The Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions are as conventional on Thanksgiving as turkey on the desk.
Few issues are extra American than tucking into a large plate of meals earlier than settling in to observe stars of the NFL throw across the pigskin.
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Since 2006, soccer followers have been handled to 3 video games on Thanksgiving Thursday.
This 12 months, the red-hot Lions host the Chicago Bears and the Cowboys are at dwelling in opposition to the New York Giants, earlier than the vacation is wrapped up by the Miami Dolphins visiting the Inexperienced Bay Packers.
It has develop into a convention – courting again many years – for each Dallas and Detroit to play on Thanksgiving, alongside the more moderen prime time recreation.
However how did it begin all these years in the past?
When did the NFL begin enjoying Thanksgiving video games?
Whereas there are information of video games within the American Skilled Soccer Convention courting method again to the Twenties, the NFL’s Thanksgiving custom started in 1934.
That 12 months, radio govt George A. Richards bought the Portsmouth Spartans for $8,000 and moved the group from Ohio to Motor Metropolis, renaming them the Lions.
When he realised that his new group have been usually enjoying second fiddle to the Detroit Tigers, Richards determined to schedule a recreation on Thanksgiving as a gimmick to get individuals to fill the stands.
A whopping 26,000 followers confirmed as much as watch the ten–1 Lions tackle the 11–0 Bears at a offered out College of Detroit Stadium.
Whereas the hometown group misplaced 19-16, the custom was born.
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The next 12 months, the Lions received on Thanksgiving and went on to seize the NFL championship – the primary of 4 titles earlier than the AFL-NFL merger.
Total, Detroit is 37-45-2 on Turkey Day and have performed at dwelling each season, barring a six-year interval from 1939-1944 throughout World Conflict II.
The Cowboys, in the meantime, wouldn’t develop into a Thanksgiving staple till 1966.
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Have the Dallas Cowboys at all times performed on Thanksgiving?
Dallas first performed on Thanksgiving in 1966, beating the Cleveland Browns 26-14 on the Cotton Bowl in Texas.
In an analogous story to that of the Lions 32 years prior, common supervisor Tex Schramm wished extra nationwide publicity for the Cowboys.
He knew a vacation recreation made excellent sense, however the NFL was initially involved concerning the attraction of a struggling group and even assured them a certain quantity of gate income to play on Thanksgiving.
It turned out the league had nothing to fret about and a crowd of over 80,000 confirmed up for the sport.
Thus, the Cowboys’ Thanksgiving custom was born they usually have performed on each Turkey Day since – besides in 1975 and 1977.
The group boast a stable 33-22-1 vacation report.
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Why did the Cowboys not play on Thanksgiving in 1975 and 1977?
Previous to the 1975 season, then-NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle wished to see if the St. Louis Cardinals might construct their recognition below coach Don Coryell, whose groups have been nicknamed the ‘Cardiac Youngsters’ due to their thrilling finishes.
Rozelle scheduled them to host Thanksgiving video games in 1975 and 1977, taking the privilege away from the Cowboys.
Nonetheless, the Cardinals misplaced the primary recreation 32-14 to the Buffalo Payments, and the second 55-14 to the Dolphins.
After the second blowout, Rozelle went again to Schramm to ask whether or not the Cowboys would take the Thanksgiving recreation again.
“It was a dud in St. Louis,” Schramm mentioned over a decade later.
“Pete requested if we would take it again. I mentioned provided that we get it completely. It is one thing you need to construct as a convention. He mentioned, ‘It is yours without end.'”