How to watch the NFL’s Thanksgiving Day games

WASHINGTON — The NFL’s Thanksgiving Day tradition returns Thursday with three nationally televised matchups. 

This year marks the 20th straight year the NFL has played three Thanksgiving games, and continues a long-standing holiday tradition for both Detroit and Dallas, who have hosted nearly every year for decades. Here’s what to know about watching the matchups Thanksgiving Day. 

The holiday football kicks off in Detroit, where the Lions will host the Green Bay Packers at 1 p.m. ET on FOX. Detroit, winners of the NFC North the past two seasons take on Green Bay, which has reached the playoffs two straight years. The Lions swept the Packers in 2024, but Green Bay won the teams’ last Thanksgiving face-off in 2023.

Halftime in Detroit will feature hometown rock musician Jack White, and Eminem is serving as an executive producer of the show. Gospel singer CeCe Winans is set to perform the national anthem.

At 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+, the Kansas City Chiefs travel to Texas to face the Dallas Cowboys. The defending AFC champions return to Thanksgiving for the first time since 2006, while Dallas is trying to rebound after missing last year’s postseason. The matchup will be Patrick Mahomes’ first game in Arlington and his second time playing against Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.

Cowboys fan Post Malone will headline the halftime performance at AT&T Stadium as part of the team’s annual Red Kettle Kickoff.

The night wraps at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC with an AFC North clash between the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium. Baltimore has been building to another playoff run, while the Bengals hope to return to postseason contention after two straight 9–8 seasons. 

The rivalry between the two teams has intensified in recent years, especially amid late comebacks by the Ravens in 2024 and Cincinnati’s Wild Card win three seasons ago.

Lil Jon will take the stage for a halftime performance in Baltimore, with Tony Award winner Renée Elise Goldsberry singing the national anthem.