NFL Tweaks Its Traditional Thanksgiving Schedule Here’s The Change Fans Need To KnowDetroit Lions players enjoying Thanksgiving meal (Photo By David Reginek-Imagn Images)

Thanksgiving means family, food, and football, and the NFL isn’t changing that. The league scheduled another tripleheader, but fans noticed one clear difference this year, the first game starts later than usual. The Detroit Lions will still open the day, just not at the time everyone expects.

Detroit will host the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field in an important NFC North game. The division is tight, so every game matters.

The two teams last met in Week 1, when Jordan Love threw for 188 yards and two touchdowns in a 27–13 win. Jared Goff finished that game with 225 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. The Lions also announced that Jack White will perform the halftime show for their 86th annual Thanksgiving Day Classic against the Packers.

The NFL usually starts Thanksgiving at 12:30 p.m. ET, but this year’s opener starts at 1 p.m. ET. West Coast fans may appreciate the extra 30 minutes. Others say it feels a bit off. Still, the holiday lineup remains packed with football from morning through night.

Fans React To The New Start Time For Thanksgiving Day

Fans tailgate annual Thanksgiving Day game (Photo By David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports)
The Thanksgiving schedule tweak set off a mix of reactions.

One fan said, “This is outrageous why did they do this.”

Another asked, “Who asked for this?”

Others used a different tone for this Thanksgiving change. One person said, “Probably a good idea. Next year we need 4 games, 1 international starting at 9:30 AM ET.”


Another fan added, “They should’ve done this from the jump. This ain’t college.”

After the Packers and Lions finish the early game, attention shifts to Kansas City. The Chiefs will face the Dallas Cowboys at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS. Patrick Mahomes and Dak Prescott don’t meet often, so this NFL game should get plenty of attention.

The night game features a big AFC North showdown. The Cincinnati Bengals take on the Baltimore Ravens at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC. Both teams are fighting for position in one of the league’s toughest divisions. Cris Collinsworth won’t be calling this game, which adds another small twist to the broadcast.

The NFL kept its usual three-game Thanksgiving schedule, but the new start time for the opener created an unexpected hype. Still, the league hopes fans sit back, enjoy their meals and watch a full day of football.