In 1934, the Portsmouth Spartans football team moved to Detroit and changed its name to the Lions. To boost the franchise's popularity, the team owner scheduled a game against the Chicago Bears for Thanksgiving. This gave birth to a Thanksgiving tradition that has since been skipped only six times due to World War II.
The Lions will be back on the field on Thanksgiving this year, as will the Chiefs, Ravens and others.
So while you wait for the turkey to roast, grab a spot on the couch and play on the grill. One programming note: While Amazon typically has the rights to NFL games on Thursdays, none of today's matchups will air on the streaming service. (Amazon will be hosting an exclusive game tomorrow instead.)
Here's how to watch NFL games on Thanksgiving Day.
Which NFL teams play on Thanksgiving? What channels broadcast games?
Here's who will fight this week. The home team are in second place.
Thursday, November 27
Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers, 1:00 pm ET on Fox
Dallas Cowboys vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS
Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC
Can I watch NFL Thanksgiving games over the air for free?
Yes. All three of tonight's games will be broadcast on traditional networks, meaning they'll be free to watch if you own a TV. The best way to watch these games is with a good HD antenna. Be sure to test the antenna in several places in your home to find the most reliable signal.
Can I stream 2025-26 NFL games live if I don't have a cable subscription?
You can, and sometimes you can do it for free. However, there are many options.
Peacock
NBC streaming service offers access to all Sunday night matches. You'll pay $8 or $14 per month, or $80 for an annual plan. (The service recently dropped its free trial.)
Disney+
The Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ bundle also doesn't offer a free trial, meaning you'll have to pay $17 a month for all three combined (or $30 a month for no ads on Hulu and Disney+).
Hulu with live TV
This service will soon be discontinued, but for now it is still accepting new members, who will pay $83 per month (with ads) or $95 per month without ads.
YouTubeTV
After free triala monthly fee of $83 will take effect.
Sling TV
The service's seven-day trial is no longer available, but Dish does offer a Day Pass that gets you 24 hours of live TV for $5. Sports fans can choose the lower-tier “Orange” plan, which costs $46 per month. Adding the Blue plan, which gives you more exercise options, increases the monthly cost to $61 per month.
DirectTV Stream
DirecTV's streaming division costs $85 a month and more after the free trial expires. (If you want the NFL Network package, expect a $90 monthly bill.)
Fubo TV
Like Hulu, this standalone app will disappear. However, for now, you can take advantage of a seven-day trial, after which the monthly fee will be $85 or more.
Can I watch this week's NFL games on Amazon?
No. To maximize viewership, the NFL broadcasts all Thanksgiving Day games on over-the-air television. However, Amazon will be holding an exclusive game on Black Friday.
