A Retrospective on Thanksgiving Day Traditions: Exploring Their History

The Washington Commanders (4-7) are set to clash with the Dallas Cowboys (7-3) on Thanksgiving Day. This NFC East showdown marks the first Thanksgiving meeting between these two teams since embattled head coach Ron Rivera’s first season on the sideline in Washington. The Commanders are coming off two straight losses and have lost seven of their last nine games, while the Cowboys remain undefeated at AT&T Stadium.

Traditionally, the Cowboys have dominated Thanksgiving matchups, but recently things have been looking up for Washington. The Commanders are 4-8 all-time on Thanksgiving Day, and a look back at their history on Turkey Day showcases some memorable games.

In their first Thanksgiving game, the Washington Redskins fell to the Dallas Cowboys, despite tight end Jerry Smith’s standout performance. Smith caught six passes for 116 yards and a touchdown. The Redskins’ only Thanksgiving game against the Detroit Lions resulted in a shutout victory, thanks to quarterback Billy Kilmer’s two touchdown passes.

In another clash with the Cowboys, Washington was led by the exceptional performance of Mark Moseley, who kicked three field goals, and Duane Thomas, who scored two touchdowns. Despite their efforts, the Cowboys secured the win with a game-winning 50-yard catch from Drew Pearson.

Following these games, the Redskins faced several more match-ups against the Cowboys, awakening memories of their first Thanksgiving Day win over Dallas, attributed to rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III’s four touchdown passes. And under its new name, Washington Football Team, the squad dominated the Dallas Cowboys in a 41-16 victory, led by rookie running back Antonio Gibson.

Thanksgiving Day has seen many memorable showdowns between the Washington Commanders and their rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, highlighting the rich history of this tradition-filled football holiday.

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Olivia Wilson

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