Thanksgiving and football – an unbeatable combination! RTL brings the American holiday tradition live into the German living room and broadcasts two top NFL games.
On Thursday it’s that time again: Thanksgiving and football go hand in hand in the USA – and German fans can also be there live. RTL broadcasts two of the traditional NFL games directly into your living room. The channel is bringing the holiday atmosphere and excitement of the National Football League to the screens for the first time this year.
These games will run on RTL Nitro on Thursday, November 28, 2024:
- 6:00 p.m.: Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions (free TV and streaming on RTL+)
- 10:30 p.m.: New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys (free TV and streaming on RTL+)
Attention: The games are not shown on RTL, as is usual on Sundays, but on the special interest channel RTL Nitro.
The third primetime game between the Miami Dolphins und den Green Bay Packers RTL does not broadcast at 2:20 a.m. on the night from Thursday to Friday. You can do this, for example with an NFL Game Pass on DAZN track.
On Sunday, RTL will, as usual, show three more games from week 13 on TV and in the stream:
- 6:40 p.m.: Los Angeles Chargers @ Atlanta Falcons (streaming on RTL+)
- 7:00 p.m.: Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals (free TV and stream on RTL+)
- 10:05 p.m.: Los Angeles Rams @ New Orleans Saint (free TV and streaming on RTL+)
Football + Thanksgiving = Tradition
The combination of football and Thanksgiving is one of the oldest and most popular traditions in the USA. The origins of this tradition date back to 1970 1876 back when the first documented Thanksgiving football game took place between Yale and Princeton. The National Football League (NFL) later adopted this idea and made it a permanent part of the American holiday.
The Detroit Lions broke ground in 1934 for the modern NFL Thanksgiving tradition. Back then, they played their first game on Thanksgiving to raise awareness of the newly formed team – a success that continues to this day. They have also been part of it since 1966 Dallas Cowboys festival for the Thanksgiving games. Both teams play on this holiday every year, with the only exception being the years during World War II. Added since 2006 third primetime game the program in which there are no fixed teams.
For many Americans, football games are as much a part of Thanksgiving as the traditional turkey dinner. They are an opportunity to gather with family and friends in front of the television and cheer together. The tradition shows how intertwined sport and culture are in the USA.
Also in College Football Thanksgiving is a highlight: games like the so-called „Egg Bowl“ between Mississippi State and Ole Miss are firmly anchored in the fans’ calendar.
The NFL’s Thanksgiving games are among the most-watched sports broadcasts of the year and are an important economic factor. The ratings attract companies that are willing to pay large sums of money for commercials.
Today, Thanksgiving and football are inextricably linked. This unique combination of sports and holiday spirit embodies the values of community and entertainment for many Americans and is an integral part of their culture for many Americans.
