Fans couldn’t legally place a bet — or even have a drink — when the Elyria Athletics faced the Columbus Panhandles in one of six games to mark the start of Thanksgiving football in the NFL. The tradition began in 1920 and there were no Detroit Lions or Dallas Cowboys to be found.
The Detroit Lions fell to the Chicago Bears 16-14 in the 82nd Thanksgiving Day Classic in Detroit. If that matchup seemed familiar, there’s a good reason for it. The Bears have spent the holiday in the Motor City 19 times, including three of the past four seasons at Ford Field.
The Lions are now 37-43-2 since the Detroit tradition began in 1934 and the Bears were the franchise’s guest in each of the first five editions.
The Dallas Cowboys traditionally line up a big-name performer for the Thanksgiving game halftime show in support of the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign. This year is no exception. CMA 2021 “Entertainer of the Year” Luke Combs performed live at AT&T Stadium as the Cowboys. The show helped offset the disappointment by Cowboys fans after their team fell 36-33 in overtime to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Thursday marked the 54th Thanksgiving Day game for the Cowboys. Dallas now has a 31-22-1 record in the games.
Up until 15 years ago, fans relied on the Lions and Cowboys for their NFL fixes. The league added a third helping in the 2006 season. That game isn’t anchored in any one city, so Thanksgiving football could one day come to a stadium near you.
Betting in Iowa is still something new to be thankful for
Now, football and Thanksgiving weekend go together like mashed potatoes and gravy. And, for the past two November holidays, fans can bet on NFL games in Iowa. Sportsbooks have promotions in place to help new customers or their out-of-state visitors get started. Your holiday weekend guests don’t have to visit a casino to set up a sportsbook account or place a wager in Iowa.
DraftKings bet $1, get $100 bonus
DraftKings Sportsbook IA has an offer for Sunday and Monday that’s as good as any Thanksgiving leftovers. But Sunday’s slate of NFL games is one of the last chances to take advantage of the offer.
Just sign up for the sportsbook and put $5 into your sportsbook account. Then:
Place a bet of at least $1 on any NFL, NBA, college football or college basketball moneyline. If either team scores a game, the new customer gets a $100 bonus bet bonus.
New Thanksgiving weekend offer at FanDuel
With Thanksgiving Day behind us, FanDuel has a new offer for the NFL fans this Sunday. Get $50 free with any sign-up. There’s no deposit required.
A big BetMGM bet to go with the big Thanksgiving meal
BetMGM Sportsbook wants to make sure new customers have a great Thanksgiving with an NFL offer too. This is a good time to get $50 free when you sign up, plus a $1,000 bonus bet.
Unibet wants to boost your Thanksgiving weekend odds
The noon game Sunday featuring the Philadelphia Eagles at NY Giants has a rich history. Unibet Sportsbook customers have a chance to place a special wager on this storied rivalry.
How to watch Eagles at Giants:
- What: Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants
- When: noon Sunday
- Where: MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ
- TV: Fox
