As is tradition, there will be three NFL games played on Thanksgiving Day this season. The Lions will play in their usual early-game slot against the Bears, the Cowboys will play host to the Giants in the afternoon frame, and the Dolphins will visit the Packers to close things out.
Top 5 Moments In Thanksgiving Day NFL History
Will there be any moments during the holiday action that could be remembered for years to come? Here are five of the more notable games and events that have taken place during Thanksgiving Day games in year’s past:
1966 – Cowboys Make Their Thanksgiving Debut
The Lions were the original mainstay for the NFL on Thanksgiving, playing on the holiday every year since 1934. But the Cowboys weren’t even established as a franchise until 1960, and didn’t play on Thanksgiving for another half-decade.
In an effort to increase national popularity, Dallas joined Detroit in the tradition during the 1966 season. The NFL actually worried about the attendance for the game, as the Cowboys had been one of the worst records in the league during the early days of their franchise. But that 1966 Thanksgiving Day contest saw the biggest crowd that Dallas had ever attracted for a football game up to that point, with an attendance count of 80,259.
They played against the Cleveland Browns in that game, and won 26-14.
1976 – OJ Simpson Sets Career High In Rushing yards
The Buffalo Bills provided one of the more interesting statistical anomalies in NFL history on Thanksgiving Day, 1976. Running back OJ Simpson had the highest rushing yard total of his stories career, putting up a total of 273 against the Lions that day, but his efforts weren’t enough to carry his team to victory.
As great as the Bills’ rushing attack was that day, the passing game was equally lackluster. Quarterback Gary Marangi completed just four passes on the day, and was able to muster just 29 total passing yards. Simpson provided the only scoring for Buffalo with his two touchdowns on the day, and it was Detroit that was victorious with a 27-14 final score.
1993 – Dolphins Win In Memorable Snow Game
The Miami Dolphins were out of their element playing in the snow in Dallas on Thanksgiving, 1993. But down 14-13 in the waning moments of that year’s late window game, they lined up Pete Stoyanovich for a 40-yard field goal. The kick wound up being blocked by the Cowboys, and the ball rolled bounced towards their own goal line as it looked like they had secured victory.
But defensive lineman Leon Lett made one of his career gaffes that he would become known for. Instead of avoiding the tumbling football, Lett inexplicably dove to try to recover it, but botched the pickup and allowed the Dolphins to regain possession all the way down at the 1-yard line. Stoyanovich came back out onto the field, this time for a 19-yard chip shot. The kick was good, and Miami walked away with one of the more improbable wins that we’ve seen in any Thanksgiving Day game.
1998 – The “Coin Toss” Game
One of the more infamous Thanksgiving Day moments came at the fault of an NFL referee. The Lions and Steelers were headed to overtime after a 16-16 tie in regulation, and the teams met at mid-field for the all-important coin toss to determine possession in the extra period. Head official Phil Luckett flipped the coin, and Steelers running back Jerome Bettis could be heard on the national broadcast calling “tails”.
Luckett apparently heard different, and awarded possession to the Lions when the coin landed on tails. The Pittsburgh players were understandably confused and upset, which turned to pure anger when Detroit kicked the game winning field goal on the first drive of overtime.
The story became a national controversy, and sent the Steelers into a tailspin. They entered the game with a 7-4 record and comfortably in the playoff chase, but lost every game the rest of the way that season to finish 7-9 and on the outside looking in.
2012 – Mark Sanchez & The Butt Fumble
The Jets were embarrassed by Tom Brady and the Patriots on Thanksgiving Night, 2012, but the 49-19 final score wasn’t the failure that the game would be remembered for.
Already down 14-0 in the second quarter, a broken play forced New York quarterback Mark Sanchez to scramble up the middle. Instead of gaining any significant yardage, Sanchez instead collided with the rear end of one of his offensive lineman, which knocked him backward with force. The ball slipped out of his hands, which was picked up by a Patriots defender and taken back for a touchdown.
Sanchez had a solid career with the Jets that included two AFC Championship Game appearances, but the “Butt Fumble” is the thing that he may be, unfortunately, best known for.
