10 most memorable NFL moments on Thanksgiving

Nov 28, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones (12) eats a turkey leg while being interviewed by NBC personality Michele Tafoya (right) after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 22-20 during a NFL football game on Thanksgiving at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /

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7. O.J. Simpson sets NFL single-game rushing record (1976)

To get this out of the way, we all know what has happened to O.J. Simpson since his glory days as a running back. However, Simpson was phenomenal on the gridiron and arguably his most NFL performance came on Thanksgiving Day in 1976 as Simpson’s Buffalo Bills took on the Detroit Lions.

At 29 years old at the time, Simpson was still terrorizing the league as the Bills running back in 1976. He would finish the season with 1,503 rushing yards in the 14-game season. However, his best day at the office was undoubtedly in the Turkey Day matchup against the Lions. Simpson was out of his mind, breaking off big run after big run. He carried the ball 29 times on the day and amassed an incredible 273 yards rushing, which was then the NFL single-game rushing record. He also found the end zone twice.

Simpson’s record-breaking performance was undoubtedly one for the ages. It was a once-in-a-lifetime talent putting every bit of his prowess on display in front of one of the NFL’s biggest audiences of the year. Unfortunately, that didn’t result in a win as the Bills still fell to the Lions 27-14. Still, even a loss can’t discredit what Simpson accomplished on the field that day.

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