NFL Thanksgiving Games 2026: Predictions for Three Games

As tradition dictates, the 2026 NFL schedule will feature a three-game Thanksgiving Day slate. 

Detroit will open the schedule with a home game, followed by a home game for the Cowboys. Those Thanksgiving mainstays have struggled to pick up wins in the same year. 

Only twice since 2016 have both the Lions and Cowboys won on Thanksgiving. 

For the third game, the NFL will rotate teams that feature on Thanksgiving. Ravens vs Bengals closed the action in 2025, with Packers vs Dolphins taking the final slot in 2024. 

Read More: When is the NFL Schedule Released?

Here are my predictions for the 2026 NFL Thanksgiving Day slate. 

NFL Thanksgiving Day Game Predictions

We know the Lions and Cowboys will play home games in their respective time slots. Who the opponent will be in 2026 remains the bigger unknown. 

Looking at the Lions’ 2026 opponents makes it easy to assume a divisional game. Only twice since 2016 have the Lions played a non-divisional game on Thanksgiving Day. 

Detroit played Green Bay in two of the previous three years. Sandwiched in between is a matchup against the Bears. 

Given the Bears’ ascent to the top of the NFC North last year, it’s reasonable to assume Ben Johnson’s Bears return to Detroit for the second time in four years. 

Divisional games have come and gone for the Cowboys on Thanksgiving. Since 2016, Dallas has played six of 10 games against divisional opponents on the holiday. 

Last year, Dallas played the Chiefs on Thanksgiving. If it’s a divisional matchup this year, my prediction would be Cowboys vs Commanders. If not: Cowboys vs 49ers. 

Predicting the final game offers the most difficulty. In two of the three prior seasons, the NFL elected to close the slate with a divisional game. 

Recently, we’ve seen the Bills feature a few times on Thanksgiving. The team went to New Orleans in 2021 and Detroit in 2022. 

However, Buffalo has yet to play a Thanksgiving home game with Josh Allen. A new stadium opening provides the best opportunity. 

For the opponent, I’ll go for a Bills vs Chargers primetime showcase.