NFL Thanksgiving games streaming: How to watch live
Thanksgiving is a cherished time for family gatherings, feasting, and, notably, watching NFL games—a tradition that has been part of the holiday since the league’s inception in 1920. The Detroit Lions have been the official hosts of Thanksgiving football since 1934, with the Dallas Cowboys joining the lineup in 1966, solidifying a beloved annual ritual for fans across the country. This year’s Thanksgiving slate promises excitement with three compelling matchups, including the highly anticipated return of the Kansas City Chiefs to the Thanksgiving stage for the first time since 2006.
The day kicks off with an NFC North clash between the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions at 12 p.m. CT. Both teams are in a tight race for playoff positioning, with the Lions (7-4) needing a win to stay competitive in a challenging end-of-season schedule. Their previous encounter saw the Packers pull off a surprising victory over the Lions, setting the stage for a tense rematch. The stakes are high, as only two teams from the NFC North will likely secure playoff berths. Fans can catch this matchup on FOX or stream it for free on Tubi.
Following this, the Dallas Cowboys will host the Kansas City Chiefs at 3:30 p.m. CT in what promises to be another thrilling contest. The Cowboys (5-5-1) are coming off a dramatic comeback win against the Philadelphia Eagles, while the Chiefs (6-5) are looking to regain their footing after a shaky season. Both teams are fighting for Wild Card spots in their respective conferences, making this game critical for their playoff aspirations. Viewers can watch this game on CBS or stream it via Paramount+. The day concludes with the Cincinnati Bengals facing the Baltimore Ravens at 7:20 p.m. CT. Initially considered a less exciting matchup, the game has gained intrigue with the return of Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, who is looking to lead his struggling team against a resurgent Ravens squad that has won five straight games. This rivalry game will be available on Peacock and NBC, ensuring fans have plenty of options to enjoy the Thanksgiving football festivities.
Overall, Thanksgiving 2023 is set to deliver thrilling matchups that embody the spirit of competition and camaraderie, making it a perfect backdrop for family gatherings and football fervor.
Thanksgiving
is the season of gratitude, but it’s also the annual tradition of watching your dad and uncles yell at the TV like the refs can hear them.
As far as Thanksgiving holiday traditions go, the
NFL on Thanksgiving
is baked right into the stuffing. The league has stacked Thanksgiving with games since its early days in 1920. By 1934, the Detroit Lions became the holiday’s official hosts, and in 1966 the Dallas Cowboys joined the yearly lineup, cementing the modern tradition.
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This year’s slate is packed: two division rivalries and an appearance from the Super Bowl runner-up Kansas City Chiefs, playing their first Thanksgiving game since 2006.
Here’s how to stream:
Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions
Kicking off the festivities is an NFC North showdown loaded with playoff implications. The Packers and Lions last met in the season opener, when Green Bay stunned Detroit with a decisive win — a shocker considering the Lions entered the year with some of the highest Super Bowl odds in the league.
Now at 7–4 and fresh off a nail-biter against the 2–10 Giants, Detroit desperately needs this one. Their end-of-season schedule is brutal, and they’re currently sitting just outside the Wild Card picture. Green Bay isn’t exactly cruising either: the Packers are 7–3–1, holding only a half-game edge over Detroit and still staring down two games against the surging 8–3 Bears.
The NFC North is a pressure cooker right now, and only two teams from the division are punching playoff tickets.
If you have cable, the game airs on FOX.
Cord-cutters can stream it for free on
Tubi
at 12 p.m. CT / 1 p.m. ET
.
Kansas City Chiefs at Dallas Cowboys
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Following the noon matchup, the Dallas Cowboys will host a surprisingly resilient Kansas City Chiefs squad. Dallas is coming off a statement win over the reigning champion Eagles after climbing out of a 21–0 hole. Meanwhile, the Chiefs are riding the momentum of their own after a comeback victory against one of the AFC’s top teams, the Indianapolis Colts.
It’s been a weird season for both franchises. The Cowboys opened the year by trading star edge rusher Micah Parsons to Green Bay after failing to reach a deal on his new contract — a move that stunned just about everyone. The Chiefs, perennial AFC West bullies, suddenly find themselves sitting third at 6–5. For a team that’s made five of the last seven Super Bowls, that’s a jarring place to be. Whether it’s an aging pass rush or an offense that’s grown too predictable, something’s clearly off. Still, back-to-back strong wins have kept them in the hunt.
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Both teams desperately need this game to boost their Wild Card odds. The Cowboys, 5–5–1 and sitting 10th in the NFC, essentially need to win out — though matchups against the Commanders and Giants give them a fighting chance. The Chiefs are in a similar logjam, tied with the Steelers and Texans as the most likely contenders for the final AFC Wild Card spot if any combination of Jacksonville, Buffalo, or the Chargers stumble down the stretch.
Kickoff is at
3:30 p.m. CT / 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS, with streaming available on
Paramount+
.
Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens
Peacock Premium
$4.99 a Month
at NBC.com
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If you’d told NFL fans a few weeks ago that this would be the primetime Thanksgiving headliner, they probably would’ve laughed. But the football gods have blessed us, and now we’re getting Joe Burrow vs. Lamar Jackson in an AFC North rivalry game under the national spotlight. That alone is something to be thankful for.
It’s been a season the Bengals would love to forget. Losing Joe Burrow in Week 2 to a grade 3 turf toe injury — a silly-sounding name for a very real ligament tear in his big toe — derailed everything. Burrow is finally back, but at 3–8, Cincinnati does not remotely resemble the playoff hopeful they expected to be.
The Ravens, on the other hand, were a mess early on. They opened 1–5 before hitting their Week 7 bye, but since then, they’ve ripped off five straight wins to take control of the AFC North. That’s not exactly a Herculean task given the division standings: Cleveland and Cincinnati sit at 3–8, and Pittsburgh can’t find consistency, going 2–3 over their last five.
Still, Baltimore is hot, and they’ll be looking to ride that momentum straight into another win to solidify their grip on the division. As for the Bengals, they’re not mathematically dead. If they win out — and Burrow stays healthy — they could still finish 9–8 with a puncher’s chance at sneaking into the postseason.
You can watch this on Peacock at 7:20 p.m. CT / 8:20 p.m. EST
. Or NBC if you have cable.
