The best individual NFL performances on Thanksgiving Day

Peyton Manning, one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, beat the Detroit Lions defense as the Cubs stomped on them, 41-9. Ever the statistical prodigy, Manning threw for 236 yards and six touchdowns in the win..

Calvin “Megatron” Johnson had 3 receptions, 93 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-14 rout of the Philadelphia Eagles. He cut off the wings of the Eagles defenders all game. Following a long list of Detroit Lions performances on Thanksgiving, Johnson’s hat trick might be the best of them all. They don’t call him Megatron for nothing.

NFL legend Randy Moss dreamed of suiting up for the Dallas Cowboys as a child. The minute Moss entered the NFL, he was devastated when they passed him up in the draft because of off-field concerns. Moss got the last laugh, catching three passes for 163 and three touchdowns on Thanksgiving. Yes, you read that right, Moss went home every time he got it against the Cowboys. Moss’ hat trick led the Vikings to a 46-36 win over the Cowboys in a thrilling shootout.

Tom Brady rarely disappoints in prime time. His 2010 Thanksgiving performance was no different. Goat threw for 341 yards and four touchdowns as the New England Patriots beat the Detroit Lions 45-24.

Of the many great games Lions legend Barry Sanders had on Thanksgiving, this one takes home the cheesecake. Sanders passed for 167 yards and three touchdowns in a 55-20 rout of the NFC North rival Chicago Bears. The Lions needed this win because they were in the playoffs in the postseason.

A Thanksgiving legend, Sanders has given families a fantastic performance every Turkey Day.

In the year In 1996, Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith had 29 carries, 155 yards and three touchdowns. With Thanksgiving dinner on his mind, the NFL’s all-time leading rusher beat the lowly Washington Chiefs 21-10.

Children of the 90s were grateful to watch Barry Sanders’ Lions and Emmitt Smith’s Cowboys every Thanksgiving. I’m sure there were many arguments at the dinner table over who was the better running back.

Miami Dolphins Hall of Fame quarterback Bob Griese put on a show against the St. Louis Cardinals, throwing for 207 yards and six touchdowns in a 55-14 blowout. Often forgotten among the Thanksgiving parades, the Miami gunslinger’s six touchdowns are tied with Peyton Manning for the Thanksgiving record. These statistics were unheard of in Grice’s time.

Before Jason Garrett became the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys for much of the 2010s, he was the backup quarterback to Cowboys legend Troy Aikman. In the year In a 1994 Thanksgiving Day game against NFC juggernauts the Green Bay Packers, Garrett led the ‘Boys in Blue to victory. On a 17-6 halftime run, Garrett led the Cowboys to an improbable comeback victory over the Packers, winning the game 42-32. Garrett threw for 311 yards and two touchdowns while eating a respectable turkey.

“Why increase the performance of a player from a century ago?” I know what you’re thinking. Well, you’re about to find out. Chicago Cardinals fullback Ernie Nevers scored an NFL record 40 points in one game. He had six rebounds and four extra points. No one has come close to good ole Ernie Nevers’ record. The Stanford alum was also a relief pitcher for the St. Louis Browns and a member of the inaugural NFL Hall of Fame class of 1963.

Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy’s outstanding rival Dallas Cowboys pushed Chip Kelly’s Eagles (remember him?) over the boys, 33-10. In this first NFC East battle, McCoy pounded his way to 159 yards. Thanks to wide-open holes courtesy of the Eagles’ formidable offensive line, McCoy ran all over the field.

Cowboys legend Tony Romo had his breakout season in 2006. In front of a live audience on Thanksgiving, the undrafted kid from Eastern Illinois University led an aerial attack against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, throwing for 306 yards and five touchdowns on the day. The Cowboys went on to win convincingly 38-10. This was the start of Romo’s nearly decade under center for the Cowboys. He eventually became their all-time leading scorer.

Green Bay Packers star receiver Sterling Sharp is a rare loser on this list. Sharp had nine catches for 122 yards and an impressive four touchdowns in the Packers’ upset loss to the Cowboys. Sharpe’s Herculean effort was not enough to contain W.

Sharp’s Hall of Fame run was cut short due to injury. Had he stayed healthy, he would have rivaled his brother Shannon, one of the best pass rushers of the 90s.

Houston Oilers legend Earl Campbell was the workhorse running back for several deep playoff runs during the Love Ya Blue era. For Texas against the Dallas Cowboys, Campbell was an all-game starter, finishing with 33 carries, 195 yards and two touchdowns. Talk about a great product behind the wheel! Campbell won the NFL MVP award that year and led the Oilers to one win away from the Super Bowl.

This Thanksgiving, rookie sensation Robert Griffin III threw for 304 yards and four touchdowns in the Washington Chiefs’ 38-31 win over the bitter rival Dallas Cowboys. RG3 led the Chiefs to their first division title in 1999 and won the 2012 Rookie of the Year Award. Before Commanders head coach Mike Shanahan had his career destroyed by a crippling read-option offense, RG3 was full of success in the nation’s capital.

The first defensive player on the list, Carolina Panthers legend Luke Kuechly, was the anchor of the Panthers’ top-10 defense in 2015. Kewley led the Panthers to a 33-14 win over the Dallas Cowboys before compiling a 15-1 record and losing to Peyton Manning’s Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50. The All-World linebacker had seven tackles and two interceptions for 49 return yards. His 32-yard pick-six changed the momentum of this Turkey Day affair.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Walter Stanley was simply electric against the Detroit Lions. The do-it-all offensive weapon returned four catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns in the Packers’ 44-40 win over the Lions. As a returning rushing threat, Stanley returned three kicks for 50 yards and two punts for 113 yards and a touchdown. His 83-yard return to the house helped turn the tide in this legendary Thanksgiving game.

While most Americans were boxing up Thanksgiving leftovers, the Philadelphia Eagles feasted on the offense of the Dallas Cowboys. He stuffed the Cowboys en route to a 27-0 shutout in prime time. A young Troy Aikman-led offense had no wheels with the Eagles in a “Welcome to the NFL” moment. The Eagles D gave up 191 total yards, forced five turnovers (three interceptions, two fumbles) and sacked Aikman twice.

Dallas Cowboys backup quarterback Clint Longley became an unlikely hero when he filled in for Roger Stubach’s Hall of Fame player on Thanksgiving Day. Down 16-3, the Thanksgiving legend rallied and threw for 203 yards and two touchdowns as the Cowboys outlasted the Washington Chiefs 24-23. This game was a huge win for the boys as it had significant playoff implications on the line.

Cleveland Rams wide receiver Jim Benton was the definition of a stud during this old Thanksgiving matchup against the Lions. Benton hauled in 10 catches for 303 yards, to all credit for playing in a leather helmet. This broke records. It was the first 300-yard receiving game in NFL history.

Remember this for your turkey bowl, if you play well at Thanksgiving people will remember it forever. His stats look like they’re from the local Turkey Bowl, not an NFL game.

Pittsburgh Steelers star receiver Antonio Brown had 91 yards and three touchdowns against the Indianapolis Colts. His hat trick led the Steelers to a 28-7 win over the Colts. Prime AB was simply unstoppable.