With hours to go before this year's set of NFL Thanksgiving Day games kick off, I'd like to bring up something that I am confident you've encountered at least one time on previous Thanksgivings. And that is, someone asking "Why is it that Detroit and Dallas always play on Thanksgiving?"
Well, this year it's time to serve up a perfect answer that your questioners can mix in with their mashed potatoes. NFL games on Thanksgiving Day actually date back to 1920 with multiple games taking place for more than 20 years. But after drawing large Thanksgiving Day crowds in 1934 and 1935, Detroit wanted Turkey Day football each year. Then, in 1966, Dallas joined the party after accepting the league's invitation to play on the holiday only if they are the home team each time.
There were a couple anomalies with the Detroit and Dallas Thanksgiving Day game traditions. Between 1939 and 1944, the Lions did not play on the date, largely because of World War II. Then in 1975 and 1977, the NFL switched the Dallas games to St. Louis after receiving pressure to open up the tradition to other teams. It wasn't the same.
In 2006, the NFL added a third game to be played yearly on the holiday - a night contest televised by the NFL Network. But the Lions and Cowboys still rule the day.
There you have it - everything you need to avoid looking like a turkey when that inevitable Detroit/Dallas question comes up. Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy the games!
The links:
Detroit Thanksgiving Football history
Dallas Thanksgiving Football history
Good Read: Detroit Free Press column by Drew Sharp
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