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11 Greatest NFL Thanksgiving Day Moments

HERO Sports by HERO Sports
November 21, 2017
11 Greatest NFL Thanksgiving Day Moments

The NFL has been playing games on Thanksgiving for nearly 10 decades, and who can ever forget the drama, suspense, and hard-hitting action of the Akron Pros 7-0 win over the Canton Bulldogs on November 25, 1920?

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COMPARE: NFL Teams | NFL Players

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Fast-forward to 2017 and the Thanksgiving triple-header has become just as much a part of the holiday tradition as stuffing, gravy, and pumpkin pie.

RELATED: Best College Football Thanksgiving Rivalries

To get you ready for another Turkey Day jam-packed with gridiron action, take a look at 11 of the greatest NFL Thanksgiving Day moments in league history.

Lett It Snow

[credit]Leon LettAl Bello /Allsport[/credit]

COMPARE: DALLAS VS. MIAMI

With Dallas leading Miami 14-13 with 15 seconds left on the snow-covered turf of Texas Stadium in 1993, Dolphins' kicker Pete Stoyanovich's game-winning attempt was blocked. The ball spun helplessly near the goal line when Cowboys' defensive lineman Leon Lett came out of nowhere and inexplicably tried to recover it. He booted it forward, Miami recovered, and Stoyanovich's second attempt sent Miami home a winner and Dallas fans forever scratching their heads.

RELATED: What Does Elliott Suspension Mean for Cowboys?

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The Juice is Loose

[credit]O.J. Simpson - Buffalo Bills File PhotosTim Culek/Getty Images[/credit]

COMPARE: BUFFALO  |  DETROIT

Before O.J. Simpson was famous for non-football-related activities, he scorched the Detroit Lions back in 1976 for a Thanksgiving Day-record 272 yards. Somehow the Buffalo Bills still managed to find a way to lose the game 27-14.

RELATED: Nathan Peterman Stats with Buffalo Bills

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Thanksgiving Day Massacre

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COMPARE: MIAMI |  ARIZONA

Still a turkey day record, the Miami Dolphins destroyed the St. Louis Cardinals 55-14 in 1977 as Hall of Fame quarterback Bob Griese tossed six touchdowns in only three quarters of action. It was also the first year Griese started sporting his famous black-rimmed glasses. Coincidence? 

RELATED: Ajayi Trade, Elliott Suspension = Eagles Will Win NFC East

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The Clint Longley Game

longley

COMPARE: DALLAS VS. WASHINGTON

Dallas rookie Clint Longley filled in for an injured Roger Staubach in 1974 and hit Drew Pearson for a game-winning 50-yard touchdown strike with just 28 seconds left to knock off the Washington Redskins. The Abilene Christian alum would play just three NFL seasons and end his career with only five touchdowns for 441 yards.

RELATED: Dallas Cowboys Roster

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LT Goes 97 Yards

[credit]Dallas Cowboys v New York GiantsFocus on Sport/Getty Images[/credit]

COMPARE: NY GIANTS VS DETROIT

In one of the most iconic plays of his legendary career, New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor intercepted the Lions' Gary Danielson and raced down the right sideline 97 yards in the fourth quarter to break a 6-6 tie. The 1982 win remains the Giants only Turkey Day victory during the Super Bowl era.

RELATED: Potential Replacements for New York Giants Coach Ben McAdoo

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Sanders Slices Bears

[credit]SandersGeorge Gojkovich/Getty Images

COMPARE: CHICAGO BEARS VS ANY TEAM

Perhaps clinching the 1997 MVP award, Barry Sanders ripped through the Chicago Bears defense to the tune of 167 yards and three rushing TDs. The Lions would go on to win easily by the score of 52-20, and in 2004 Sanders was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame.

RELATED: Detroit Lions Roster

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The Butt Fumble

[credit]Jacksonville Jaguars v New York JetsJeff Zelevansky/Getty Images[/credit]

COMPARE: ANY TWO NFL Players

Perhaps one of the most famous fumbles in NFL history, New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez attempted to turn a botched play into a quarterback draw. As he got to the line of scrimmage, he slammed into the posterior of lineman and teammate Brandon Moore. The ball squirted loose and was returned for a New England Patriots' touchdown by safety Steve Gregory.

Thus, The Butt Fumble of 2012 was born.

RELATED: New York Jets Roster

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Manning Feasts Inside Lions' Den

[credit]Wild Card Playoffs - New York Jets v Indianapolis ColtsJoe Robbins/Getty Images[/credit]

COMPARE: CARSON WENTZ VS. TOM BRADY

During the prime of his career in 2004, the Colts' Peyton Manning showed no mercy against Detroit in throwing for six touchdowns against just five interceptions during a 41-9 thrashing. The game was so out of hand that Manning didn't even see the field during the fourth quarter.

RELATED: Indianapolis Colts Roster

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First Overtime T-Day Game Ends in Epic Fashion

80bears

COMPARE: ANTONIO BROWN VS. JULIO JONES

Down 17-3 entering the fourth quarter against the Lions, Chicago rallied for 14 points inside the Silverdome to tie the game. The extra frame wouldn't last long, however, as Bears' returner Dave Williams took the overtime kickoff 95 yards to the house to give Chicago the stunning 23-17 OT win in 1980.

RELATED: Chicago Bears Roster

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Tails Fails

[credit]PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 21:  Running back Jerome Bettis #36 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on from the sideline during a game against the San Diego Chargers at Heinz Field on December 21, 2003 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  The Steelers defeated the Chargers 40-24.  (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)George Gojkovich/Getty Images[/credit] 

COMPARE:  KHALIL MACK VS. VON MILLER

A 1998 T-Day coin flip controversy so incredible it caused the NFL to change its rules.

As Jerome Bettis and his Pittsburgh Steelers teammates stood at midfield across from Detroit, the running back could be heard calling "tails" as the coin was in the air. Somehow referee Phil Luckett heard "heads." The Lions came down and scored on the game's first possession in overtime for the win.

Because of the gaffe, the league instituted a rule that states players must now call heads or tails before the flip.

RELATED: Pittsburgh Steelers Roster

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Cowboys Get Mossed

[credit]Minnesota Vikings' Randy Moss celebrates with theCRAIG LASSIG/AFP/Getty Images[/credit]

FANTASY COMPARISON: RUSSELL WILSON VS. CAM NEWTON

Fresh out of Marshall, rookie Randy Moss only caught three passes on Thanksgiving Day, but he sure did make them count.

Just hours after the Steelers-Lions coin-flip fiasco, Moss hauled in three touchdown passes of 50 yards or more from QB Randall Cunningham as the Vikings won in Dallas by the count of 46-36.

RELATED: Jarvis Landry's Fantasy Status

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