Classics Football Feasts: Top 10 NFL Games on Thanksgiving Day

Ever since 1920, the Thanksgiving Classic has been played in professional football. 

Way back in the day, teams like the Akron Pros and the Canton Bulldogs played on Thanksgiving Day. This year we have the pleasure of watching three games.

The New York Jets take on the Cincinnati Bengals, the New England Patriots play the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys battle the New Orleans Saints. Will one of them be a classic? Only time will tell. 

One thing is for sure. This day has produced many memorable moments throughout its history.

From Leon Lett's costly mistake to O.J. SImpson's record-setting performance, journey back through the years and take a look back at the 10 best games in the Thanksgiving Classic's storied history. 

10. Dallas Cowboys 24, San Francisco 49ers 24 in 1969

The Cowboys were heavy favorites going into this 1969 edition of the Thanksgiving Classic. With an 8-2 record, Dallas was in the midst of a much better season than the 2-7-1 San Francisco 49ers.

That wouldn't matter though as Ken Willard gave the 49ers a 14-0 lead. The San Francisco running back scored on a one-yard touchdown run and then caught a 19-yard pass from John Brodie for another touchdown. 

The Cowboys stormed back, led by quarterback Craig Morton. Morton threw two touchdowns, including the one that would tie the score to Lance Rentzel in the fourth quarter. 

The game ended tied at 24. It was the first and only tie in the history of the Thanksgiving Classic. 

9. Dallas Cowboys 38, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10 in 2006

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

MINNEAPOLIS - OCTOBER 17: Quarterback Tony Romo #9 of the Dallas Cowboys calls a play against the Minnesota Vikings at Mall of America Field on October 17, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

During his rise from unknown backup to unquestioned starter of the Dallas Cowboys, Tony Romo had the opportunity to play in the 2006 Thanksgiving Classic. 

In just his fifth game as the starter, Romo threw an astounding five touchdown passes while firmly in the national spotlight. 

Two of the touchdown passes were to Terry Glenn, another two were to running back Marion Barber and the final one was to Terrell Owens.

It was this game that made Romo into the superstar that he is today. That superstardom may be unjustified, but it does still exist.

8. Detroit Lions 27, Buffalo Bills 14 in 1976

This wasn't exactly a close game, but it had two very notable performances. 

O.J. Simpson had one of the single greatest rushing games of all time even though he only scored two touchdowns. 

His two rushing scores accounted for the only points the Bills scored all day. More impressively, he ran for 273 yards, which would stand as the single game rushing record for just one year until Walter Payton ran for 275 yards. 

His quarterback didn't have as much success. In fact, he had arguably the worst day of any player to ever play on Thanksgiving day. 

Gary Marangi was thrust into the starting lineup and completed just four of 21 passes for 29 yards and an interception. His quarterback rating was 19.7.

I can tell you that Marangi wasn't thankful for his opportunity to play on Thanksgiving. 

7. Green Bay Packers 44, Detroit Lions 40 in 1986

Fans watching in 1986 were treated to quite the game. Not only did it come down to a dramatic finish, but this was also the highest-scoring game on Thanksgiving ever. 

Helping the Packers to overcome a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter, Walter Stanley was terrific for pretty much the only time in his career.

Don't be embarrassed if you haven't heard of Stanley, most people haven't. 

But in this game, he had 207 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns.

The biggest one of the bunch was the game-winning 83-yard punt return for a touchdown. 

6. Chicago Bears 23, Detroit Lions 17 in 1980

The Lions dominated for much of the game and carried a 17-3 lead into the fourth quarter, but the Bears wouldn't just quit and roll over for Detroit. 

They went on to score 14 straight points in the fourth quarter and forced overtime. 

Overtime would be short-lived as Bears wide receiver David Williams ran back the opening kickoff for 95 yards and the game-winning touchdown, cementing his place in Thanksgiving Classic lore. 

5. Denver Broncos 24, Dallas Cowboys 21 in 2005

Before we had Tony Romy and Kyle Orton, fans had the pleasure of watching Jake Plummer and Drew Bledsoe battle for their respective franchises.

This was a close, hard-fought battle throughout. Close enough in fact that the Cowboys had an opportunity to break the tie at the end of the fourth quarter. 

Billy Cundiff stepped onto the field, but he failed to knock the pigskin through the uprights and overtime was forced. 

In overtime, Ron Dayne reeled off a 55-yard rush and set up a game-winning field goal attempt for Jason Elam. 

Elam didn't miss and the Broncos won a nailbiter. 

4. Dallas Cowboys 42, Green Bay Packers 31 in 1994

This one is known as "The Jason Garrett Game," referring to his exploits on the field as a quarterback for the Cowboys and not his current position on the sidelines as the head coach.

After Troy Aikman and Rodney Peete were both injured, the Cowboys had no choice but to turn to Garrett, their third-stringer.

No one expected him to have success, especially against the Packers, but Garrett threw for 311 yards and three touchdowns. 

Amazingly, someone managed to overshadow Sterling Sharpe on a day when he caught four touchdown passes. 

The Cowboys scored 36 points in the second half, including 17 in the fourth quarter, as they stormed back to win.

3. Detroit Lions 19, Pittsburgh Steelers 16 in 1998

Any time a game causes a rule change, it has to be significant and memorable.

After Norm Johnson hit a 25-yard field goal with one second left to force overtime, Jerome Bettis strode out to the 50-yard line to call the overtime coin toss. 

Referee Phil Luckett asked him to call it in the air, and Bettis did. First he called heads, but immediately switched his call to tails. The coin landed tails and the Steelers would get the ball first.

Or would they?

The referee awarded the Lions the ball, much to the chagrin of Bettis. Detroit immediately drove down the field and kicked a field goal to win.

This debacle forced a rule change, and players have to call the coin toss before it is flipped. 

2. Dallas Cowboys 24, Washington Redskins 23 in 1974

The Redskins came into this game 8-3 while the Cowboys were slightly worse at 6-5. 

Washington was dominating, up 16-3 in the third. Then things got even worse when Roger Staubach was knocked out of the game by linebacker Dave Robinson. 

It turns out that this was a blessing in disguise for the Cowboys as rookie Clint Longley was forced to come into the game. 

After two long touchdown passes, including a 50-yard strike to Drew Pearson with 28 seconds left, the Cowboys ended up winning the game. 

Afterwards, Redskins head coach George Allen said, "I don't have very much to say. It was probably the toughest loss we ever had."

Just to illustrate that, I'd like to include a little personal anecdote. 

My dad is a diehard Redskins fan and he heard me mention the name Clint Longley. I looked over towards the kitchen and saw him just glaring at me then heard him say, "I hate Clint Longley. Seriously."

Longley was only in the NFL for three years. He threw five touchdown passes in his career before moving onto the CFL. 

My dad still remembered him. 

1. Miami Dolphins 16, Dallas Cowboys 14 in 1993

During a surprising snow storm, the Miami Dolphins trailed the Dallas Cowboys, 14-13.

Pete Stoyanovich was attempting a 40-yard field goal for the Dolphins and had the kick blocked, meaning it was Cowboys ball and the game was essentially over.

Not so fast. 

Leon Lett ran in and touched the ball, creating a fumble. Yes, this was the same Leon Lett who had the ball stripped by Don Beebe as he tried to showboat his way into the end zone in Super Bowl XXVII.

The Dolphins recovered the ball and Stoyanovich nailed a shorter field goal to win the game.