Thanksgiving NFL Games: A Look at the Changes and What's at Stake

The NFL is shaking things up this Thanksgiving, and it's not just about the food. The league has decided to put on a show with big teams playing instead of the usual mediocre matchups. The Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs are set to face off in what could be the most-watched regular-season game ever. The Cowboys are coming off a huge comeback win, and both teams are fighting for a spot in the playoffs. The NFL is hoping this strategy will pay off, and so far, it looks like it might. The Eagles, on the other hand, won't be playing on Thanksgiving for the 10th year in a row. Instead, they'll take on the Chicago Bears on Black Friday, which will be streamed for free on Prime Video. The last time the Eagles played on Thanksgiving was in 2015, and they lost big time. The NFL considered having the Eagles play the Cowboys on Thanksgiving, but in the end, they decided against it. Maybe they got tired of the Eagles' holiday dominance. The Birds have the highest win percentage in NFL history for teams that have played at least five Thanksgiving games. The NFL is also making some other changes this year. They pushed back the start time of the first Thanksgiving game by 30 minutes, hoping to get more people to watch. The league is looking at the data and making changes based on what they see. It's all about maximizing viewership and making sure people are tuned in. The Packers and Lions are also playing on Thanksgiving, and this game has big implications for the NFC North. The Packers are looking to win the division for the first time since 2021, and a win on Thanksgiving would go a long way towards that goal. The Lions, on the other hand, are looking to improve their chances of making the playoffs. This is the 29th time these two teams have faced off on Thanksgiving, and the Lions have the edge so far. The Cowboys are still in the wild-card hunt, but their chances are slim. A win on Thanksgiving would improve their odds to 22%, but a loss would drop them down to just 6%. The Chiefs are in a similar situation, but things aren't as dire for them. They're right in the middle of the wild-card hunt and have some important divisional games coming up. For Eagles fans, the Thanksgiving nightcap between the Bengals and Ravens might not be that interesting. The Bengals are looking to end a four-game losing streak, and the Ravens are back in first place in the AFC North. The Ravens' offense has struggled this season, but the Bengals have the second-worst run defense in the league, so it could be a big game for Derrick Henry. All three games will be streamed on their respective networks' subscription services, as well as on so-called skinny bundles that carry the three broadcast networks. The one exception is Disney-owned Fubo, whose subscribers won't be able to stream the Bengals-Ravens game on NBC due to a carriage dispute. If you live in the Philadelphia TV market, you can stream all three games on NFL+, but it's not free. Your best bet for free streaming is using a digital antenna. The Jacksonville Jaguars are the only NFL team to never play a Thanksgiving game. There are a lot of reasons for this, but it mostly comes down to the fact that they just haven't been that good or compelling. The NFL's old TV rules didn't help either. Maybe they'll get their shot next season, but for now, they're still waiting.