Thanksgiving has always been about family, football, and food—but the NFL just made the holiday week even bigger. Starting with the Detroit Lions in 1934, adding the Dallas Cowboys in 1966, and expanding to three games in 2006, the league has steadily grown its Thanksgiving tradition. Now, after adding Black Friday in 2023, the NFL is rolling out a new treat: Thanksgiving Eve football. For 2026, fans get a full five-game slate that promises playoff-caliber action from start to finish.
Let's break down the matchups that will have you reaching for your team's gear all week long.
Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Rams
The Packers trade frozen tundra for sunny skies in a holiday-week showdown with another postseason contender. Both teams made the 2025 playoffs—Green Bay fell to the Bears in the Wild Card Round, while the Rams lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game. Quarterback Jordan Love turned in his best season yet, throwing 23 touchdowns against just six interceptions—a career low as a starter. But he'll face off against 2025 MVP Matthew Stafford, who led the league with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdown passes. Keep an eye on Puka Nacua, the NFL's receptions leader in 2025, as he anchors Los Angeles' high-flying attack. On defense, Packers star edge rusher Micah Parsons, who tore his ACL in December, is expected to be back in action by this game.
Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions
The Lions host an NFC North rival on Thanksgiving, welcoming a Bears team fresh off a breakthrough 11-6 season. Chicago captured its first division crown since 2018 and earned its first playoff win since 2010. Meanwhile, Detroit saw its two-year division title streak end, finishing 9-8 and missing the playoffs entirely. Under first-year head coach Ben Johnson, quarterback Caleb Williams delivered a strong sophomore campaign, highlighted by six fourth-quarter comebacks. He was backed by a powerful running game led by 1,000-yard rusher D'Andre Swift, while the Bears' defense forced an NFL-best 33 turnovers. Despite the momentum shift, Detroit swept Chicago last season and has won seven of the last eight meetings in this storied rivalry. Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who produced over 1,800 yards from scrimmage, will be a key factor in keeping the home crowd happy.