It might surprise you to learn that the NFL has been playing Thanksgiving Day games since 1920. It shouldn't surprise you that in the past 90 years there have been some outstanding games played on Thanksgiving. Here are my five top Thanksgiving NFL games:
1974: Cowboys vs Redskins
This game is best known for unheralded Dallas Cowboys rookie Clint Longley's miraculous performance in replacing the injured Roger Staubach. Longley brought the Cowboys back from a 23-3 deficit in a little over a quarter's worth of work. The Cowboys finally went ahead 24-23 with just 28 seconds remaining in the game on a Longley touchdown pass to Drew Pearson.
1980: Bears vs. Lions
Remembered as one of the greatest comebacks in Chicago Bears history, the Lions were ahead 17-3 starting the fourth quarter in this Thanksgiving Day classic. The Bears would go on to score two touchdowns in the fourth, with the final touchdown coming on quarterback Heath Evans' touchdown run as time ran out. In overtime, the Bears won the game 23-17 on a 95-yard kickoff return by Dave Williams for a touchdown. This is only one of two NFL games to ever end on a kickoff return for a touchdown, and the only one to ever occur on Thanksgiving.
1998: Cowboys vs Vikings
This was a Thanksgiving Day for the record books that involved amazing individual performances from each team. Troy Aikman led the Cowboys with a Thanksgiving Day record 455 passing yards, but it was rookie Randy Moss and the Minnesota Vikings who won the game 46-36. Moss had only three catches in the game, but all three went for touchdowns.
1996: Lions vs Steelers
This game is best known for the infamous coin toss to start overtime in which Steelers running back Jerome Bettis called "tails" but referee Phil Luckett heard "heads." The Lions went on to receive the ball and drove for the game-winning field goal. After the game, Luckett told reporters that Bettis started to say "heads" but then switched to "tails". The rule for the coin toss was changed in the following season. Players are now required to call "heads" or "tails" before the coin is tossed, largely because of this controversial situation in 1996.
2010: Cowboys vs Saints
The Cowboys were ahead 27-23 late in the fourth quarter and had the ball on what looked to be a game-ending drive. Cowboys receiver Roy Williams caught a pass and broke free of the defenders to head for the end zone. In an amazing defensive play, the Saints' Malcolm Jenkins caught up to Williams and stripped him of the ball. The Saints recovered, and Drew Brees then drove New Orleans 89 yards down the field for a touchdown to put the Saints ahead 30-27 with 1:55 left. The Cowboys attempted to tie the score with a 59-yard field goal with 22 seconds left, but the kick missed by a few inches to the left to give the Saints the win.
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