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| (L-R) Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions, Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals and Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City ChiefsMitchell Leff / Scott Taetsch / Jamie Squire / Getty Images |
Thanksgiving in the NFL once again delivers a full day of football, with a three-game slate stretching from early afternoon into primetime. The 2025 edition sticks to tradition in Detroit and Dallas, then finishes with a divisional showdown in Baltimore under the lights.
Here’s your complete guide to the 2025 Thanksgiving triple-header – who’s playing, when the games kick off, why each matchup matters, and how you can watch or stream every snap.
Thanksgiving 2025 NFL Schedule at a Glance
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Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions
Ford Field – Detroit, MichiganKickoff 1:00 p.m. ET
TV FOX
Streaming FOX apps, NFL+ -
Kansas City Chiefs at Dallas Cowboys
AT&T Stadium – Arlington, TexasKickoff 4:30 p.m. ET
TV CBS
Streaming Paramount+, NFL+ -
Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens
M&T Bank Stadium – Baltimore, MarylandKickoff 8:20 p.m. ET
TV NBC
Streaming Peacock, NFL+
The triple-header continues a format the league has used for nearly two decades, pairing the traditional Detroit and Dallas home games with a rotating primetime matchup. In 2025 the Bengals finally join the holiday spotlight with their first appearance on Thanksgiving.
Game 1 – Packers at Lions: NFC North Rivalry to Start the Feast
Classic Thanksgiving opener in Detroit
As always, the holiday begins in Detroit. The Lions once again host the early game, welcoming division rival Green Bay to Ford Field. It’s another chapter in one of Thanksgiving’s most familiar matchups, with both teams fighting for position in a tight NFC North race.
Detroit has used recent seasons to shed its reputation as a holiday punchline and looks to turn Ford Field into a genuine Thanksgiving fortress. Green Bay, meanwhile, continues building around Jordan Love, who can add another big-stage win to his résumé by spoiling the home crowd’s celebrations.
Key storylines to watch
- Division stakes: Both clubs enter Week 13 with playoff hopes alive, making this more than just a tradition game.
- In-the-trenches battle: Detroit’s physical offensive line versus a Green Bay front that has improved against the run.
- Ford Field atmosphere: The Lions’ resurgence has turned this fixture into one of the loudest days of the season in Detroit.
Game 2 – Chiefs at Cowboys: Star Quarterbacks in the National Spotlight
Mahomes’ first Thanksgiving trip to Dallas
The middle game is a blockbuster: Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs travel to face Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys. It’s Mahomes’ first NFL game in Arlington and only the second head-to-head meeting between these two star quarterbacks.
Dallas returns to its familiar afternoon slot looking to defend home turf after an up-and-down first half of the season. Kansas City, fresh off another playoff push, is chasing momentum in a crowded AFC picture.
Why this game feels like a playoff preview
- Playoff positioning: Both teams are battling in competitive divisions; a win here could swing tiebreakers later in January.
- Offense vs. defense: Mahomes and an evolving Chiefs attack meet a Cowboys defense built around speed and pressure.
- Dallas in big moments: The Cowboys have turned the Thanksgiving stage into a yearly test of their contender credentials.
Expect fireworks: Dallas’ offense tends to be far more aggressive at home, while Kansas City rarely shies away from high-leverage fourth-down decisions in national windows.
Game 3 – Bengals at Ravens: Primetime Debut for Cincinnati on Thanksgiving
First-ever Turkey Day for the Bengals
The nightcap sends the Cincinnati Bengals to Baltimore for an AFC North showdown, marking Cincinnati’s first appearance on Thanksgiving. The Ravens are no strangers to primetime, and they’ll look to lean on a physical defense and Lamar Jackson’s dual-threat brilliance in front of a raucous home crowd.
With Joe Burrow back at the controls for Cincinnati, this matchup features two of the league’s most dynamic quarterbacks. Their recent meetings have produced tight finishes and playoff drama, and a holiday setting only raises the stakes.
What could decide the nightcap
- Burrow under pressure: Baltimore’s pass rush will test a Bengals offensive line that has been retooled around its franchise QB.
- Jackson on the ground: Designed runs and scrambles from Lamar can tilt time of possession and keep Burrow on the sideline.
- Turnovers: In a series that often swings on one key takeaway, ball security will be everything in the chilly Baltimore night.
Bonus Football: Black Friday Bears at Eagles
The holiday weekend doesn’t end on Thursday. For the third consecutive season, the NFL schedules a standalone Black Friday game, this year sending the Chicago Bears to visit the Philadelphia Eagles the following afternoon. The matchup streams exclusively on Prime Video at 3:00 p.m. ET, giving fans four straight days with nationally televised NFL action.
How to Watch & Stream Every Thanksgiving Game
Traditional TV broadcast
- Packers at Lions: FOX (national)
- Chiefs at Cowboys: CBS (national)
- Bengals at Ravens: NBC (Sunday Night Football crew)
Streaming options
- FOX game: FOX Sports apps, FOX One in supported markets, NFL+ (mobile/tablet in-market).
- CBS game: Paramount+ and NFL+ in applicable regions.
- NBC game: Peacock simulcast, including an alternate “Madden-style” presentation, plus NFL+.
- Black Friday – Bears at Eagles: Amazon Prime Video (worldwide stream).
Local blackout rules and availability can vary by market, so fans should also check NFL.com’s official “ways to watch” hub or their TV provider’s listings for the most accurate local information.
Thanksgiving Tradition Continues
From the first NFL Thanksgiving games more than a century ago to today’s nationally televised triple-header, football has become as much a part of the holiday as turkey and stuffing. In 2025, that tradition gets fresh storylines: the Lions’ resurgence, a heavyweight Chiefs-Cowboys clash and the Bengals’ long-awaited Turkey Day debut in hostile territory.
Whether you’re tuning in for the rivalries, the playoff implications or just some background noise while the family carves the bird, this year’s Thanksgiving slate offers a full day of reasons to keep the remote handy.
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