Thanksgiving football is as American as pumpkin pie and arguing with relatives. Every year, the NFL serves up a trio of games to complement your overcooked turkey and awkward family conversations. But while some Thanksgiving matchups have delivered iconic moments of brilliance, others have descended into chaos, controversy, and cringe-worthy officiating. Here’s a look back at the most infamous Thanksgiving Day NFL games that left fans shaking their heads—or throwing their remote at the TV.

The 1993 Leon Lett Special

Let’s start with one of the most infamous blunders in NFL history: the 1993 Thanksgiving Day game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Miami Dolphins. It was a snowy day at Texas Stadium, and the Dolphins were trailing 14-13 with just seconds left. Miami lined up for a desperation field goal, which the Cowboys miraculously blocked. Game over, right? Wrong. Instead of just letting the ball lie dead on the snowy turf, Cowboys lineman Leon Lett decided to channel his inner hero, sliding into the ball and accidentally giving Miami a chance to recover. The Dolphins took advantage, kicked the game-winning field goal, and escaped with a 16-14 win. Cowboys fans are still screaming, “What are you doing, Leon?!”

The Butt Fumble Bonanza (2012)

No list of infamous Thanksgiving games is complete without the Butt Fumble. This legendary disaster took place in 2012 during a matchup between the New York Jets and the New England Patriots. Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez attempted to scramble, only to run directly into the backside of his own lineman, Brandon Moore. The impact knocked the ball loose, leading to a Patriots touchdown and one of the most humiliating plays in NFL history. The Patriots crushed the Jets 49-19, but the Butt Fumble became an enduring symbol of football bloopers. Mark Sanchez? Forever the face of Thanksgiving football gone wrong.

The 1998 Coin Toss Controversy

The 1998 Thanksgiving game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Detroit Lions delivered one of the most bizarre moments in NFL officiating history. The game went into overtime, and during the coin toss, Steelers captain Jerome Bettis called “tails” as the coin was flipped. Referee Phil Luckett misheard him and awarded the toss to the Lions, who received the ball and promptly kicked the game-winning field goal. The controversy sparked a firestorm of criticism, led to changes in the NFL’s coin toss procedure, and cemented this game as a Thanksgiving debacle.

The Bounty Bowl (1989)

Thanksgiving 1989 gave us the infamous Bounty Bowl, a heated rivalry game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys. Eagles coach Buddy Ryan was accused of placing a bounty on Cowboys kicker Luis Zendejas, who had previously been cut by the Eagles. The game devolved into chaos, with hard hits, sideline scuffles, and relentless trash talk. The Eagles dominated the game 27-0, but the allegations of bounty-hunting overshadowed the victory. This game remains one of the most notorious examples of poor sportsmanship in NFL history.

The Lions’ Endless Thanksgiving Struggles

It’s hard to pick just one infamous Lions performance because Detroit’s Thanksgiving Day history is a feast of mediocrity and disappointment. One standout is their 2008 matchup against the Tennessee Titans, where the Lions were demolished 47-10 during a winless 0-16 season. The crowd booed relentlessly, and the game was a painful reminder of Detroit’s Thanksgiving Day curse. Year after year, the Lions seem to find new ways to disappoint fans on the holiday, making their games an unfortunate Thanksgiving tradition.

The Harbaugh Bowl (2011)

In 2011, Thanksgiving gave us a rare family feud as the Baltimore Ravens, coached by John Harbaugh, faced off against the San Francisco 49ers, led by his brother Jim Harbaugh. While the game itself wasn’t a disaster, the officiating was. The referees threw an absurd 15 penalties against the 49ers, crippling their chances and making this a game remembered more for its lopsided officiating than for the sibling rivalry. The Ravens won 16-6, but fans were left grumbling about the refs more than the turkey.

Conclusion: A Thanksgiving Tradition of Chaos

Thanksgiving football is a holiday tradition filled with drama, laughter, and occasional rage. Whether it’s botched coin tosses, ridiculous plays, or questionable officiating, these infamous games remind us why we love and hate football on Thanksgiving. So this year, as you gather around the TV with a plate full of food, keep an eye out for the next iconic Thanksgiving Day disaster. After all, it wouldn’t be Turkey Day without a little football chaos.