BirdDay was such a rousing success in 2014 that the league gifted Eagles fans another Thanksgiving by the TV. But this time it'll be the early game as the Eagles take on a Detroit Lions team that is looking to improve on its crushing playoff loss in the Wild Card round last season.
The last time these two teams met, of course, was one of the most memorable games in recent Eagles history when the good guys ran over the visiting Lions 34-20 in blizzard-like conditions in what became known as the Snow Bowl.
But much has changed since then and much will surely change between now and Thanksgiving. What we expect, though, is that the Lions will still run their offense through Calvin Johnson, putting Byron Maxwell back on high alert (welcome to life as a No. 1 cornerback).
The Lions visited the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in a battle of teams looking to make a playoff push in December ...
Eagles' RB LeSean McCoy is relieved to end the game with a win after a hard-fought cold game.
Eagles' WR Jason Avant high-fives the fans who decided to stay for the entire game after the big win.
Eagles' LBs Connor Barwin (98) and DeMeco Ryans (59) talk with Lions' WR Dorin Dickerson after the game.
Eagles' LB DeMeco Ryans shakes hands with Lions' WR Dorin Dickerson.
Eagles' QB Nick Foles and Lions' QB Matthew Stafford shake hands after the game.
Eagles' center Jason Kelce reads the defense before snapping the football.
Eagles' WR Riley Cooper congratulates RB Chris Polk after the touchdown.
Eagles' RB Chris Polk rushes for a 38-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Eagles' RB Chris Polk breaks free up the middle and finds the endzone for a fourth-quarter touchdown.
Lions' QB Matthew Stafford fumbles the football and the Eagles recover.
Lions' QB Matthew Stafford loses the football after a bad snap and tries to recover.
Eagles' RB Bryce Brown tries to stay on his feet and avoid being tackled by Lions' CB Bill Bentley.
Eagles' RB Bryce Brown gets tackled by Lions' safety Glover Quin.
Eagles' guard Evan Mathis (69) lifts WR Riley Cooper (14) after a successful two-point conversion.
Eagles' WR Riley Cooper makes the catch in the back of the endzone for a two-point conversion.
Eagles' RB LeSean McCoy (25) is congratulated by teammates WR Jason Avant (81) and center Jason Kelce (62).
Eagles' QB Nick Foles drops back to throw a pass in the second half.
Eagles' RB LeSean McCoy breaks free and scores a touchdown to extend the Eagles' lead.
Eagles' RB LeSean McCoy crosses the endzone for one of his two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
Eagles' fans in the stands support their team even in the blistering cold weather.
Eagles' RB Bryce Brown finds room to run against the Lions' defense.
Eagles' RB LeSean McCoy avoids Lions' defenders and gains yardage.
Eagles' RB LeSean McCoy hurdles Lions' safety Louis Delmas.
Eagles' LB Connor Barwin (98) and safety Nate Allen (29) make a tackle.
Eagles' QB Nick Foles drops back to deliver a pass while TE Brent Celek tries to get open.
Eagles' WR Riley Cooper and guard Evan Mathis celebrate after a play.
Eagles' tackle Lane Johnson (65) and RB Bryce Brown (34) celebrate after a first down.
Eagles' RB Bryce Brown crosses the line of scrommage and rushes for a gain.
Eagles' DT Bennie Logan blocks the PAT from Lions' kicker David Akers.
Eagles' RB LeSean McCoy breaks free from Lions' defenders and tries to score a touchdown.
Eagles' WR Riley Cooper makes a 44-yard catch in the second half.
Eagles' WRs Riley Cooper (14) and DeSean Jackson (10) celebrate Cooper's 44-yard catch.
Eagles' WR Riley Cooper comes down with the football and makes a big catch.
Eagles' QB Nick Foles launches a pass downfield.
The Eagles huddle before a play on offense.
Eagles' LB Trent Cole tries to tip a pass from Lions' QB Matthew Stafford.
Eagles' CB Cary Williams tries to force an incomplete pass.
Eagles' RB LeSean McCoy gets tackled after one of his rushing attempts.
Eagles' DTs Bennie Logan (96) and Damion Square (77) on the sidelines.
Eagles' TE Brent Celek stands on the sidelines next to Asst. Coach Jerry Azzinaro.
An Eagles' fan braves the weather and supports the team.
Eagles' LB Connor Barwin lines up on defense and waits for the snap.
Eagles' WR DeSean Jackson catches the ball as Lions' CB Chris Houston tries to tackle him.
Eagles' RB LeSean McCoy rushes up the middle for a gain.
Eagles' CB Cary Williams makes a tackle.
Eagles' QB Nick Foles waits for the snap behind his offensive line.
Eagles' RB Chris Polk escapes a tackle from Lions' LB Stephen Tulloch.
Lions' QB Matthew Stafford throws a pass against the Eagles' defense.
Former Eagles Ray Barnett and Calvin Williams were honored at halftime.
Eagles' cheerleaders on the sidelines in the wintery conditions.
Eagles fans in the stands try not to freeze at Lincoln Financial Field.
Eagles' RB Chris Polk gets tackled by Lions' safety Glover Quin.
Eagles' RB Chris Polk tries to find room to run against the Lions' defense.
Eagles' DE Fletcher Cox lines up on defense and waits for the snap.
Eagles' LB Mychal Kendricks tackles Lions' RB Joique Bell.
Eagles' cheerleaders battle the cold and snowy conditions.
Eagles' QB Nick Foles throws a pass through the snow.
Eagles' fans at Lincoln Financial Field watch the game in the cold.
Eagles' DE Fletcher Cox rushes the backfield.
Referees in the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Detroit Lions game measure for a first down.
Eagles' offensive linemen Lane Johnson (65) and Todd Herremans (79) protect QB Nick Foles (9).
Eagles' LB DeMeco Ryans makes a tackle on Lions' RB Joique Bell.
After a fumble by the Lions, the Eagles recover and possess the football.
Eagles' QB Nick Foles hands the ball off to RB LeSean McCoy.
Eagles' CB Brandon Boykin covers Lions WR Dorin Dickerson.
Eagles' LB Mychal Kendricks tackles Lions' RB Joique Bell.
Eagles' defenders tackle Lions' RB Joique Bell.
Eagles' LB Connor Barwin reaches his arm to tackle Lions' RB Joique Bell.
Eagles' RB LeSean McCoy gets tackled by Lions rookie DE Ezekiel Ansah.
Eagles' LB Casey Matthews makes a block on special teams.
Eagles' QB Nick Foles hands the ball off to RB LeSean McCoy.
The Philadelphia Eagles' captains are punter Donnie Jones (8), TE Brent Celek (87) and Cary Williams (26).
Eagles' QB Nick Foles throws passes in the snow before game time.
The Philadelphia Eagles' cheerleaders on the field before the game.
The Eagles head on the cold and snowy field before the game.
The Philadelphia Eagles hosted the Detroit Lions in week 14.
The Eagles' field crew clears snow off the field so that the game can be played.
Eagles' fans in the stands before the game in the freezing conditions.
Eagles' center Jason Kelce waits for the week 14 game to start as the snow falls in Philadelphia.
Eagles' DE Fletcher Cox in the freezing cold before the game.
Eagles' WR Damaris Johnson on the sidelines before the game.
Eagles' fans on the field before the game as the snow falls at Lincoln Financial Field.
Eagles' LS Jon Dorenbos interacts with the fans on the field before the week 14 game against the Lions.
Philadelphia Eagles' QB Nick Foles throws passes in the snow before Sunday's home game against the Detroit Lions.
Eagles' TEs Brent Celek (87) and James Casey (85) talk with NFL analyst Brian Baldinger.
Eagles' WR Riley Cooper catches passes in the cold and snowy conditions before the week 14 game.
Eagles' QB Michael Vick delivers a pass in the snow before week 14's matchup against the Lions.
Eagles' TEs James Casey (left) and Zach Ertz (right) laugh on the field as the snow is falling down at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Eagles' CB Brandon Boykin returns an interception in practice before the game.
Eagles' fans in the stands feel the cold and snowy conditions that have transpired at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA.
Eagles' WR Brad Smith practices returning kicks in the weather conditions.
Eagles' kicker Alex Henery practices kicking field goals in the snowy conditions.
Eagles' QB Nick Foles throws a pass in the cold weather.
Eagles' Head Coach Chip Kelly watches his team practice on the sidelines in the blistering conditions.
Eagles' LS Jon Dorenbos practices snapping the football in the snow.
Eagles' fans await the week 14 game against the Lions in the cold and snowy conditions.
Eagles' WRs DeSean Jackson (left) and Damaris Johnson (right) practice on the field before the week 14 game against the Lions.
Eagles' Asst. Coach Jerry Azzinaro in the cold, snowy weather before Sunday's game.
Eagles' WR DeSean Jackson catching passes on the field before the game.
Eagles' WR Damaris Johnson catching passes in the snow before the week 14 matchup versus the Detroit Lions.
On the other side of the ball, the new-look interior of the Eagles' offensive line will breathe a collective sigh of relief knowing they'll have to line up against neither Ndamukong Suh nor Nick Fairley, who both departed via free agency. Of course, Haloti Ngata is no walk in the park.
The Lions featured the league's very best run defense in 2014, thanks in large part to Suh and Fairley, but they'll have their sights set on stopping DeMarco Murray, Ryan Mathews, Darren Sproles and the dynamic Eagles' rushing attack. That will be the matchup to watch as the two sides go to battle on a short week.
The Eagles' defensive line will look to cook up some stuffing of its own against a Lions offense that finished 29th in rushing yards per play in 2014 (3.6 yards per carry). Gone is Reggie Bush, but former Eagle Joique Bell is a capable runner in his own right. The Lions used their first two picks in the NFL Draft to help fortify the ground game by selecting guard Laken Tomlinson in the first round and then all-purpose dynamo back Ameer Abdullah in the second round.
But matchups aside, this game is all about gathering around with family and watching two potential playoff teams face off. And afterwards, you can root against the Cowboys before succumbing to the food-coma nap. !
