Why do the Lions and Cowboys Play on Thanksgiving?

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by user Alex Holowczak

On Thanksgiving Day, the NFL has two games. A nice tradition.

However, for as many years as I can remember, they always involve the Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions.

Even on Madden, the game simulates the playing of Cowboys and Lions games on the Thursday!

Is there a reason for this, or is it a pure fluke?

Is it the same this year?

Date

Sun 09/17/06, 4:55 am EST

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Cobras36Red-Shirting

1174 days ago

Score 2

Here's some background info: http://www.p...ksgiving.jsp

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Alex HolowczakHall of Famer

1174 days ago

Score 1

Thanks - the irony - in 1934, Detroit sold out their stadium, and ideally needed more seats. Today, they can never sell out Ford Field.

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I am a cpcpMajor Leaguer

1174 days ago

Score 6

Because on the first American Thanksgiving the Cowboys and the Indians had dinner together. The Indians brought corn and the Cowboys used Lions to scare them in to reservations.... or something like that.

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EstebistecVarsity

1174 days ago

Score 2

And before the two leagues (AFL and NFL) merged in 1970, the tradition in the AFL was for Kansas City to host Thanksgiving football every year. This year that tradition is renewed with the third Thanksgiving Day game.

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UfgatorsDiv-I Stud

1174 days ago

Score 2

well to answer the question about madden, the schedule of madden games is based off of the real nfl scheudle, so obviously madden would sim the cowboys/lions on a thursday as well.

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