Life is full of iconic combinations. Peanut butter and jelly, burgers and fries, rice and beans.
This week offers one of the best combinations of the year: Thanksgiving and football. Millions of Americans will gather around the television with plates piled high with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy and more to watch a tripleheader of NFL action on the holiday.
Thanksgiving this year features two mainstays on the holiday: theDetroit LionsandDallas Cowboys. Those teams have played on Thanksgiving for decades and racked up more matchups than the other franchises.
The Lions keep things in-division this year with a Thanksgiving contest against NFC North foeGreen Bayto open the day's slate. This is the third consecutive year the Packers have played on Thanksgiving; they beat Detroit in 2023 and Miami last year on the holiday.
Dallas is next up on the schedule and will host theKansas City Chiefs. This marks the Thanksgiving debut of two-time NFL MVPPatrick Mahomesas the Chiefs suit up on the holiday for the first time with him at quarterback.
Another two-time MVP quarterback makes his Thanksgiving debut to round out the action asLamar Jackson'sBaltimore Ravenshost theCincinnati Bengals. This year marks just the second time the Bengals have played on Thanksgiving in their franchise's history.
With the Bengals hitting that mark, it's worth wondering: which NFL teams have never played on Thanksgiving? Here's what to know.
Detroit Lions players celebrate their 23-20 win against the Chicago Bears with a turkey drumstick at Ford Field on Nov. 28, 2024. The celebration was made possible by some highly questionable clock management by Bears head coach Matt Eberflus. A day later, Eberflus was fired by the Bears, the first in-season firing of a head coach in franchise history." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott poses with the Galloping Gobbler trophy after the win over Washington at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Nov 24, 2016. The Cowboys won the game, 31-26. Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott put on an offensive showcase." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
During a Thanksgiving Day game in 2013, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin got into the action. The Baltimore Ravens' Jacoby Jones broke free on a kickoff return, but Tomlin stepped onto the field, causing Jones to avoid the Steelers coach along the sideline. Instead of a touchdown, Jones was tackled after a 73-yard return. The Ravens went on to win the game, 22-20." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez collides with the backside of lineman Brandon Moore and fumbles the ball. It was recovered and returned for a touchdown by the New England Patriots' Steve Gregory. The play was part of a disastrous sequence for the Jets, who lost three fumbles as the Patriots scored three touchdowns in 52 seconds. New England went on to win 49-19, and Sanchez's infamous moment from the 2012 game is known as "The Butt Fumble."" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo celebrates a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third quarter NFL action in Irving, Texas Nov. 23, 2006. In a breakout game, Romo threw for 306 yards and five TDs." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
On his way to 49 touchdown passes for the season, Peyton Manning put six on the board in the Indianapolis Colts' masterful 41-9 win over the Detroit Lions. Manning went 23-of-28 for 236 yards and six touchdowns before being pulled near the end of third quarter in 2004." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Randy Moss added another tally to his incredible rookie year in in the Minnesota Vikings' 46-36 win over the Dallas Cowboys, catching three touchdown passes for 163 yards in 1998." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
With the Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers headed to overtime, referee Phil Luckett's microphone caught Pittsburgh captain Jerome Bettis calling "tails" on the coin toss. Despite the toss coming up tails, Luckett claimed Detroit won the toss. The Lions opted to receive the kickoff and scored a field goal on the first possession to win the game in 1998." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Hall of Famer Barry Sanders ran for 167 yards and three touchdowns as the Detroit Lions obliterated the Chicago Bears, 55-20, in 1997. Sanders moved into second place on the NFL's all-time rushing yardage list during the game." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
The Dallas Cowboys' Leon Lett dives for a blocked fourth-quarter field goal attempt as Bert Weidner of the Miami Dolphins scrambles for the ball on Nov. 25, 1993, in Irving, Texas. The live ball was recovered by Jeff Dellenbach of the Dolphins. Miami kicker Pete Stoyanovich then made the winning 19-yard field goal as time expired giving the Dolphins a 16-14 victory." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Buffalo Bills running back O.J. Simpson rushed for an NFL record 273 yards against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, Nov 25, 1976 in Pontiac, Michigan." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> From 'Butt Fumbles' to Barry Sanders: NFL's Most unforgettable Thanksgiving moments
Detroit Lions players celebrate their23-20 winagainst the Chicago Bears with a turkey drumstick at Ford Field on Nov. 28, 2024. The celebration was made possible bysome highly questionable clock managementby Bears head coach Matt Eberflus. A day later,Eberflus was fired by the Bears, the first in-season firing of a head coach in franchise history.
Have any NFL teams never played on Thanksgiving?
Yes, theJacksonville Jaguarsare the only active franchise without a game played on Thanksgiving. The franchise's 31-year history includes no games on either Thanksgiving or Christmas Day.
Three teams have played in one game on Thanksgiving prior to this year:Carolina(2015), Cincinnati (2010) andTampa Bay(2006). The Bengals leave that group behind with their game against the Ravens this year.
NFL team Thanksgiving records
Arizona Cardinals: 6-15-2
Atlanta Falcons: 1-3
Baltimore Ravens: 2-0
Buffalo Bills: 6-4-1
Carolina Panthers: 1-0
Chicago Bears: 20-16-2
Cincinnati Bengals: 0-1
Cleveland Browns: 0-3
Dallas Cowboys: 34-22-1
Denver Broncos: 4-7
Detroit Lions: 38-45-2
Green Bay Packers: 16-20-2
Houston Texans: 2-0
Indianapolis Colts: 2-1-1
Jacksonville Jaguars: 0-0
Kansas City Chiefs: 5-5
Las Vegas Raiders: 4-4
Los Angeles Chargers: 3-1-1
Los Angeles Rams: 4-1
Miami Dolphins: 5-3
Minnesota Vikings: 7-2
New England Patriots: 3-3
New Orleans Saints: 3-1
New York Giants: 7-7-3
New York Jets: 4-4
Philadelphia Eagles: 6-1
Pittsburgh Steelers: 2-6
San Francisco 49ers: 3-2-1
Seattle Seahawks: 2-3
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 0-1
Tennessee Titans: 5-2
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:NFL Thanksgiving: Which team has never played on the holiday?