The Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys have become fixtures of Thanksgiving Day with their long-standing tradition of playing football. According to CBS News Detroit, the Detroit Lions' Thanksgiving debut dates back to 1934, when then-owner George A. Richards purchased and relocated the Portsmouth Spartans to Detroit, rebranding them as the Lions.
A packed crowd of 26,000 filled the University of Detroit Stadium, setting the stage for a tradition upheld for the better part of a century—with the exception of a hiatus due to World War II. On the other side, the Dallas Cowboys initiated their Thanksgiving tradition in 1966, with General Manager Tex Schramm eyeing the holiday as an opportunity for national exposure.
The Cowboys' inclusion in the Thanksgiving Day lineup in 1966 was initially considered a risk, but, according to ClickOnDetroit, it proved successful, setting attendance records with their victory over the Cleveland Browns. Meanwhile, the Lions have become such a staple of Thanksgiving that it's simpler to count the years they haven't played than to list the ones they have.
Despite never facing each other on the holiday, as CBS News Detroit highlights, both teams will be hosting Thanksgiving games this year, with the Lions meeting the Chicago Bears and the Cowboys taking on the New York Giants.Currently, the Lions boast a 37-45-2 record on the holiday, with the Cowboys holding a 33-22-1 record going into the 2024 games.
USA Today further breaks down the records, showing the Lions frequently going head-to-head with the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears, while the Cowboys have a more diverse range of opponents. With their current winning streak, the Lions are emerging as unexpected contenders for the Super Bowl, a title they've not been close to in years, while the Cowboys aim to recover from a season affected by setbacks, including an injury to key player Dak Prescott.
