Top 10 Thanksgiving Day Games Since 1970

I found a way to make a top 10 list that the Detroit Lions dominate! If you plan to bet on the games this thanksgiving.

10) 2001: Broncos 26, Cowboys 24

The Broncos dominated the first three-quarters of this game and entered the fourth quarter with a comfortable 23-3 lead over the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. The Cowboys scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to end up falling just short 26-24.

Believe it or not, Ryan Leaf, believe it or not, was the quarterback for the Cowboys that day and ended up with a fantastic for him 193 yards passing.  The star of the game was Broncos running back Mike Anderson, who carried the ball 33 times for 118 yards and one touchdown. The most unbelievable part of this game was that Ryan Leaf did not suck in this game.

9) 1984: Lions 31, Packers 28

Gary Danielson was the QB in 1984, and neither one of these teams were very good. On this day, both teams were at the top of their game. The Lions won the game behind the arm of Gary Danielson, who threw for 305 yards and three touchdowns.

8) 1984: Cowboys 20, Patriots 17

The Patriots behind new Head Coach Raymond Berry were beginning to play better, and on this day, they gave America’s team all they could handle. The Cowboys built a 17-3 before the Patriots stormed back and scored 14 points to tie the game 17-17 in the fourth quarter, and suddenly it looked like the Patriots might go into Dallas and pull the upset.

Then Danny White answered, leading a fourth-quarter drive that set up a 23-yard field goal by Rafael Septien for the win. Dallas escaped narrowly with a 20-17.

7) 1987: Vikings 34, Cowboys 28

The Vikings would end up in the NFC Championship game in 1987, and this was the game where they started to get the nation’s attention. The Cowboys sent the game to overtime on a Danny White TD pass at the end of the fourth quarter.

The Vikings won early in OT on a Darrin Nelson 24 yard TD run.

6) 1982: Giants 13, Lions 6

Maybe not a great game, but a great ending. The Lions were driving in a tie game and were in field goal range; then, they made the colossal mistake of throwing a pass in the direction of Lawrence Taylor. Taylor stepped in front of the WR, picked off the pass, and raced 97 yards with the game-winning INT.

5) 1995: Lions 44, Vikings 38

The only good thing about watching the Lions in the mid-’90s was getting to watch Barry Sanders run the ball. This game was no different as Barry ran for 138 yards. Scott Mitchell(Yes, Scott Mitchell) and Warren Moon combined to throw for 794 yards and seven touchdowns not shocking that Moon did it, but Scott Mitchell?  It was Mitchell who had the last laugh because his team came out on top in the end.

4) 1980: Bears 23, Lions 17

This was a classic Thanksgiving day game as the Bears scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to force overtime with the Detroit Lions.  The overtime did not last very long because Bears returner Dave Williams ran the opening kickoff of the overtime 95 yards for a touchdown. Throw in watching the great Walter Payton rush for 123 yards, and you have a great game.

3) 1993: Dolphins 16, Cowboys 13

The 8-2 Dolphins played the 7-3 Cowboys in a classic game played in the snow at Texas stadium. Dallas lost a 14-7 halftime lead in the snow as Dolphins kicker Pete Stoyanovich hit three short field goals to win the game.

2) 1986: Packers 44, Lions 40

This was a great game played by two bad teams. The Packers scored 14 points late to put the game away.

1) 1979: Oilers 30, Cowboys 24

Two outstanding teams waged a classic in Texas stadium. You had legendary running backs Earl Campbell and Tony Dorsett, two of the most innovative coaches of all time in Tom Landry and Bum Phillips. Campbell rushed for almost 200 yards to lead the Oilers to the hard-fought win.