Almost as much as the turkey and the stuffing (perhaps more so to some), NFL Thanksgiving games are a holiday tradition. Part of that tradition is that the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys are always playing, but in recent years a third game has been added to make it a full day of football action.
The three NFL Thanksgiving games that fans are being treated to this year are:
- Green Bay Packers vs Detroit Lions, 12:30 pm ET/9:30 am PT
- Washington Commanders vs Dallas Cowboys, 4:30 pm ET/1:30 pm PT
- San Francisco 49ers vs Seattle Seahawks, 8:20 pm ET/PT
While there are a number of other Thanksgiving TV options to watch, the NFL on Thanksgiving is like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade — you have to watch at least a little bit. So here's how you can watch each 2023 NFL Thanksgiving game.
How to watch Packers vs Lions Thanksgiving game
The first Thanksgiving game is the Green Bay Packers against the Detroit Lions, airing as part of the NFL on Fox at 12:30 pm ET/9:30 am PT. If you have a traditional cable subscription or a TV antenna, you can easily access your local Fox station to watch the game. Other options include live TV streaming services that carry Fox, which include Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, Sling TV and YouTube TV.
Anyone who has cut the cord entirely from cable can still watch the game live if they subscribe NFL Plus, which allows fans to stream games live on their mobile devices and tablets.
While Packers vs Lions is a familiar Thanksgiving matchup, the script is flipped from previous years, as the Lions are the dominant team with an 8-2 record while the Packers are struggling, coming in at 4-6. The Lions boast one of the NFL's best offenses, while the defense continues to improve. Meanwhile, the Packers are still trying to adjust to life with their new quarterback, Jordan Love. This is the second and final matchup of the division rivals this season, with the Lions winning the previous matchup in Green Bay.
How to watch Commanders vs Cowboys Thanksgiving game
The second NFL Thanksgiving game this year is the Washington Commanders versus the Dallas Cowboys, with the games airing as part of the NFL on CBS. Like Fox, CBS is carried on by all basic cable providers, so if you subscribe to that or have a TV antenna you can receive the game from your local CBS station. CBS is also carried by live TV streaming services, including Fubo, Hulu with Live TV and YouTube TV.
There are multiple streaming options as well, as Paramount Plus subscribers can watch NFL games on the streaming service, while again NFL Plus is going to stream this game.
This is the first meeting between the NFC East rivals this season, but like the Lions and Packers sees the Commanders (4-7) and Cowboys (7-3) enter in very different positions. Both the Cowboys offense and defense have been firing on all cylinders this season, which they hope continues as they aim to stay among the top teams in the NFC. While note eliminated from the playoffs, things have been tough for the Commanders, particularly with its defense, which has underperformed and traded away multiple players. However, second-year quarterback Sam Howell has shown he can sling it with almost anyone, and to his credit he has beaten the Cowboys the only other time he has played them (last season in Washington though).
How to watch 49ers vs Seahawks Thanksgiving game
The final NFL Thanksgiving game for 2023 is an NFC West matchup, with the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks playing on NBC. Like CBS and Fox, as one of the four major US broadcasters, NBC is available to anyone with a basic cable subscription or a TV antenna. Live TV streaming service options that carry NBC include Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, Sling TV and YouTube TV.
You can also live stream NBC's NFL Thanksgiving game on Peacock (which also live streams Sunday Night Football every week). For a limited time you can sign up for the streaming service at a discounted rate as part of a Black Friday deal. The other streaming option is NFL Plus.
Of the matchups, on paper this is the closest one as just one game separates the 49ers (7-3) and the Seahawks (6-4) in the race for the NFC West crown. Injuries could play a factor in the game however. The 49ers are healthy again after missing key pieces like Deebo Samuel and Trent Williams contributed to a three-game losing streak recently. However some critical Seahawks players got banged up just a few days ago, including quarterback Geno Smith (though he is expected to play) and running back Kenneth Walker. This is the first of two meetings between the teams in the next three weeks, which could very well decide who wins the NFC West this year.
How to watch NFL Thanksgiving games in the UK
Even UK NFL fans can get in on the NFL Thanksgiving action. Sky TV is broadcasting each of the three games on both its Sky Sports Main Event channel and its Sky Sports NFL channel. You can also stream the games online via the SkyGo app.
Here are the specific games time for UK viewers:
- Green Bay Packers vs Detroit Lions at 5:30 pm UK
- Washington Commanders vs Dallas Cowboys at 9:30 pm UK
- San Francisco 49ers vs Seattle Seahawks at 1:20 am UK on Friday, November 24
