The Bills are heading back to Ford Field in Detroit, but this time for the regularly scheduled game against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day.
"Happy for all the Bills fans that will be at the game, and ones that won't be at the game that they'll be able to watch us on television and celebrate a holiday together and watch their team perform," head coach Sean McDermott said.
Football fans across the country eagerly wake up on Thanksgiving morning as they wait for the first NFL game of the day – something that players remember about the holiday growing up. And this year, the Bills and Lions have the honor of kicking off the non-stop football action of the day at 12:30 p.m.
"Growing up, you watch football, you wake up in the morning and it's the first thing that's on," safety Jordan Poyer said. "Everybody's cooking and football is on TV…. So, it'll be cool to get in and get out, and get home at night with our families."
While Thursday marks the third time in the last four seasons that the Bills will have played on Thanksgiving, this will be the first time for 12-year NFL veteran LB Von Miller.
"It's always a dream of mine as a kid," Miller said. "You watch the Thanksgiving games, you watch the Cowboys, and the Commanders and you watch the Detroit Lions and the Bears. You have Thanksgiving dinner, and you go outside, and you play flag football in the backyard. These are the moments that you dreamed of."
For QB Josh Allen, his first Thanksgiving game came in 2019 with a 26-15 win over the Dallas Cowboys. A lot of friends and family from Allen's hometown of Firebaugh, California came in for the game and the QB described it as a "homecoming" experience to be able to celebrate with them after the game.
"They made the trip out so that was pretty cool having a lot of family in," Allen said. "Given our profession and how we've played this game for as long as we've played it in college and high school, I think most of the guys, we really haven't had that family, Thanksgiving or Christmas in a very long time with everybody."
As someone who loved football growing up and still does to this day, Thanksgiving is special for the QB who is 2-0 on Turkey Day games.
"Knowing that everybody's sitting at home, probably bellies full or about to get their bellies full, watching football," Allen said. "I remember that as a kid the most, whether it's at our house or one of our friend's houses just eat as much as possible and watching the games."
The Bills' most recent Thanksgiving game against the New Orleans Saints in 2021 stands out to WR Stefon Diggs, who enjoys the holiday because it's around his birthday (Nov. 29). Diggs remembers the 31-6 win over the Saints from the game just as much as the on-field celebration afterward.
"I got a turkey leg. I've never done that," Diggs said. "I've actually played in a couple of Thanksgiving games; it's been pretty fun. I'm just blessed to know that I get to watch my little brother play afterward too."
But before Diggs and his teammates can return home to celebrate the holiday with their families and watch what's left of the other two NFL games, they know they have to take care of business on the football field first. It's a quick turnaround for the Bills who held their lone practice of the week on Tuesday afternoon and will be getting back on a plane to Motor City Wednesday afternoon, but the focus remains going 1-0 on Thursday.
"Trying to get back on schedule and really get your body back to where you need it to be in less than a week," Diggs said. "It's a task that we all have to face, not just us but the other team too. So, take it in stride, more football."
Check out the best practice photos as the Bills prepare to play the Lions on Thanksgiving. The gallery is presented by On Location.
Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
John Butler, Taron Johnson (7), Kaiir Elam (24), Dane Jackson (30). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Damar Hamlin (3). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Matt Milano (58), A.J. Klein (52). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Taron Johnson (7), Dane Jackson (30). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Snowpiles outside Buffalo Bills Week 12 indoor practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Leslie Frazier Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Tim Settle (99). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Jordan Phillips (97). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Jordan Poyer (21), Stefon Diggs (14). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Eli Ankou (51). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Baylon Spector (54), Terrel Bernard (43). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Isaiah McKenzie (6) Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
James Cook (28). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Ken Dorsey. Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Stefon Diggs (14). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Matt Milano (58) Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
KeeSean Johnson (81). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Dean Marlowe (31). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Kaiir Elam (24). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Spencer Brown (79). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
A.J.Klein (52). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Dane Jackson (30). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Taron Johnson (7), A.J. Klein (52). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Stefon Diggs (14). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Boogie Basham (55). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Kaiir Elam (24), Khalil Shakir (10) Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Dion Dawkins (73), Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Greg Van Roten (75), Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Dion Dawkins (73), Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Greg Van Roten (75), Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Ryan Van Demark (74). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
KeeSean Johnson (81), Dion Dawkins (73), Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Justin Murray (67) Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Spencer Brown (79), Dion Dawkins (73), Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Spencer Brown (79), Dion Dawkins (73), Rodger Saffold (76), Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Nyheim Hines (20). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Gabe Davis (13). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Stefon Diggs (14). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Stefon Diggs (14). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Stefon Diggs (14). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
DaQuan Jones (92), Eric Washington, Jordan Phillips (97), Von Miller (40), Shaq Lawson (90), Ed Oliver (91). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Jordan Poyer (21). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Stefon Diggs (14). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Khalil Shakir (10) Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17) Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Taron Johnson (7). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Brandon Beane, Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Case Keenum (18), Duke Johnson (22). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17), Gabe Davis (13). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17), Brandon Beane. Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Case Keenum (18). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Shaq Lawson (90), Matt Milano (58). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Stefon Diggs (14). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
John Butler. Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Shaq Lawson (90), DaQuan Jones (92). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Dion Dawkins (73), Josh Allen (17), Stefon Diggs (14), Devin Singletary (26). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Stefon Diggs (14). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Ryan Bates (71). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
James Cook (28). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Taron Johnson (7), Dane Jackson (30). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Defensive backfield. Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Von Miller (40). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Eli Ankou (51). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Reid Ferguson (69), Baylon Spector (54). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Leslie Frazier Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Tremaine Edmunds. Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Dion Dawkins (73). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
David Quessenberry (77). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Leslie Frazier , Shaq Lawson (90), Boogie Basham (55). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Leslie Frazier Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Damar Hamlin (3). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Gabe Davis (13), Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Tyler Matakevich (44), Joe Giles-Harris (42), A.J. Klein, Terrel Bernard (43). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Stefon Diggs (14). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Chad Hall, Stefon Diggs (14), Gabe Davis (13), Isaiah McKenzie (6). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Damar Hamlin (3). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Ryan Bates (71), Ryan Van Demark (74). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
KeeSean Johnson (81). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Jordan Poyer (21). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Stefon Diggs (14), Gabe Davis (13), Ken Dorsey , Chad Hall. Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Taron Johnson (7). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Xavier Rhodes (29), Kaiir Elam (24). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Dean Marlowe (31). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Matt Milano (58). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Von Miller (40). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Von Miller (40). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Von Miller (40). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Spencer Brown (79). Buffalo Bills Week 12 practice, November 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
