Thanksgiving brings families together to share a meal and give thanks. It also brings NFL football to living rooms across the country.
Over the past decade, fans have been treated to several matchups that delivered unforgettable moments and crazy finishes. From last-second field goals to wild fourth-quarter swings, these games kept viewers on the edge of their seats with turkey still on their plates.
With Thanksgiving 2025 upon us, let’s take a look back and rank the best Thanksgiving matchups of the past ten years.
Aaron Rodgers was at the peak of his powers in 2015 and had the Green Bay Packers positioned for another NFC North title run. The Chicago Bears entered at 4–6 but remained in the playoff hunt.
A cold Thanksgiving night at Lambeau Field shifted quickly. A back-and-forth first half left both defenses scrambling for answers. Chicago entered halftime with a narrow 14–13 lead.
Both defenses tightened in the second half and turned the game into a grind. The next points came with 12:15 left in the fourth, when Robbie Gould hit a 51-yard field goal to extend the Bears’ lead to 17–13.
That kick ended the scoring, as Chicago’s defense delivered several clutch stops down the stretch. The Bears held on for a 17–13 road win and improved to 5–6.
A divisional matchup that felt dull through three quarters flipped completely in the fourth. The Detroit Lions entered the game on a nine-game winning streak and a 10–1 record. The Bears came in at 4–7 and were a massive underdog.
The Lions controlled the game early and led 23–7 entering the fourth quarter. Then, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and the Bears offense suddenly woke up. Williams hit receiver Keenan Allen for a nine-yard touchdown with 13:40 left. Williams then found DJ Moore for a 31-yard score to cut the lead to three with 5:36 remaining.
Chicago’s defense delivered a key stop and gave the offense the ball back with 3:31 left. The Bears were pinned at their own one-yard line but were able to drive to the Detroit 35. With 31 seconds remaining, Williams was sacked. Chicago had a timeout, but for some reason, chose not to use it.
The clock ran down to six seconds before the next snap, and Williams’ final throw fell incomplete as time expired. Detroit held on to reach 11–1 and stay atop the division. The Bears fell to 4–8 and fired head coach Matt Eberflus the next day.
Another NFC North Thanksgiving matchup delivered one of the best endings in turkey day history. Both teams were fighting for a playoff spot and a possible division title. The low-scoring battle kept the raucous Detroit crowd on the edge of their seats throughout the afternoon.
The Lions were backed up at their own one-yard line with 5:02 remaining. Their offense had struggled all day, but quarterback Matt Stafford was able to lead them all the way into field-goal range. Matt Prater then connected on a 48-yard kick with 1:45 left to tie the game. The Minnesota Vikings took over with an opportunity to win and snatch a critical divisional matchup on the road.
With 37 seconds remaining, on 3rd-and-7 from their own 28, Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford threw an interception to Darius Slay. Slay returned it to the Minnesota 20 and put Detroit in the driver’s seat for the win.
The Lions ran the clock down to four seconds, and Matt Prater drilled a 40-yard field goal to seal the victory. Detroit improved to 7–4 and took control of the NFC North race.
This Lions Thanksgiving game brought another close finish, this time in an NFC–AFC showdown. The Buffalo Bills entered hot at 7–3 and led the AFC East. Detroit, at 4–6, was finally turning a corner under head coach Dan Campbell.
The two teams traded blows for four quarters. With 2:40 left, Josh Allen hit Stefon Diggs for a five-yard touchdown to put Buffalo up 25–22. A missed PAT kept the door open for Detroit to force overtime.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff led an impressive drive, and Michael Badgley drilled a 51-yard field goal with 23 seconds remaining. Most viewers assumed the game was headed for overtime, but Allen was left too much time by Detroit.
Allen guided Buffalo into field-goal range, and Tyler Bass redeemed his earlier miss with a 45-yard field goal with two seconds left. The Bills improved to 8–3 and crushed the hopes of every Lions fan watching.
The most exciting Thanksgiving matchup of the last decade was another NFC–AFC battle.
Both teams entered the game fighting for playoff positions in their respective conferences. The offensive fireworks started early, when Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr hit DeSean Jackson for a 56-yard touchdown in the first four minutes.
The teams traded scores throughout the afternoon. With 2:54 left, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott found tight end Dalton Schultz for a 32-yard score to tie the game at 30. Carr answered with a clutch march of his own, and Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson drilled a 56-yard field goal with 1:52 remaining.
Prescott responded again, leading Dallas to a game-tying drive capped by a 45-yard Greg Zuerlein field goal to force overtime.
In overtime, the Cowboys got the ball first and went three-and-out. The Raiders then put together a steady drive, and Carlson sealed the game with a 29-yard field goal. The win pushed Las Vegas deeper into the AFC playoff race and moved them to 6–5.
Thanksgiving gives us great NFL matchups every year, and the 2025 slate is no different. In fact, this year is shaping up to be one of the strongest lineups in recent memory. The holiday offers quality football, but more importantly, it gives us time to unwind with family and strengthen the relationships that matter most.
Enjoy the holiday, and take in some top-tier football action with your families!
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