5 Memorable Thanksgiving Day Football Moments

What are five of the most memorable Thanksgiving Day football moments?

Thanksgiving Day in America is one for people to gather around with family, usually enjoy turkey and to reflect on all the things they’re thankful for.

Over the years, football has come to be associated with Thanksgiving Day as much as turkey has. This year’s match-ups however, did not fail to disappoint. Neither of the three NFL games were closer than 16 points. Texas A&M was competitive with LSU on the college gridiron, but fifth-ranked TCU blew out Texas in a game some viewed as a potential stumbling block for the Horned Frogs.

While yesterday’s games hardly kept us on the edge of our seats, there have been some great Thanksgiving Day games over the years. Here’s a look back at the top 5 most memorable football moments to take place on Thanksgiving Day:

5. Peyton’s 6 Passes for Six

November 25th, 2004
Indianapolis Colts 41, Detroit Lions 9

Against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving in 2004, Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback Peyton Manning enjoyed one of the best days ever for a passer on turkey day. Manning was an efficient 23-for-28 passing for 236 yards, a pedestrian number by his standards, but passed for six touchdowns in a Colts romp. Three of Manning’s TD tosses went to his go-to guy Marvin Harrison and the other three went to slot-man Brandon Stokley. By the time the 2004 season was over, Manning had thrown for 49 touchdowns — one more than the record 48 Dan Marino passed for 20 years prior.

4. Just for Kicks

November 27th, 1980
Chicago Bears 23, Detroit Lions 17

The Thanksgiving contest between the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions may have disappointed on Thursday, but when the teams met in the Pontiac Silverdome in 1980, history was made and has yet to be repeated. The Lions looked to be on their way to an easy victory over the Bears, leading 17-3 after three quarters. In the final period however, quarterback Vince Evans engineered a pair of touchdown drives. His 20-yard touchdown toss to Bob Fisher pulled Chicago to within a score before his 4-yard touchdown run evened the contest. The game went to overtime and that’s where history was made. The Bears won the toss and Dave Williams took the ensuing kickoff from the 5-yard-line all the way to the Detroit end zone to give Chicago a 23-17 victory. Williams’ 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown remains the only overtime touchdown on a kickoff return in NFL history.

3. “The Call is Heads”

November 26th, 1998
Pittsburgh Steelers 16, Detroit Lions 19

Thanks to a late Norm Johnson field goal, the Pittsburgh Steelers had drawn even with the Detroit Lions at 16 to force the game into overtime on Thanksgiving in 1998. Team captains gathered around midfield for the overtime coin toss. Pittsburgh Pro Bowl running back Jerome Bettis was asked to call the toss and appeared to call “tails”. As referee Phil Luckett tossed the coin into the air, he said “the call is heads”. The coin landed on tails. Bettis insisted that was what he called, but Detroit was given the first possession of the extra session. Pittsburgh would never get the football as the Lions marched down the field for a game-winning field goal from 42 yards out by Jason Hanson.

2. Cowboys “Lett” Dolphins Escape

November 25th, 1993
Miami Dolphins 16, Dallas Cowboys 14

The field at Texas Stadium was covered in snow as Miami Dolphins’ kicker Pete Stoyanovich lined up for a potential game-winning field goal against the defending Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day in 1993. The Dolphins were able to get the snap down on the icy cold field, but the kick was blocked and fell dead beyond the line of scrimmage. It appeared as though Dallas had avoided the upset, until defensive lineman Leon Lett slid into the football, making it a live ball. Miami recovered and was given a first down with just seconds to play. Stoyanovich made good on his shot at redemption as his 19-yard kick sailed through the uprights as time expired, giving the Dolphins a narrow 16-14 victory. Miami at the time, improved to a NFL-best 9-2. Unfortunately for the Dolphins, they would not win again that season, finishing 9-7 and out of the playoffs. Dallas would win the next eight games which included a 30-13 victory over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVIII.

1. The Game of the Century

November 25th, 1971
#1 Nebraska 35, #2 Oklahoma 31

The contest dubbed the “Game of the Century” between Nebraska and Oklahoma took place in Norman, Oklahoma in 1971. Both teams entered undefeated and on the line was not only the national championship, but the outright Big 8 title. Nebraska raced to a 14-3 lead thanks to a 72-yard punt return for a score by eventual Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers and a short touchdown run from Jeff Kinney, but by halftime, the Sooners were ahead 17-14 behind the running and passing of quarterback Jack Mildren. After falling behind 28-17, Mildren passed for a second score and ran for a second score to give Oklahoma a 31-28 advantage with under seven minutes to play. With the Big 8 and national championship on the line, quarterback Jeff Tagge engineered a 12-play, 74-yard drive. Kinney’s second 1-yard touchdown with 1:38 to play would prove to be the game-winner as the Cornhuskers outlasted the rival Sooners 35-31. Nebraska would go on to claim a second straight national championship.

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