Finally, a football game on Thanksgiving that will excite NFL fans who have no rooting interest in the Dallas Cowboys or Detroit Lions. According to John Ourand of the Sports Business Journal, a matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles is being mulled by the league office to be included in next season's Thanksgiving slate.

“It's not dead set, but I'm told that it's pretty likely,” he said on the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast, as noted by The Star Tribune.

The Vikings last played on Turkey Day in 2017, beating the Lions 30-23. The Eagles haven't appeared on Thanksgiving since 2015, when Detroit embarrassed them en route to a 45-14 victory.

Tradition dating back to 1978 means the Cowboys and Lions host a Thanksgiving game every season. Indeed, Detroit has played a league-high 77 games on Thanksgiving, while Dallas has played 50. No other team in the NFL has appeared in more than 33 games on Thanksgiving. The league added a third game to the Thanksgiving festivities in 2008, thankfully, one that rotates on an annual basis between teams not named Dallas and Detroit. The New Orleans Saints hosted last season's “extra” contest, beating the Atlanta Falcons 31-17.

RECOMMENDED (Article Continues Below)
The logo for the 2024 NFL Draft is in the middle of the image. On the left side is a logo of the Minnesota Vikings with a green up arrow next to it. On the right side is a silhouette of an American football helmet with a question mark inside it. There is a red down arrow next to the helmet.

Ben Strauss ·

Caleb Williams will go first, and then the Patriots and Vikings will play poker

Steve Silverman ·

Mascots of the Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, and Cincinnati Bengals

Rexwell Villas ·

A matchup between the Vikings and Eagles is one that should get all football fans excited. Philadelphia defeated Minnesota 38-7 in the 2017 NFC Championship game, ending the Vikings' dream season that one week earlier was extended by Stefon Diggs' game-winning touchdown catch against the New Orleans Saints as time expired. Minnesota got a small measure of revenge last season, though, beating the Eagles 23-21 at Lincoln Financial Field.