Thanksgiving history favors Eagles against hated Cowboys in Week 12
Thanksgiving history favors Eagles against hated Cowboys in Week 12
Geoffrey A Knox, Eagles WireTue, May 12, 2026 at 12:06 PM UTC
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Thanksgiving history favors Eagles against hated Cowboys in Week 12
The Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys rarely need extra fuel when they meet, but the NFL may have delivered exactly that by placing one of this season’s rivalry showdowns on Thanksgiving Day. If history is any indication, Eagles fans should feel pretty good about how the holiday might unfold.
Philadelphia and Dallas opened last season under the bright lights of primetime. This time, they'll meet with turkey leftovers nearby and family debates that are inevitable. NFC East bragging rights will once again hang in the balance.
For Eagles fans, Thanksgiving football has historically been far more enjoyable than stressful. At least that's the case most of the time anyway. Philadelphia enters this year's Thanksgiving matchup with a remarkable 6-1 all-time record on the holiday. No, that isn't a typo.
The Eagles have historically thrived on Thanksgiving
For decades, the Eagles have somehow managed to turn Thanksgiving into one of the franchise's most successful stages. Whether it's dominant defensive performances, explosive offensive showings, or rivalry-fueled beatdowns, Philadelphia has consistently handled business while much of the country watched from dining room couches.
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There is, however, one lone ugly exception.
At the risk of bringing back bad memories, the obligation forces us to mention the infamous demolition of the Detroit Lions during the Chip Kelly era, a performance so disastrous that many Eagles fans still feel ill whenever that game is mentioned. Outside of that nightmare, however, Thanksgiving has treated Philadelphia extremely well. There was 'The Bounty Bowl' in 1989, a 27-0 Eagles victory. The Eagles also annihilated Dallas by a 33-10 margin. Fans can thank Chip Kelly in part for that one.
Oddly enough, this will mark the first Thanksgiving meeting between the Eagles and Cowboys since that game in 2014. Despite the hatred between these franchises spanning generations, the teams have rarely crossed paths on the holiday itself. That changes this season, and honestly, it feels appropriate. The Eagles and Cowboys remain one of football's premier rivalries, and Thanksgiving football always feels slightly incomplete without some degree of chaos, pettiness, and division-fueled hostility.
This one deserves the national stage as it could eventually help decide divisional superiority. That adds another layer of intrigue heading into the matchup. If history continues repeating itself, Eagles fans may once again find themselves enjoying dessert alongside another holiday victory over one of their most hated rivals.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles will carry dominant Thanksgiving history into clash vs. Cowboys
Source: “AOL Sports”
