give up our traditions!

[@insertnamehere313]

The NFL tryed to drop the Lions from Thanksgiving day games and the Ford family said if you do we will take our Ford sponsorship and other's from you..and needless to say the Lions still play on Thanksgiving.😂

[@Survivalbillshorts]

From an eagles fan I like that since the game is usually a divisional game we get to sometimes play the cowboys on thanksgiving

[@josem2468]

We now have a Black Friday NFL game. Hope 85% off tickets. lol

[@AnotherSportsChannel]

🤣

[@JohnDerendingerJr]

Dallas been playing Thanksgiving Day since the 1960's and they also do the Salvation Army's National Red Kettle Kick off

[@Ruckus45]

Going to be wild if tomorrow's Black Friday game becomes the new tradition

[@CxDubxU]

Lions: got good NFL: too good for thanksgiving day

[@daveg3150]

Lions on Thanksgiving FOREVER!!!

[@maxhopejr3131]

D. Bland gonna break that record on Thanksgiving. 5 pick-sixes,I can feel it!

[@Knightmessenger]

😮 called it

[@MrAndyhdz]

You should have gone to Vegas

[@jamespeck2852]

TRADITION…. Leave it alone.

[@dsugimoto313]

It wouldn't be Thanksgiving without the Lions playing the early game.

[@ElBison86]

Another great video! Heard the Kelce brothers discussing playing on thanksgiving. Must suck as a player to know you're never going to get the holiday though.

[@kenmcwise1776]

Because they originated the Thanksgiving game in 1929 as the Portsmouth Ohio Spartans. The first games were in Ohio. The team was purchased and moved to Detroit and the thanksgiving game came to Detroit then. Of course the game is still played in Detroit because that’s the first NFL team to play on Thanksgiving. That and the fact that the NFL has a long sordid history of screwing the Lions every year via the worst officiating crews being sent to call Lions games. Sorry but your documentary got the facts wrong. Close, but that only counts in….

[@thebighousencaaattendancer478]

Lions and Thanksgiving go hand and hand!

[@matthewbrueckner8374]

Lions and Cowboys playing makes it “feel” like Thanksgiving.

[@johnascurry8100]

I’m a Dallas fan!!! It’s not Thanksgiving without the Loons and Cowboys playing at weird kickoff times!!!

[@brendonkellybk7953]

Thanksgiving and Christmas games are always watched at my parents house and that will continue at my house when i move out i love the NFL

[@lotswifemusic9965]

The same two teams have been playing on Thanksgiving forever, because it is tradition. Something sorely, lacking in this country at the moment….

[@comet5915]

No way, Keep them playing their Thanksgiving Day games. It's like you said, tradition. Good or bad games. I don't care. I love football.

[@craigrohn9938]

Another factor early on is that in the 1930s Detroit was a top 5 market. So of course the game caught on. Detroit was the nation's 4th largest city from 1920 until 1970. That's why it has had a full slate of pro teams ever since the Pistons moved there from Fort Wayne in the fifties, when cities like Houston have never had all four (I'm not counting the WHA) Also, in 1935, soon after the Thanksgiving tradition started, Detroit was the only city to ever have three championship teams simultaneously - there was no NBA until after WWII, so that was the only time one city had all of the pro sports champions. People forget that about Detroit.

[@matthewrinki56]

It’s called tradition! Same with high school and college and most of us love it cuz it brings back memories

[@woowhat316]

If it wasn't for the lions. Starting this tradition, we wouldn't be here watching football on Thursday period.

[@jennaragan4571]

It's Tradition. Lions and Cowboys Thanksgiving Day Football 🏈

[@BaltimoreColt]

Steelers fan here. Hate the Cowboys but I'm a traditionalist. I would never want to see this change. However, just for kicks, "IF" Dallas and Detroit should ever meet in the NFC Championship game, they should play each other the following year at a neutral site on Thanksgiving. On a side note, I would like to see throwback unis worn by both teams that play the late (3rd) game.

[@AndrewCox-wl6br]

I really hope that kid flipping the table on his family wasn't real🤣🤣🤣!!!

[@dsworld8721]

Great video, very informative. Go Cowboys

[@DeeDaKaang1]

I'm from Washington DC [ everyone knows that there are more Cowboys 🤠 fans in DC than Washington fans] I think the fact that you can literally eat turkey while watching The Cowboys on national 📺 was one of the reasons I fell in love with America's Team.

[@AnotherSportsChannel]

It's a tradition!

[@Jprone]

As someone from America, the cowgirls are NOT my team.

[@triskaidekathirteen724]

You did a great job narrating!

[@LakeManship]

i like the production value on this. you earned a sub

[@sisenor4091]

Thanks for the info. I was always curious.

[@Wolfie66]

It's part of our tradition as NFL fans no matter what team is playing. I enjoy the games even though I'm neither a Lions nor Cowboys fan.

[@ivettemares9732]

My personally I am a fan of Dallas so i dont care because every Thanksgiving I have some thing to look forward to beside the foods and family

[@JohnSmith-zw8vp]

They have a third game for a couple of their teams afterwards! The ones who object to the Lions/Cowboys hosting Thanksgiving games are ones that don't care about history and tradition.

[@CinciHawks]

I have no idea, that’s why I clicked the video 😂

[@AnotherSportsChannel]

🤣

[@kimbarrow4783]

It's an American tradition to have America's Team the Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving. Without the two of the NFL teams hosting Thanksgiving at home what will we watch every year on Thanksgiving.

[@Rockhound6165]

Being a Cardinal fan, I remember the 2 Thanksgiving games not too fondly. The first in 1975 against the Bills, the Cards were on a 6 game winning streak. Then the Bills treated them like a chew toy beating them 32-14. The next season the Cards played at the Cowboys with the pokes winning 19-14. That loss pretty much cost them a playoff spot. Then came 1977. Ah yes. 1977. And the Cards are on another 6 game winning streak. There they were 7-3 and fighting for the NFC East title with the Cowboys. In fact, they had beaten the Cowboys the previous week. So in come the Miami Dolphins. The end result was a Dolphins massacre 55-14. The Cards wouldn't win another game until week 9 of the 1978 season. The Cards have played on Thanksgiving 3 other times: 35-17 losses to the Cowboys in 1983 & 1985 and a 48-20 loss @ the Eagles in the magical Super Bowl year of 2008. Needless to say if I don't see the Cards play on Thanksgiving again I won't be upset.

[@JohnPepp]

Except this year the Lions have been terrible, but it's a good thing as people can get their Thanksgiving Diner prepared without worrying about missing import parts of the game. Though this year it will be different as the Lions are actually playing for the playoffs. Though it comes down to tradition and for all the years the refs have been making bad calls the NFL at least owes this Thanksgiving game to the Lions.

[@michaelmayrend313]

The Lions were a dominate team in the 1950s and early 1960s. The NFL did not change the Lions tradition of playing on Thanksgiving, and it became an NFL tradition.

[@phara0h388]

As a Cowboys fan it has always been food and football. Blessed to be born in Dallas

[@windwulfboi]

How about a rule for the third slot to have the winning team of that game slotted in the next year as a champion of sorts? Or make a fourth game with that rule in mind where the winner of the fourth game take a shot at the proposed champion of the third game. Hell, I’d watch that.

[@Intelligent_blox9999]

I love how they are turkeys 😂

[@cucujuju88]

Let’s keep the tradition!! I like to see cowboys on thanksgiving

[@Hillers62]

I grew up in Dallas in the 60's and 70's...to me it was a tradition that went without question...and that my Cowboys always played the afternoon game (after the Thanksgiving feast) seemed natural... My Cowboys have always been a competitive team the has won most of the Thanksgiving games z9and five Super Bowls)...Detroit...uh...well...I have been to Detroit...in 2006...downtown...uh...It was as bad as the team....But Tradition!!!!!!!!

[@saucyjack1888]

This tradition needs to change. They’ve changed everything else in the NFL. We are sick of the Lions and Cowboys. Who wants to watch the Cowboys vs Commanders this year anyways?

[@rdaws73]

Tough shit. Its tradition. Make your own tradition with whatever shitty team you follow.

[@LiquorandCheeseburgers]

​@@rdaws73Perfectly stated.

[@twaycce]

Hell NO, Lions on Thanksgiving day is a tradition that has to be upheld, especially this year. My prediction is the first game of the season will also be the last game of the season with the same results!

[@Willpower-74205]

I don't mind the Thanksgiving games at all, especially since it provided the setting for DaRon Bland to break the NFL pick-6 season record. Besides, where else are we ever going to find a six-legged turkey? 😁

[@LocoDonaltron]

I have a better idea. Let all the bird teams play each other on Thanksgiving. Eagles, Seahawks, Falcons, Cardinals, and Ravens.😂

[@MexTex977001]

Thanksgiving 2006 was the year I became a Cowboys fan for Good! Im sure others had similar experiences

[@brendanshank2299]

ITS TRADITION YOU DON’T CHANGE IT!!!! Both teams are good now and it’s the nfl teams have bad years but eventually once you get the right pieces and coaching staff look what happens great football does

[@athens_1psvr31]

Keeping activities Old in the name of “Tradition” is “Trash”. The people and times have changed. Baseball was the biggest sport in America. That was the tradition. We moved on when it didn’t keep up.

[@petercena9497]

The NFL had only 8 teams in 1934, all four games were played on Thanksgiving.

[@kiro1330]

Lions & Cowboys on thanksgiving till the end of time!!!

[@ZeusAmun-pt9dc]

Tradition is a big part of sports

[@Supermanfan99]

Sometimes it’s a detriment (see college football’s postseason system), but this is a harmless tradition that should remain.

[@Reggie2000]

Dallas Giants 2022 drew 42 million. Dallas is going nowhere! 😂

[@warrenm1741]

The Lions organization started in the 1920s as the Portsmouth Spartans, the 5th oldest team in the NFL. They started the tradition of NFL on Thanksgiving. Dallas has played the late afternoon game on Thanksgiving for over 55 years. Most teams have a cycle of good and bad seasons. It would be wrong to take away the Lions and Cowboys home Thanksgiving games.

[@elmomonster6043]

The nostalgia that McJuggernuggets brought

[@coachrjohnston]

No I love the tradition of those teams hosting. My family loves the games. It’s thanksgiving… that’s what it’s supposed to be lol

[@reedermh]

The Lions, tradition (they did start this). The Cowboys, ratings (whether you love or hate them, you tune in). Plus, with the Cowboys, their halftime show is now the traditional kickoff of The Salvation Army's Christmas Kettle campaign (the bellringers in front of Wal-Mart asking for donations). If the NFL tried to do away with that, the backlash would be fierce.

[@tinaburns5831]

Now that both teams are good I think it should stay

[@triskaidekathirteen724]

The Lions should play the Cowboys on Thanksgiving!

[@chrisuncleahmad]

Tradition It matters Contrast that to how realignment is ruining college football and great traditional rivalries being devalued (Bedlam)

[@TCHC85]

Not even a minute into the video and already got a stupid take from Molly.

[@samfeller5026]

Really high quality video nice work

[@kabob21]

Lions aside, the NFL ain’t shooting themselves in the foot. Cowboys are blockbuster and quite possible the most popular sports franchise in the world. They’re definitely the most valuable. This year’s game against Washington was viewed by over *41 million* people and was the 3rd most watched regular season game in NFL history

[@JayTemple]

The football Cardinals knew what it's like to be a football team in a baseball town.

[@innocentrage1]

Lions vs cowboys on thanksgiving would be sweet

[@Mike__B]

As someone who is neither a Cowboys nor Lions fan, and absolutely HATES when my team plays on Thursday, I'm ok with the Cowboys and Lions both taking a spot. That said my team does play on Thanksgiving this year, as well as another Thursday game so I'm none too happy about that. I can wait until Sunday for football if it means my team is better rested/more prepared.