Contrary to popular belief, playing football on Thanksgiving Day is not an NFL invention. The league may be credited with bringing a lot of innovations to the sport, but the origin of games being played as part of festivities celebrating a successful harvest predate the formation of the National Football League by nearly 50 years, when the college teams from Yale and Princeton faced off in 1876. However, it is subsequent fixtures between the universities of Michigan and Chicago, which began in 1885, which are widely regarded as the start of a tradition which was only adopted by the pro game in 1922.

Prior to the outbreak of World War II, various teams played on the holiday but, following the cessation of hostilities, only the Detroit Lions persisted with the Thursday game, initially hosting the Green Bay Packers for 13 straight seasons. The Dallas Cowboys jumped on the bandwagon six years after their founding in 1960, but would not become a permanent fixture on the schedule until 1978 — upon which they demanded a deal to continue as Thanksgiving hosts in perpetuity.

It is only since 2006 that a third game has been slated for Thanksgiving Day, but its addition gives the NFL greater freedom in choosing the matchup, as there is neither a permanent host or television contract tie-ins that determine which conference has to be featured. Although division rivalries have proliferated, the league has used its liberty to schedule some clashes as mouthwatering as the Thanksgiving fare on the table in homes where families are glued to the television.

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Of course, to the uninitiated, the ceaseless involvement of the Lions and Cowboys as the hosts of the first two games on the Thanksgiving schedule is both baffling and infuriating — moreso when they’re not playing good football, as has unfortunately been a regular problem in Detroit until recently. The Kansas City Chiefs made a play to become the permanent home team when the third game was added, and featured in the inaugural prime-time matchup, but were never installed as a regular feature. The Chiefs are back in the rota this season, however, but as the host of the second-ever ‘Black Friday’ game, an innovation that arrived with Amazon’s deal to carry live NFL games.

Of course, the very best place to watch the Thanksgiving Day games — as it is for the other 269 regular season matchups, plus every playoff game and the Super Bowl — is NFL GamePass on DAZN, which promises access to ‘Every Game From Every Team’*, as well as the latest news from NFL Network, the very best documentaries from NFL Films and, of course, the ubiquitous seven-hour Sunday supplement, NFL RedZone.

And, this season, football fans can stream the full NFL Thanksgiving experience for just 99p. With THREE games on Thanksgiving Thursday — featuring Bears @ Lions, Giants @ Cowboys and Dolphins @ Packers, PLUS the Black Friday encounter that sees Raiders @ Chiefs, the offer has it all:

• Friendly kick-off times
  The added Thanksgiving and Black Friday games start earlier in the U.S., meaning many international fans don’t have to stay up late to watch.
• Famous teams
  The NFL schedules traditional matchups featuring big-name teams, with the in-form Packers in prime time and reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs on Black Friday.
• U.S. Traditions
  By using the authentic American broadcast, GamePass International doesn’t shirk the heart of Thanksgiving football like the postgame turkey leg, topical MVP awards, festive Fall themes and more.

With alternate feeds, downloads, Fan Zone chat, complete portability and the ability to watch Every Game From Every Team in abridged form via the Game in 40 feature, there really is no better option. Unlike having to watch Dallas every year!

Buy up now at DAZN.com/NFL

*Some blackout restrictions apply. See website for details.