2025 NFL Thanksgiving Slate Overview

Thanksgiving football is back on this Thursday, and this year’s trio of games has no shortage of juice. On the table, we’ve got bitter rivalries, playoff tension, and enough star power to keep your plate full long after the turducken is gone. The Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys carry on their annual hosting traditions, while the Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Ravens return to the holiday stage with something to prove. There’s no fluff on this slate as each and every game carries weight, and that’s before anyone even kicks off.

Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions (1:00 p.m. ET, FOX)

The day starts with an NFC North brawl that feels like it’s been brewing since Week 1. Well, that’s because it has been. That’s when the Packers handled the Lions at Lambeau in a 27–13 win that will never sit right with Detroit fans. Now it’s payback time, and the Lions get their chance to level the field at home, where they’ve played every Thanksgiving since 1934 — but keep in mind that they’re 38-44-2 in these games so it’s not exactly a lock.

But this one matters compared to previous years. The Packers come in at 2nd in the division with a 7-3-1 record, just behind the Bears surprisingly enough, while the Lions trail just behind at 7-4. Green Bay holds the early tiebreaker thanks to that opening-week win, but the tie is what really puts the Packers up front. The point differential tells a story, too. Detroit has a division-best +83, while Green Bay sits at +61. Both teams can score, both can hit, and neither is likely to back down. 

Detroit’s been a bit inconsistent away from Ford Field, but they’re back at home for this one — where the crowd, the noise, and the moment tend to amplify their edge a bit more than usual. The Lions haven’t always thrived on Thanksgiving, and the last time they played the Packers on this day, they lost 29-22, but this group is different. They’ve got weapons, swagger, and they know a loss here makes the division title — and a playoff slot — feel a whole lot less likely.

Green Bay, meanwhile, has found a bright spot with Jordan Love in his 3rd season as the starter. He’s tossed 18 TDs in his last 8 games and leads the NFL in red-zone scoring efficiency. He’s mobile, accurate, and poised — all of which are traits that have allowed the Packers to move the ball even when the run game stalls. If he stays clean behind an improving O-line, he could be the difference. On top of that, the Packers’ defense is looking like one of the best in the league with Micah Parsons doing damage where it counts. 

On the other side, they’ll have to keep an eye on Jahmyr Gibbs. The RB has turned into a big-play machine, and he’s capable of shifting momentum in a single play. Pair that with Amon-Ra St. Brown, who’s on the brink of 1,000 receiving yards already, and Detroit has the tools to hit Green Bay from multiple angles, and you can bet they’re going to challenge their stout defense from multiple angles.

The battle in the trenches will be fierce as both offensive lines rank near the top in adjusted sack rate and run blocking. It’s strength vs. strength, and whoever controls the tempo will control the game.

It’s the kind of matchup that reminds you why Thanksgiving football matters. High stakes, familiar foes, and a whole lot on the line.

Kansas City Chiefs at Dallas Cowboys (4:30 p.m. ET, CBS)

The middle game brings a cross-conference matchup with pretty big playoff implications to go with your pumpkin pie. Kansas City comes in at 6-5, barely clinging to a wildcard slot and still figuring things out on offense, despite having a future HOF’er under center. The Cowboys aren’t all that hot either, sitting at 5-5-1 and having had a fairly roller-coaster season, but they’re in striking distance of the NFC East lead, and you can bet. Neither team is where they want to be, but both know this is the time to make a move.

The Chiefs simply haven’t looked like their usual selves on the road. They’re just 1-4 away from Arrowhead and have struggled to get on the scoreboard consistently outside of Kansas City. That said, Patrick Mahomes is still good ol’ Patrick Mahomes as he’s thrown for 3,000+ yards already, with 21 TDs. The problem hasn’t been necessarily the QB — it’s been a combination of drop issues, inconsistent line play, and a run game that disappears from time to time.

Mahomes will face a Dallas defense that’s capable but undeniably flawed. The Cowboys have forced turnovers and pressure in bunches, but they’ve also been burned more times than they’d like to admit — especially against the run. They’ve given up 30+ points in 4 of their 5 losses, and if Kansas City finds rhythm early, this could become a track meet.

What really stands out for Dallas is that they have their own offensive weapons to lean on. CeeDee Lamb, of course, has been outstanding, in the top 5 of the league in receiving yards. His chemistry with Dak Prescott is as dialed in as ever, and he’s been nearly unguardable in recent weeks. They’ve also started to get more from the backfield, though consistency remains a question.

Defensively, the Chiefs come in what feels like very underrated. They’ve allowed the 2nd-fewest yards per play in the AFC and have been surprisingly stingy in the red zone. If their front 4 can get home against Prescott, that will change how Dallas approaches 3rd downs and hopefully keep Lamb at bay. Kansas City’s secondary is aggressive, but it’s also allowed some chunk plays, which is clearly something Lamb and Brandin Cooks will try to exploit.

This is a rare Thanksgiving matchup between these two teams because the Cowboys usually face NFC opponents, so the Chiefs rolling into AT&T Stadium adds a new wrinkle to the storyline. And while there’s no long-standing rivalry here, the urgency is very real when it comes to the wins and losses columns. Both teams are trying to stay in the mix, and a loss here could seriously complicate things down the stretch.

Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)

The big surprise we’re sure the NFL wasn’t counting on is that the primetime game wraps things up with a classic AFC North showdown between 2 teams on opposite trajectories. Baltimore enters smoking hot, riding a 5-game winning streak and sitting atop the division, but just barely. Cincinnati, meanwhile, has lost 4 in a row and fallen to 3-8. Injuries have crushed the Bengals’ season, with probably the most notable to Joe Burrow, though there’s speculation he could return this week after opening his practice window earlier in November.

Whether or not Burrow suits up is the biggest storyline, but it definitely feels like that’s where the Bengals are leaning. If he plays, the Bengals become a different team. He’s thrown for just 189 yards and 2 TDs in just 5 quarters this season until he had to get his turf toe fixed. Without him, the offense has sputtered and struggled to get some consistency. Even Ja’Marr Chase, who’s already at 1,000+ yards, hasn’t been able to carry the group on his own, but with Burrow under center, that can change. The Bengals are averaging just over 22 PPG but have allowed 360 — the most in the AFC.

Baltimore, by contrast, looks fairly balanced and dangerous. Lamar Jackson is quietly having one of his most complete seasons so far as he’s already got 3,000+ combined yards, and he’s protected the ball better than ever. His ability to extend plays is a nightmare for a Bengals defense that hasn’t generated much pressure this year. And when the Ravens get ahead, they grind teams down. Their ground game is relentless, and their defense has clamped down late in games. Even if Burrow is back, they’re still going to be one of the toughest challenges the Bengals have faced.

These 2 teams know each other well. They’ll meet again in Week 16, but this one could put the final nail in Cincinnati’s season and remove any hopes for getting a wild-card slot. Baltimore has won 6 of the last 7 matchups and covered the spread in 5 straight games. The games are usually physical, sometimes chippy, and often come down to execution in the red zone.

Ravens TE Mark Andrews remains out, but Isaiah Likely has stepped up in his place. Rookie Zay Flowers is also finding his groove, giving Lamar another trusted option with routes. If the Ravens control the clock and avoid turnovers like they usually do, they’ll be hard to beat.

As for Cincinnati, even if Burrow plays, this is a tall task. But Thanksgiving night has a way of producing some of the best surprises, and the Bengals know this division as well as anyone. This won’t be easy, but it won’t be boring either.

Load Up Your Plate with These Thanksgiving Games

The 2025 Thanksgiving slate doesn’t lean on nostalgia, though that’s a component, instead, it leans on impact. All 3 games carry real weight in the standings. Every team playing still has something to fight for, even though the fight looks much different for each.

You’ve got an early divisional slugfest with playoff seeding on the line, a late-afternoon national stage for 2 proud franchises to prove they belong in January, and a primetime war between old enemies in what could be a knockout blow.