NFL Schedules First Thanksgiving Eve Game, Five Total Around Holiday

The NFL schedule for 2026, set for release Thursday evening, expands holiday football with five games around Thanksgiving, including the league's first game on Thanksgiving eve.

Games span six of eight days in late November. The week starts with regular Sunday games on Nov. 22, a Monday night game on Nov. 23, the new Thanksgiving eve game on Nov. 25, three Thanksgiving Day games on Nov. 26, a Black Friday game on Nov. 27 and regular Sunday games on Nov. 29.

The Thanksgiving eve game pits the Green Bay Packers at the Los Angeles Rams on Netflix. Both reached the playoffs last season.

Thanksgiving Day brings three games at 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Fox, plus an 8:20 p.m. nightcap. The Chicago Bears visit the Detroit Lions to open the day.

The Lions have improved lately. The NFC North stood alone last year as the only division where all four teams finished above .500. This season, the Lions, Bears, Minnesota Vikings and Packers all eye the playoffs, giving the Bears-Lions game added stakes.

The late afternoon slot features the Philadelphia Eagles at the Dallas Cowboys. The night game sends the Buffalo Bills to the Kansas City Chiefs.

The NFL aims for record viewership in those two games. The Cowboys and Eagles should battle for the NFC East crown. The Bills-Chiefs rivalry pairs quarterbacks Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes, who have clashed in key regular-season and playoff games.

The current record for most-watched regular-season NFL game belongs to the Chiefs-Cowboys Thanksgiving matchup on Nov. 27, 2025, which drew 57.23 million viewers.

All Thanksgiving Day games are confirmed. Reports point to the Pittsburgh Steelers hosting the Denver Broncos at 3 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime for Black Friday. Both made the playoffs in 2025.

The five games involve 10 teams with postseason hopes this year. Seven reached the playoffs last season.