2024 NFL Thanksgiving Schedule: A Tripleheader of Mixed Expectations

Thanksgiving Day in the United States is synonymous with football, and the 2024 NFL season continues this tradition with a tripleheader of games. Here’s a breakdown of the matchups and what to expect.

The day begins with the Chicago Bears visiting the Detroit Lions at 12:30 p.m. ET on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. The Lions, led by quarterback Jared Goff, are having a stellar season, averaging a league-leading 33.6 points per game. They boast a potent offense with players like Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Sam LaPorta. The Bears, meanwhile, are looking to rebound from a four-game losing streak, having recently fired their offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams will be key to their chances against the high-scoring Lions.

The second game of the day, scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET on Fox and streaming on fubo, features the New York Giants at the Dallas Cowboys. This matchup has historically been one of the highlights of the NFL season, but this year it promises to be less exciting due to the quarterbacks involved. With Dak Prescott out for the season due to a hamstring injury and Daniel Jones benched, the game will see Cooper Rush of the Cowboys facing off against Tommy DeVito of the Giants. Both quarterbacks have struggled, with DeVito having thrown for more than 200 yards only once in six NFL starts and Rush ranking low in expected points added per snap.

The final game of the day takes place at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and streaming on fubo, pitting the Miami Dolphins against the Green Bay Packers. This matchup offers more promise with two young and talented quarterbacks, Jordan Love and Tua Tagovailoa, both of whom are looking to rebound from injuries earlier in the season. The Dolphins have won two straight games to get back into the playoff race, while the Packers are seeking to build momentum after a strong start to the season.

While the quarterback matchup in the Giants-Cowboys game may be underwhelming, the other two games offer more excitement, particularly with the Lions’ explosive offense and the potential for a high-scoring game between the Dolphins and Packers.