37+ Why Do Cowboys And Lions Play Thanksgiving Pics. The packers used to always the cowboys started playing their thanksgiving game in 1966, apparently in part because other teams did not have an interest in playing a midweek. Since that initial game, the dallas cowboys have only missed two thanksgiving day games:
Thanks to the lions' success, in the 1960's the national football league decided it wanted to put on another thanksgiving game — but the league the nfl honored schramm's deal, and the cowboys have played on every thanksgiving since 1966, except two, 1975 and 1977, when the league tried.
The two squads play every year on the gluttonous holiday, while other nfl teams vary. Why are the lions and cowboys the teams we are forced to watch on this holiday that has become synonymous with football? The cowboys started playing on thanksgiving in 1966. But why do those two clubs always play on thanksgiving?