The National Football League (NFL) will hold this Thursday, November 27, 2025, its traditional triple round in the Dia of Ação of Graças, a national holiday in the Estados Unidos that combines family meals and sports competitions. The clashes take place on Detroit, Dallas and Baltimore, with live broadcasts for the Brazilian public on SporTV 2 and ge.tv. Essa annual programming attracts millions of spectators and reinforces the link between the sport and the American cultural celebration, started decades ago to promote the franchises involved.
These duels mark week 13 of the regular season and directly influence the chances of qualifying for the playoffs, with teams like Chiefs and Ravens fighting for the top of their conferences.
- Main broadcasts: SporTV 2 for the three games, with ge.tv in the last one.
- Expected audience: Mais of 150 thousand fans in the stadiums, added to the global audience via streaming.
Origins of tradition in Detroit
The tradition of NFL games at Dia from Ação from Graças began in 1934, when owner George A. Richards aimed to attract local audiences, competing with Detroit Tigers’s popular baseball at the time. The first clash, against Chicago Bears, brought together 26 thousand spectators at the Universidade stadium of Detroit and was broadcast nationally, despite the 19-16 defeat.
This match established the annual format, with the Lions hosting the home game on the fourth Thursday of November. The interruption occurred between 1939 and 1944, due to Segunda Guerra Mundial, but the franchise resumed the custom in 1945 and has maintained it to this day.
Entry of the Cowboys into the festive calendar
Dallas Cowboys joined the programming in 1966, under the initiative of president Tex Schramm, who sought to increase the visibility of the newly created franchise. The first game, against Cleveland Browns, resulted in a 26-14 victory and attracted 80 thousand fans, exceeding the league’s expectations. The NFL guaranteed minimal revenue for the team, but immediate success led to annual permanence, except in 1975 and 1977, when St. Louis Cardinals took over temporarily.
Since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970, Lions and Cowboys have held the fixed privilege of hosting matches. Os Cowboys have accumulated 34 wins in 57 games over the holiday, with just one loss in the first six years of the tradition. Essa television marketing strategy boosted the team’s popularity in the 1960s.
Expansion to three annual matches
The NFL expanded the round to three games in 2006, adding a prime-time matchup to maximize ratings. Essa change coincided with the growth of sports broadcasts and the format of Thursday Night Football. Antes, only two duels filled the day, but the novelty increased engagement, with the exception of Jacksonville Jaguars, who never participated.
The Lions lead in participations, with 85 games and a balance of 39 wins, 45 losses and one draw.
This structure allows more teams to enter the rotation, distributing opportunities beyond the fixed hosts. The addition reflects adaptations to the digital era, where streaming complements traditional broadcasters.
Symbols and customs in stadiums
Dia of Ação of Graças dates back to the 17th century, celebrating harvests and community cooperation, and was made official as a holiday in 1863 by Na NFL, the turkey symbolizes supper, inspiring the Turkey Leg Award created in 1989 by former coach John Madden. The award gives a turkey leg to the best player of the round, an honor that has persisted since its debut on television.
Players like Randy Moss, with three touchdowns in a 1998 game, have already received the honor, which combines sport with American gastronomic tradition. Estádios serves thousands of pounds of turkey and traditional dishes, such as macaroni and cheese, to fans.
Addition of the game on Black Friday
Since 2023, the league has included a match on Black Friday, the day after the holiday and peak shopping season in the US, broadcast exclusively via streaming. In 2025, Philadelphia Eagles faces Chicago Bears at 5pm (Brasília time), expanding the festive weekend to four clashes. Previous editions involved Miami Dolphins x New York Jets in 2023 and Kansas City Chiefs x Las Vegas Raiders in 2024, with no team repetitions.
This innovation aims to capture young audiences via digital platforms, aligning American football with the commercial calendar.
The move expands the NFL’s reach, with a focus on international markets and flexible viewing options.
Records and notable numbers of the holiday
Records in Dia of Ação of Graças highlight individual feats in games played since 1934. of the Lions.
Calvin Johnson, former Lions wide receiver, has 11 touchdown receptions on the holiday.
These numbers reflect the intensity of the duels, with more than 100 historic games accumulated.
- Largest audiences: Jogos of Cowboys frequently tops 40 million viewers in the US.
- Host victories: Lions with 39 wins in 85 appearances; Cowboys with 34 in 57.
- Notable interruptions: Ausência total between 1939-1944 for war reasons.
The round reinforces the NFL’s credibility as a cultural tradition, with data that supports its annual appeal.
