Watching football on Thanksgiving is as much a tradition as eating turkey and breaking the wishbone. This year, the holiday falls on November 28, and the NFL’s Thanksgiving Day schedule (which also includes a Black Friday showdown on November 29) features several teams still actively in the playoff hunt. Some, including Jared Goff’s Detroit Lions, are even realistic Super Bowl contenders.
So, sit back, crack open a cold one, and get ready to learn all the ways to watch the NFL on Thanksgiving day from anywhere with ExpressVPN.
Quick guide: How to watch the NFL Thanksgiving Day games
You won’t want to miss the NFL Thanksgiving Day games on Thursday, November 28 (or the Black Friday game on Friday, November 29). ExpressVPN helps you bypass streaming blocks on restricted networks so you can stream every touchdown wherever you are—even if you’re stuck at work or watching on unsecured public Wi-Fi:
- Get ExpressVPN.
- Connect to a server location that matches the broadcaster you want to watch. For example, American fans can connect to a server in the United States to catch games on Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, or YouTube TV.
- Time for turkey and touchdowns!
How to watch the NFL Thanksgiving Day games online for free
United States
Twitch.tv
Popular live streaming platform Twitch.tv will carry the second annual Black Friday game for free. Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce will lead the Kansas City Chiefs’ explosive offense, while Maxx Crosby and the Las Vegas Raiders aim to disrupt their AFC West rivals on Friday, November 29 (3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. GMT).
Other options to watch Thanksgiving day football online
United States
The 2024 NFL Thanksgiving Day games will air on CBS, Fox, and NBC in the U.S. Cord-cutting services like DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV offer all three channels and free trials, which is a great way to watch the games without committing to a subscription. Additionally, Paramount Plus will have a simulcast of the Lions-Bears game airing on CBS. Paramount Plus currently offers a 7-day free trial.
The Black Friday matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders will air worldwide on Prime Video, which offers a 30-day free trial. Please note the Chiefs-Raiders game will air on local networks in the respective home markets. If you signed up for YouTube TV with a Kansas City ZIP code, you can watch the Chiefs-Raiders clash without subscribing to Prime Video.
Stream NFL Thanksgiving games on NFL Game Pass International
With NFL Game Pass International (available via DAZN), you can catch every NFL game live, including the 2024 Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday matchups, without worrying about blackouts. Pricing will vary based on your location.
DAZN has apps for iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, and smart TVs, so you can stream NFL Thanksgiving games whether you’re on the move or relaxing at home in front of the big screen.
If you notice your connection slows down whenever you’re streaming football, your internet provider may be throttling your speeds. ExpressVPN offers an easy solution to that problem. When you connect to an ExpressVPN server, your data is encrypted. This means your internet provider can’t see which apps or sites you’re using, so it can’t slow you down based on your activity.
2024 NFL Thanksgiving Day schedule
| Game | Date and time | Network |
| Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears | Thursday, November 28, 12:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. GMT | NFL Game Pass International, CBS, Paramount Plus |
| Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants | Thursday, November 28, 4:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 p.m. GMT | NFL Game Pass International, Fox |
| Green Bay Packers vs. Miami Dolphins | Thursday, November 28, 8:20 p.m. ET / 1:20 a.m. GMT | NFL Game Pass International, NBC, Peacock |
| Kansas City Chiefs vs. Las Vegas Raiders | Friday, November 29, 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. GMT | NFL Game Pass International, Prime Video, local networks |
The 2024 NFL Thanksgiving Day schedule kicks off in Detroit, where Jared Goff and the high-powered Lions host Caleb Williams, DJ Moore, and the new-look Bears. These two NFC North rivals are set on reaching the playoffs, even after the Lions lost star pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson to a broken left leg in October. Let’s see how Williams, the No. 1 overall pick last spring, fares in his Turkey Day debut.
Thanksgiving action continues when Dak Prescott’s inconsistent Cowboys welcome Malik Nabers and the struggling Giants. Dallas narrowly escaped with a 20-15 road victory over Big Blue in Week 4. Can the Giants even the season series and damage the Cowboys’ postseason hopes?
Finally, Jordan Love’s Packers close Thanksgiving when they host Tyreek Hill and the injury-ravaged Dolphins at Lambeau Field. Love and the Pack have fielded one of the NFL’s top offenses all season, and they look to keep the scoreboard operators busy against a desperate Dolphins team.
Black Friday pits Patrick Mahomes, Chris Jones, and the two-time defending champion Chiefs versus Maxx Crosby’s Raiders in an AFC West showdown. All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams is long gone, so we’ll see who (if anyone) impresses for the Silver and Black at Allegiant Stadium. More importantly, we want to find out if Taylor Swift shows up to support Travis Kelce on the road.
Why you need a VPN to watch the NFL Thanksgiving Day games
Have you ever noticed your connection slowing down when you start streaming, leading to frustrating buffering and lag? This could be due to your ISP throttling your speed based on your activity. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, preventing your ISP from monitoring your online activity and throttling your connection speed.
A VPN also encrypts your data, so you can watch the games on restricted networks at school, work, or on unsecured public Wi-Fi, all while keeping your data secure. If you have any questions about streaming NFL games or other sports with a VPN, our customer support team is always available online to assist, day or night.
The best VPN for watching the NFL Thanksgiving Day games
The extensive ExpressVPN network spans 105 countries and multiple U.S. locations, NFL fans can enjoy top-notch football streams wherever they are. The ultra-fast 10-Gbps servers mean you’ll get smooth, HD-quality streaming, letting you focus on the big plays, not buffering.
ExpressVPN has easy-to-use apps for all streaming devices, so catching the game live is simple, no matter if you’re streaming on your smart TV at home or tuning in on the go from your smartphone. You can also connect up to 8 devices at the same time with just a single ExpressVPN account, so the whole household can use a VPN on their own devices. Try ExpressVPN risk-free with our 30-day money-back guarantee.
FAQ: About watching the NFL Thanksgiving Day games
Which NFL games are showing on Thanksgiving Day?
There are three NFL games on Thanksgiving Day 2024. The Detroit Lions host the rival Chicago Bears at Ford Field in the first game, with the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants clashing later that day. Then, the Green Bay Packers welcome the Miami Dolphins to Lambeau Field.
Why does the NFL play football on Thanksgiving?
Although the NFL began playing Thanksgiving Day games as early as 1920, the yearly celebration didn’t become a tradition until 1934. Detroit Lions owner George A. Richards started playing games every Turkey Day to get people to attend Lions games. The Lions and Dallas Cowboys have hosted Thanksgiving Day games every year since 1978.
For the second year running, there will also be a fourth game, held on Black Friday. Tune in to see the Las Vegas Raiders take on the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
Do the Eagles play on Thanksgiving?
No, the Philadelphia Eagles do not play on Thanksgiving in 2024. Football fans last saw the Eagles play on Turkey Day in 2015 when Matthew Stafford led the Detroit Lions to a 45-14 victory at Ford Field. As of 2024, the Eagles own a 6-1 record on Thanksgiving Day.
Why does Dallas always play on Thanksgiving?
The Dallas Cowboys’ popularity ensures that they always play on Thanksgiving. Originally, Dallas owner Tex Schramm began playing on Turkey Day in 1966 to generate publicity. Clearly, it worked, and the four-time Super Bowl champions have played on Thanksgiving every year since 1978. There’s a reason why the Cowboys market themselves as America’s Team!
Why do the Lions always play on Thanksgiving?
Tradition runs strong in the NFL. Since Detroit Lions owner George A. Richards kicked off the ritual of hosting games on Turkey Day in 1934, the league has resisted allowing other teams to occupy the early-window holiday game, even when the Lions have struggled. As of 2024, the Lions own a 37-45-2 record on Thanksgiving Day.
Which NFL teams always play on Thanksgiving?
The Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys always play on Thanksgiving. Tradition dictates that the Lions host the early game (12:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. GMT) and the Cowboys host the afternoon matchup (4:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 p.m. GMT). Both teams play indoors, meaning there is never a risk of inclement weather—like the rare Thanksgiving Day snowstorm—impacting the gameday experience for players or fans.
What is the only NFL team to never play on Thanksgiving?
The Jacksonville Jaguars have never played on Thanksgiving Day. Interestingly, the Houston Texans have played twice on Thanksgiving, despite only existing since 2002.
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