NFL Thanksgiving 2026 — The Games, Kick-off Times and What to Check Before You Bet
Researched and drafted with AI assistance from published sources; published by LokeNessiSport Editorial Team · Last updated: 23 October 2026
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The NFL's Thanksgiving Day 2026 slate is Bears at Lions (1:00 p.m. ET, CBS), Eagles at Cowboys (4:30 p.m. ET, FOX) and Chiefs at Bills (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock) on Thursday 26 November. This year the holiday week starts a day early with the league's first Thanksgiving Eve game — Packers at Rams on Wednesday 25 November at 8:00 p.m. ET on Netflix — and ends with Broncos at Steelers on Black Friday, 27 November, at 3:00 p.m. ET on Prime Video. For viewers in Norway and the rest of Europe, the Thursday games fall in the evening and late at night.
This guide sets out the five games of Thanksgiving week as the NFL published them, with the background the league gives for each one, and the points worth checking before you bet. It quotes no odds or picks.
The full Thanksgiving week schedule
Thanksgiving week 2026: date, game, kick-off (ET), venue and US TV / stream
- Wed 25 Nov — Packers at Rams: 8:00 p.m., SoFi Stadium, Inglewood; Netflix
- Thu 26 Nov — Bears at Lions: 1:00 p.m., Ford Field, Detroit; CBS, Paramount+, NFL+
- Thu 26 Nov — Eagles at Cowboys: 4:30 p.m., AT&T Stadium, Arlington; FOX, FOX One, NFL+
- Thu 26 Nov — Chiefs at Bills: 8:20 p.m., Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park; NBC, Peacock, NFL+
- Fri 27 Nov — Broncos at Steelers: 3:00 p.m., Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh; Prime Video
Kick-off times are as published by NFL.com in the 2026 schedule release; check them again in game week. Broadcast rights outside the US differ by country.
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Thanksgiving Eve: Packers at Rams
NFL.com calls Green Bay at the Los Angeles Rams the league's inaugural Thanksgiving Eve game. It streams live on Netflix, which says the games will be available in over 200 countries, and U2 headline the halftime show. In its schedule notes, NFL.com points out that the Rams went 12-5 and reached the NFC Championship Game in 2025, while the Packers made the playoffs for a third straight season before losing in the first round again.
Thanksgiving Day
Bears at Lions (1:00 p.m. ET)
The Lions have the longest Thanksgiving history in the league. NFL.com says this is Detroit's 86th Thanksgiving game: the Lions first played on the holiday in 1934, have played every year since 1945, and hold a 38-46-2 all-time Thanksgiving record. The Bears lead the Thanksgiving series between the two 11-9, and it is the fourth straight season Detroit faces a division rival on the day. The Bears arrive as reigning NFC North champions under head coach Ben Johnson, the Lions' former offensive coordinator.
Eagles at Cowboys (4:30 p.m. ET)
An NFC East game in Dallas. NFL.com notes that the Cowboys went 7-9-1 in 2025, that the Eagles have won the last two NFC East titles, and that the teams have met on Thanksgiving twice since 1966 — Philadelphia won 27-0 in 1989 and 33-10 in 2014.
Chiefs at Bills (8:20 p.m. ET)
The night game is a rematch of one of the AFC's defining rivalries. According to NFL.com, the teams have played 10 times since 2020 including the playoffs: Kansas City is 4-0 against Buffalo in the postseason, Buffalo has won five straight regular-season meetings and is 5-1 in the regular season over that span, and six of the last seven meetings were decided by seven points or fewer. The Bills, who beat the Chiefs 28-21 in 2025, are now coached by Joe Brady after Sean McDermott was fired.
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Black Friday: Broncos at Steelers
The fourth annual Black Friday game sends Denver to Pittsburgh. NFL.com notes that the Broncos reached the AFC Championship Game last season and that quarterback Bo Nix is returning from a postseason-ending ankle injury, while Mike McCarthy has replaced Mike Tomlin as Steelers head coach.
The rest of Week 12
Thanksgiving week is also Week 12 of the regular season. NBC's schedule rundown notes that Sunday 29 November has ten more games and Monday 30 November a Monday Night Football game, so the holiday slate is only part of a full betting week. Both the Packers and the Rams, according to NFL.com, have their bye in Week 11, giving them extra rest before the Wednesday game.
Reading a holiday line
Holiday games get a lot of attention, but that does not change how to read a price. Convert any decimal price into a probability (1 divided by the odds), compare it with your own estimate, and check the same market at more than one bookmaker. On American odds, a favourite at −150 implies 60% (150 ÷ 250) and an underdog at +130 implies about 43.5% (100 ÷ 230); together they exceed 100%, and the difference is the bookmaker's margin. Our NFL betting guide explains spreads, totals and moneylines in more detail.
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Betting on Thanksgiving week: what to check
- Short weeks. Teams playing on Thursday have only a few days to recover from their previous game. Check the injury reports and who actually practised, because there is little time to recover.
- Teams that played on Wednesday or Thursday usually get extra rest before their next game — something to remember for the following week's lines.
- Close rivalries. With six of the last seven Chiefs–Bills games decided by seven points or fewer, the point spread and the alternative lines around it deserve as much attention as the moneyline.
- Same-game parlays and accumulators multiply the bookmaker's margin. Our accumulator guide explains the maths.
- Compare prices across the bookmakers you can legally use and convert each price into a probability first — our guide to reading betting odds shows how.
- Set a limit for the holiday, not per game. Five games in three days makes it easy to chase. See our bankroll management guide for staking.
Last year's Thanksgiving results, from NBC: the Packers beat the Lions 31-24, the Cowboys beat the Chiefs 31-28 and the Bengals beat the Ravens 32-14. Past results do not predict this year's games, but they are a reminder of how often the holiday produces close finishes and upsets.
Gamble responsibly. If betting is causing stress, financial difficulties or relationship problems, contact BeGambleAware.org or your local gambling helpline.
Sources: NFL.com — Thanksgiving week 2026 schedule release, NFL.com — Lions to host Bears on Thanksgiving, NFL.com — U2 to headline the Thanksgiving Eve halftime show and NBC New York — NFL Thanksgiving schedule 2026, all opened on 23 October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What NFL games are on Thanksgiving 2026?
Bears at Lions at 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS, Eagles at Cowboys at 4:30 p.m. ET on FOX, and Chiefs at Bills at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock, all on Thursday 26 November 2026.
Is there an NFL game on Thanksgiving Eve?
Yes, for the first time. The Packers visit the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Wednesday 25 November 2026 at 8:00 p.m. ET, streaming live on Netflix, with U2 headlining the halftime show.
What is the Black Friday NFL game in 2026?
Broncos at Steelers on Friday 27 November at 3:00 p.m. ET on Prime Video. It is the league's fourth annual Black Friday game.
Why do the Lions always play on Thanksgiving?
Detroit first played on Thanksgiving in 1934 and has played every year since 1945. NFL.com says the 2026 game against the Bears is the Lions' 86th on the holiday.
What time are the Thanksgiving games in Norway?
Kick-offs are published in US Eastern Time. Convert them for your own time zone and check again in game week, because times can change.
Are Thanksgiving games harder to bet?
Thursday games come on a short week, so injury news and practice reports matter more than usual. Compare prices, avoid stacking legs into long parlays and set a budget for the whole holiday. 18+.