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.

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.