The NFL’s inaugural Thanksgiving Eve recreation may very well be a first-time second in additional methods than one.
On Wednesday, the league introduced that the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams will play on the Wednesday earlier than Thanksgiving, opening a beforehand unexplored tv window, with the sport set to air on Netflix. If Rams coach Sean McVay has a profitable vacation weekend, it will additionally mark his first profession win towards Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, his one-time offensive coordinator.
McVay is 0-5 all-time against LaFleur, together with a January 2021 divisional spherical playoff loss.
Sean McVay will strive for first profession win over former assistant Matt LaFleur in inaugural Thanksgiving Eve recreation
LaFleur spent one season as Rams offensive coordinator, becoming a member of McVay’s preliminary 2017 workers after the 2 beforehand labored as assistants in Washington (2010-13). He left the next offseason to grow to be then-Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel’s offensive coordinator and play caller, a task he held for one 12 months earlier than being employed by the Packers.
McVay and LaFleur’s groups first performed one another within the 2020 playoffs, a 32-18 Packers residence win, earlier than taking part in in 4 consecutive common seasons from 2021-24. This can be simply the second time in the course of the stretch that Inexperienced Bay has traveled to Los Angeles, with it successful in 2024, 24-19. General, LaFleur’s Packers have outscored the Rams 136-90.
Inexperienced Bay has additionally lengthy been a thorn within the aspect of Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is 7-15 all-time towards his former division rival when he served as quarterback for the Detroit Lions. In 22 profession begins towards the Packers, Stafford has accomplished 61.3 p.c of his go makes an attempt whereas averaging 283.5 passing yards per recreation with 41 touchdowns and 22 interceptions.
Each groups are coming off 2025 playoff appearances and are anticipated to be among the many high groups within the NFC this season, at the moment rating first (Rams) and fourth (Packers) in convention championship odds, per ESPN. With the upcoming recreation set for late November, it must also imply Packers All-Professional edge Micah Parsons can be absolutely recovered from a December 2025 torn ACL, making McVay and Stafford’s job harder.
Whatever the end result, McVay will get up the subsequent morning with one thing to be glad about. Both he could have defeated his former assistant for the primary time, or his nightmare can be over till they meet once more.
