Top 10 NFL Thanksgiving Games of All-Time

Mark Sanchez

Chicago 23, Detroit 17 (OT-1980) – This game was memorable because of its ending. The Lions were a decent team in 1980 and would finish with a 9-7 record, while the Bears under Neill Armstrong were just a tick below and were a 7-9 team. The two teams battled on even terms and when Chicago quarterback Vince Evans scored on a four-yard run in the fourth quarter, the game was sent into overtime. It didn’t last long. Chicago’s Dave Williams gathered in the kickoff and raced through the Lions’ coverage team for a game-winning 95-yard TD run. Not only was it a memorable Thanksgiving Day finish, it marked the first time in NFL history that a kickoff return for a touchdown ended an overtime game.

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Steve Silverman
Steve Silverman is a longtime sportswriter who spent 10 years as senior editor at Pro Football Weekly and he has also written for the Wall Street Journal, ESPN Magazine, MSNBC, and NFL.com. Silverman currently covers all sports – including the NFL – for CBS New York and Bleacher Report.