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The long-held American tradition of playing football games on Thanksgiving is said to date back to the origins of the sport. Early football enthusiasts used their day off to toss the ol’ pigskin around. Then, college football teams began scheduling games on Turkey Day. Yale and Princeton began an annual tradition of playing on Thanksgiving starting in the 1870s. The University of Michigan joined in on the action about a decade later. From those days until now, football has been as synonymous with Thanksgiving as pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce. Now, you can carry on this great tradition. It’s time to learn how to watch 2024 NFL Thanksgiving games live.
Yup, all three of ’em.
Detroit Lions from left Gus Frerotte (L), Greg Hill, Johnnie Morton and Robert Porcher get to sample FOX TV’s Jon Madden’s surgically altered turkey after their game against the Chicago Bears 25 November 1999 in Pontiac, Michigan. The Lions beat the Bears 21-17.
This year, the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys will both play on Thanksgiving, per usual. The Lions have had an exceptional season thus far. Prior to facing the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 24, they had lost only one game all year, placing them atop the entire league neck-in-neck with back-to-back Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs. Detroit has never appeared in a Super Bowl, but this may finally be the season they can jump that hurdle. They’ll face off against fellow NFC North rivals the Chicago Bears, who have sat at the bottom of the division for the last month or so.
Dallas will play the New York Giants, another big-market team with a less-than-stellar performance this season. Both teams are in the bottom half of the NFC East. Time may have already run out for the Giants, who won only two of their first ten games. But the Cowboys still have a glimmer of hope of surpassing the Washington Commanders if they can find their footing. Unfortunately, they’ll have to do it without quarterback Dak Prescott, who suffered a season-ending hamstring injury earlier this month.
The final Thanksgiving game might be the most interesting, as the Green Bay Packers fight to stay atop the NFC North, an ultra-competitive division that also includes the Lions and the Minnesota Vikings. They’ll play the Miami Dolphins, who have trailed behind the Buffalo Bills in the NFC East for most of the season but had won two games in a row heading into their Nov. 24 matchup against the woeful New England Patriots. Nothing would provide a bigger jolt to Miami’s season than a big win on Thanksgiving against the Packers.
This year, the three Thanksgiving games will be broadcast on different networks, two of which have their own streaming services. To learn all you need to know about your options for watching this year’s stuffed (pun intended) schedule of Thanksgiving football, consult our handy guide below.
Thanksgiving Day NFL Schedule
- Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions: (2:30 p.m. EST, CBS/Paramount+)
- New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys: (6:30 p.m. EST, FOX)
- Miami Dolphins at Green Bay Packers: (10:20 p.m. EST, NBC/Peacock)
How to Watch the 2024 NFL Thanksgiving Games on Paramount+
Paramount+ is the streaming home of CBS NFL games. That means that you can catch the first Thanksgiving 2024 game between the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions on Paramount+. A Paramount+ Essential plan will cost you $8/month, while a Paramount+ with Showtime subscription is $13/month.
How to Watch the 2024 NFL Thanksgiving Games on Peacock
NBC’s NFL games are usually viewable on Peacock as well. On Thanksgiving, the final NFL game of the day will be on NBC and Peacock. It’s a showdown between the Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers. Peacock has two different subscription plans: Premium for $8/month and Premium Plus (which eliminates most ads) for $14/month.
Along with football games throughout the season, you’ll also be able to watch almost any professional wrestling event ever, thanks to WWE’s giant archive of live and on-demand premium events, exclusive to Peacock.
How to Watch the 2024 NFL Thanksgiving Games on Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV is a stellar option for watching this year’s NFL Thanksgiving games because a subscription will get you access to CBS, FOX, and NBC — the three networks broadcasting football games on turkey day. You can sign up for Hulu + Live TV (ad-free), Disney+ (ad-free), and ESPN+ for $83/month. ESPN+ is a goldmine for sports fans and will have you watching almost every sport imaginable all year long.
How to Watch the 2024 NFL Thanksgiving Games on DIRECTV STREAM
DIRECTV STREAM is another excellent and easy way to have all three Thanksgiving NFL networks (CBS, FOX, and NBC) at your fingertips. Subscriptions for DIRECTV STREAM cost around $87/month for the Entertainment + Sports Pack, $95/month for the Choice + Sports Pack, and $110/month for the Ultimate + Sports Pack. (Prices may differ depending on regional sports fees and other factors.) All four packages will also get you access to NFL Network and NFL RedZone.
How to Watch the 2024 NFL Thanksgiving Games on Fubo
For football fans gearing up for Thanksgiving, Fubo is another great game-day solution with access to all the channels you need—CBS, FOX, and NBC — to catch every NFL matchup. Whether it’s the early kickoff or the primetime showdown, Fubo ensures you won’t miss a single play.
With plans starting at $60 for the first month and $80/month afterward, Fubo’s base package offers an impressive 200 channels, making it more than just a football streaming service. You’ll also get unlimited DVR storage to record the games you can’t watch live and the ability to stream on up to 10 devices, so everyone in the family can tune in, no matter where they are. Thanksgiving football has never been easier to enjoy.
How to Watch the 2024 NFL Thanksgiving Games on Sling TV
Sling TV‘s Blue package has you covered with FOX and NBC for the action-packed lineup. While Sling doesn’t include CBS, you can still watch key games on FOX and NBC, making it a solid option for Thanksgiving football fans. The Blue package starts at just $22.50 for your first month, with the price going to $45/month after that.
Sling TV’s pricing may vary depending on your location. To get the most accurate details and see if Sling fits your Thanksgiving football plans, visit their website for the latest information.
How to Watch the 2024 NFL Thanksgiving Games from anywhere with a VPN
Football fans located outside the U.S. on Thanksgiving can still watch all the action from abroad. In order to access streaming services such as Paramount+ and Peacock, all you need to do is sign up for a VPN service. ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access both allow you to hide your location and watch U.S. streaming platforms. Private Internet Access starts at $2/month, while ExpressVPN plans start at $8.32/month.
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