NFL Thanksgiving Schedule 2025: Who Is Playing on Thanksgiving?

The NFL has announced this year's slate of games on Thanksgiving.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) greets Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. / Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

This 2025 NFL Thanksgiving slate was officially announced earlier this year, and will spotlight three enticing matchups on turkey day. The NFL will continue holding three games on Thanksgiving, with the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys each hosting a game, as is tradition.

The Lions began playing on Thanksgiving in 1934 and have played on Thanksgiving every year since except from 1939-1944, because of World War II.

The Cowboys joined the Thanksgiving tradition in 1966, six years after their founding. The Cowboys have played every year on the holiday since except for in 1975 and 1977.

Which Teams Are Playing on Thanksgiving?

Time (ET)	Away Team	Home Team	TV
12:30 p.m.	Green Bay Packers	Detroit Lions	Fox
4:30 p.m.	Kansas City Chiefs	Dallas Cowboys	CBS
8:20 p.m.	Cincinnati Bengals	Baltimore Ravens	NBC

The Lions are slated to take on the Green Bay Packers during Thanksgiving this year. The longtime division rivals have previously faced off on Thanksgiving 22 times, and even played against each other on Thanksgiving in 13 straight seasons from 1951-1963. Though the Packers have the edge over the Lions in the history of the rivalry, the Lions have gone 12-9-1 vs. the Packers on Thanksgiving.

This game will be a rematch for the Lions, who looked hapless in a 27-13 loss to Green Bay in Week 1. Both teams have once again emerged as top contenders in the NFC, and this game could have a significant impact on who wins the NFC North this year.

The Cowboys continue their annual Thanksgiving game with an untraditional matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, who have not played on Thanksgiving since 2006. This will mark just the second career matchup between Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who previously faced off in 2021, a 19-9 Chiefs win. This game will also be the first time that Mahomes plays on Thanksgiving and in Dallas, against the team he rooted for growing up.

While the Cowboys playoff hopes are already low, they have been one of the more funs teams to watch this year thanks to a stellar offense and poor defense, which creates opportunities for shootouts. This will hopefully allow for an exciting matchup against the Chiefs, who are currently on the outside looking in for the AFC playoff race.

The Bengals and Ravens will take the primetime slot on Thanksgiving, marking the second divisional matchup of the day. This game was intended to spotlight two MVP-caliber quarterbacks in Joe Burrow and two-time MVP Lamar Jackson, but Burrow is expected to be out until at least December with a toe injury that required surgery. The Bengals offense has resurged since they traded for Joe Flacco at quarterback, which means that even if both teams still trail the Steelers in the division, this should at least be an exciting primetime clash that sees Flacco take on his former team once again.

What Is Each Team's Record on Thanksgiving?

Though the Lions have been a part of Thanksgiving for 90 years, it hasn't served them well in the win column. Detroit is 38-45-2 in Thanksgiving games. The Packers have been even worse, going 15-20-1 on the holiday.

The Cowboys have fared much better, boasting a 34-22-1 record on Thanksgiving. Their opponent, the Chiefs, are an even 5-5 in Thanksgiving matchups.

The Bengals and Ravens have played a combined three games on Thanksgiving. The Ravens are 2-0, while the Bengals are 0-1.

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