In the Patriots Thanksgiving Day debut on Nov. 22, 1984, quarterback Tony Eason brought New England back from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit, but Dallas kicker Rafael Septien booted a 23-yard field goal to give the Cowboys a 20-17 victory.

Three field goals by Adam Vinatieri was all the Patriots could muster and the Lions scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to pull away for a 34-9 victory on Nov. 23, 2000. The game marked the debut of rookie QB Tom Brady, who came in late in the fourth quarter and completed his first NFL pass.

A 27-yard interception return for a touchdown by Tedy Bruschi and a one-yard Antowain Smith touchdown run gave New England its first Thanksgiving Day win as they edged the Lions 20-12 on Nov. 28, 2002. A field goal by Jason Hansen had pulled the Lions within eight midway through the fourth quarter, but the Patriots got the ball back with 9:39 to go and never gave it up, orchestrating a 14-play, 55-yard drive to run out the clock.

Quarterback Tom Brady (12) of the New England Patriots spoons a sample from the skillet after winning the Phil Simms iron award for play against the Detroit Lions November 25, 2010 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)

WR Deion Branch caught two of Tom Brady's four touchdown passes, including a 79-yarder for a score, to power the Patriots to a 45-24 win over the Lions on Nov. 25, 2010. Devin McCourty keyed the defense with two interceptions and finished with 79 return yards.

The Patriots tied a franchise record for most points in a quarter when they hung 35 on the Jets in the second en route to a 49-14 win on Nov. 22, 2012. New England scored three touchdowns a 52-second span: Shane Vereen caught an 83-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady, Steve Gregory returned a fumble 32 yards for a score and on the ensuing kickoff, Devin McCourty forced a fumble that Julian Edelman recovered and ran 22 yards back for a TD.