Buffalo Rumblings
Every Thanksgiving, the NFL features three matchups for the world to enjoy. Two things are always a given — that the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys always play on Thanksgiving, and that both teams do so as the home teams.
The third game is often a mystery that leaves fans in anticipation up until the annual NFL schedule reveal. Looking ahead to 2026, it’s possible that the Buffalo Bills could host league’s third game on Thanksgiving night.
The Bills are a popular team to showcase, but they will also play in their new stadium next season, and the NFL has been known to reward teams with new stadiums primetime matchups. In 2020, the Los Angeles Rams made their debut in then-new SoFi Stadium, and the team had the first Sunday Night Football game against the Dallas Cowboys. When the Minnesota Vikings debuted their new stadium in 2016, they were rewarded with a Week 2 Sunday Night Football game against the Green Bay Packers at their new home, U.S. Bank Stadium.
In the Bills’ case, there are some great matchups the NFL could highlight in primetime for Thanksgiving. The game against the New England Patriots comes to mind first, given how this season is going with the Patriots leading the AFC East. There’s always the now-annual rivalry game with the Kansas City Chiefs, but the Chiefs are playing on Thanksgiving this year against the Dallas Cowboys.
A potential fresh matchup could be against the Chicago Bears, especially since it looks like head coach Ben Johnson has that team trending upwards in his first year with Chicago. Perhaps a potential future AFC playoff showdown between the Los Angeles Chargers and Bills is in play? Though Buffalo also hosts the Lions in 2026, it’s unlikely the NFL would ask Detroit to go against the grain and travel on the holiday.
The Bills are 6-4=1 all-time on Thanksgiving, and the team has a history of putting on a good show for holiday audiences. In 2019, Buffalo had a thrilling 26-15 victory against the Dallas Cowboys, which many viewed as quarterback Josh Allen’s coming-out party. In 2021, Bills Mafia celebrated Thanksgiving with a 31-6 road win over the New Orleans Saints. Then they had the thriller against the Detroit Lions in 2022 where the Bills made a last-second field goal to pull out the 28-25 win.
Bills’ 2026 home games
Miami Dolphins
New England Patriots
New York Jets
Kansas City Chiefs
Los Angeles Chargers
Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
AFC North team (TBD)
Bills’ away opponents
Miami Dolphins
New England Patriots
New York Jets
Denver Broncos
Green Bay Packers
Las Vegas Raiders
Minnesota Vikings
AFC South team (TBD)
