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What to know about Thanksgiving Day NFL games

The NFL is a thief.

As the league expands its footprint across the television landscape, it has begun stealing holidays that have been the domain of other sports. The NBA, which typically sees Christmas Day as a marquee day of programming, will compete for sports fans’ attention this year when there will be an unprecedented three professional football games aired. College football fans accustomed to channel surfing between bowl games on New Year’s Day will instead see a full slate of Week 17 games. (The Rose and Cotton bowls will be played Jan. 2.)

The season’s one holiday safe from viewing disruption is Thanksgiving — because the NFL already owns screens on that day.