Seasons greetings to everyone gearing up for the biggest eating day of the year, the fourth Thursday in November, American Thanksgiving! In addition to being thankful for all of the Indigenous Peoples who built this land, I’m also grateful for my mom’s cooking and being marked safe from my exes. Much like the battle between my eyes and my mouth, our nation’s top athletes are currently gearing up for a feast on the field. Watching the NFL on Thanksgiving Day feels like wearing new shoes on the first day of school or writing a wish list to Santa: timeless and necessary every single year, no matter how old you get or where you are in the world. This November sports event never fails to get smoking hot, and I, for one, thought it would be fun to take the stick route down memory lane. I’m serving up the top NFL Thanksgiving game day moments with highlight videos you can play to distract your drunk uncle from prying into your personal life.
Top NFL Thanksgiving Game Moments
Why do the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions host every Thanksgiving?
The Cowboys first threw their name in the ring to be a holiday home team in 1966, joining the Lions’ Thanksgiving tradition that was started in 1934 by playing the Bears. The NFL wasn’t sure if the Cowboys would be able to draw a crowd big enough to justify the addition, but the 80,000 people who showed up at The Cotton Bowl locked their spot in history. There actually were two itsy bisty seasons that the NFL commissioner at the time, Pete Rozelle, gave the Cardinals a chance to steal the slot in 1975 and 1977. After the Cardinals lost horribly both years, Dallas took the NFL’s offer to take back their legacy, as long as they could have it “forever.”
O.J. Simpson’s 48-Yard Touchdown, 273 Rushing Yards In 1976
Ahhhh, yes. There was once a time when O.J. was primarily known for his work on the field. O.J. Simpson cemented his place in NFL history in the heyday of his tenure with the Bills. During their 1976 Thanksgiving Day match-up against the Lions, The Juice broke his own single-game rush-yard record. His 273-yard achievement still holds the #8 spot in NFL history. The most thrilling moment of his unstoppable runs was a 48-yard touchdown, his second of the day, in the third quarter. Unfort for the Bills, they still ultimately lost 27-14. That curse goes hard! Here’s your ticket back in time to O.J.’s slay.
The Cowboys’ worst Thanksgiving losses were to the Eagles in 1989 And 2014
I might just be a whole biased about enjoying this here topic but it also happens to be completely true. The Cowboys may be the eldest aunt who gets to host Thanksgiving dinner without question every year, but the Eagles are the world-traveling single auntie who occasionally brings a dish so tasty everyone forgets about the turkey. In 1989, the rivals’ face-off was called The Bounty Bowl. It should’ve been called the Booyah Bowl by the way the Birds’ defense dominated Troy Aikman’s O-line on the field, 27-0.
Naturally, the Cowboys coaching staff handled the loss with the immense grace and humility they bring to every game. Coach Jimmy Johnson told the press “I have absolutely no respect for the way they played the game, I would have said something to Buddy, but…he put his big, fat rear end into the dressing room.” Then in 2014, during the Jason Garrett era, Eagles Coach Chip Kelly went back to double-dip in delicious victory. Philly demolished Dallas 33-10, making Tony Romo submit to a whopping four sacks. Do I miss the days when RB Shady McCoy and WR Jeremy Maclin would flap their wings in the end zone? Yes, I do. Lucky for me, NFL Throwback created a Birds vs Boys rivalry reel including these games.
Miami Dolphins win with three seconds left at Cowboys in 1993
The Miami Dolphins have a v festive relationship with Thanksgiving Day: just ask their GOAT QB Bob Griese who threw for a historic six touchdowns in 1977 (a feat later matched by Peyton Manning in 2004 which was also the year Peyton, Michael Strahan, and Tony Gonzalez made an indie rock band, but I digress). Back to the Dolphins: the year was 1993, the weather was freezing AF, and there were 15 seconds left on the clock against the Cowboys. With the score 13-14, Miami kicked a field goal attempt, which was blocked by Dallas. Game over right? Wrong! Defensive tackle Leon Lett accidentally let the ball slip out of his grasp in the snow. With three seconds to go Miami recovered the fumble and kicked a 20-yard field goal which clinched a final winning score of 16-14. Catch the epic finish here.
Amari Cooper’s 90-Yard Touchdown in 2018
No, 90 yards isn’t a league-wide record (a couple of 99-yard rushing TDs have it beat) but it’s definitely a Thanksgiving miracle. And, despite my homegrown hateration, I suppose I should give “God’s Team” credit where due. In 2018, Amari Cooper caught a 21-yard pass from Dak and finished the job by running 69 yards at a max speed of over 20 MPH and boy was it a sight to see. They did, in fact, win that Turkey Day tussle against the Washington Commanders. Gobble gobble.
Tom Brady’s Perfect Passing Game Vs. The Lions in 2010
Speaking of begrudgingly giving credit where due, we must speak about Tom Brady. Brady has performed with a perfect passer rating three times in his career. One such time was Thanksgiving Day 2010 when the rest of the country was busy filling up their bellies (unlike all of the Pats’ footballs). Brady threw 341 yards for a total of four touchdowns, bulldozing the Lions into a 21-point loss. Behold, the “Fourth Quarter Avalanche.” Still waiting on Phil Simms’ mom’s cobbler recipe, BTW.
