This week in the US, Americans will gather around the TV with their family and stomachs filled with turkey.
The highly anticipated annual Thanksgiving NFL games are finally upon us and we in the UK get to watch football from 5:30 p.m. on a Thursday! Three consecutive games will be live, starting right after your work day.
The Sporting News shares how you can watch these games in the UK and enjoy some Thanksgiving festivities from across the pond.
MORE: Sign up to DAZN here to watch NFL matches in the UK for just £0.99 this week
How to watch Thanksgiving NFL games in the UK
Every NFL game during the 2023 regular season and playoffs — including this season's Thanksgiving game and Super Bowl — is available to watch in the UK on DAZN.
In the UK, there is currently a live promotion in place from now until Cyber Monday (November 27) with the weekly pro subscription available for just £0.99.
Subscribers will be able to download the DAZN app via their smart TV or most other devices and either sign up for the NFL Game Pass as a standalone subscription or as an add-on to an existing DAZN package.
MORE: Watch the NFL on Thanksgiving in the UK here for just 0.99 this week
According to the company's official website, the app can be downloaded onto the following devices: Apple TV, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Stick, Amazon Fire Tablet, Android Phone & Tablet, iPhone & iPad, Android TV, LG, Smart TV, Panasonic Smart TV, Samsung Smart TV, Sony Smart TV, SmartCast, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Roku and more.
What teams are playing on Thanksgiving 2023?
| Game | Kickoff time (GMT) | TV channel |
| Packers at Lions | 5:30 p.m. | Sky Sports NFL, DAZN |
| Commanders at Cowboys | 9:30 p.m. | Sky Sports NFL, DAZN |
| 49ers at Seahawks | *1:20 a.m. | Sky Sports NFL, DAZN |
*Friday morning
The Thanksgiving lineup kicks off at Ford Field where the Lions face their NFC North rival Packers at 5:30 p.m. Detroit, currently leading the NFC North, anticipates a win, marking a significant shift from two years ago when the Packers held the best conference record and the Lions struggled until December.
The pressure is on Packers' quarterback Jordan Love to secure a crucial road victory. The Cowboys host their traditional Thanksgiving game at 9:30 p.m., taking on the Commanders, who have seen a downturn since their 2-0 start. Washington's defence, now without Chase Young and Montez Sweat, faces the challenge of containing the Cowboys' passing game led by QB Sam Howell.
In the prime-time slot, the Seahawks clash with the 49ers in a pivotal NFC West showdown. The Seahawks briefly led the division, but the 49ers, post-bye, aim to continue their dominance over Seattle. With San Francisco securing three wins against Seattle last season, including a playoff matchup, a victory over the 49ers is crucial for Seattle's divisional aspirations.
MORE: Why do the Cowboys and Lions always play on Thanksgiving?
What football teams always play on Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving Day consistently features the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys, a tradition dating back to 1934 for the Lions and 1966 for the Cowboys. The Lions, with a Thanksgiving record of 37-44-2, resumed playing after World War II and, despite a victory drought since 2016, enter this year's game against the Packers as favourites, given their NFC North lead.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys, having participated every year since 1978, hold a 32-22-1 Thanksgiving record. The interruption from 1975-77 was due to the NFL promoting the St. Louis Cardinals. Now a holiday staple, the Cowboys aim to build on last season's win over the Giants after a three-game losing streak, maintaining their appeal to a vast audience.
What teams have never played on Thanksgiving?
The Jaguars are the only NFL team yet to grace the Thanksgiving Day games. Despite having an NFL presence since 1995, Jacksonville's limited success, marked by consecutive No. 1 draft picks in 2021 and 2022, has kept them off the holiday schedule.
The league, opting for larger market teams, has overlooked the Jaguars for marquee spots, even after their surprising AFC South title and playoff run last season led by Trevor Lawrence and coach Doug Pederson. Although omitted this year, the Jaguars might find a Thanksgiving slot in the near future.
Additionally, the Buccaneers, Bengals, and Panthers have each played on Thanksgiving only once. The list below ranks NFL teams by their total Thanksgiving appearances, including the 2023 games.
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| Team | Thanksgiving games |
| Detroit Lions | 84 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 56 |
| Chicago Bears | 37 |
| Green Bay Packers | 37 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 21 |
| New York Giants | 16 |
| Washington Commanders | 13 |
| Denver Broncos | 11 |
| Buffalo Bills | 11 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 10 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 9 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 8 |
| New York Jets | 8 |
| Las Vegas Raiders | 8 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 7 |
| Miami Dolphins | 7 |
| Tennessee Titans/Houston Oilers | 7 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 6 |
| New England Patriots | 6 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 5 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 5 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 5 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 4 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 4 |
| New Orleans Saints | 4 |
| Cleveland Browns | 3 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 2 |
| Houston Texans | 2 |
| Carolina Panthers | 1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 1 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 0 |
