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Denver Broncos: Ranking each of team’s Thanksgiving Day victories

By Travis Wakeman

DENVER - NOVEMBER 26: Running back Knowshow Moreno #27 of the Denver Broncos makes an eight yard pass reception and is tackled by Aaron Rouse #26 of the New York Giants on the one yard line during NFL action at Invesco Field at Mile High on November 26, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. Moreno rushed one yard for a touchdown on the next play to give the Broncos a 13-0 second quarter lead over the Giants. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
DENVER - NOVEMBER 26: Running back Knowshow Moreno #27 of the Denver Broncos makes an eight yard pass reception and is tackled by Aaron Rouse #26 of the New York Giants on the one yard line during NFL action at Invesco Field at Mile High on November 26, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. Moreno rushed one yard for a touchdown on the next play to give the Broncos a 13-0 second quarter lead over the Giants. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /
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Ron Dayne, Denver Broncos
IRVING, TX – NOVEMBER 24: Running back Ron Dayne #33 of the Denver Broncos runs the ball for 55 yards in overtime against the Dallas Cowboys on November 24, 2005, at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. The Broncos defeated the Cowboys 24-21 in overtime. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

It’s Thanksgiving Day and traditionally, that has meant a lot of great food and a lot of football.

The NFL now helps celebrate Thanksgiving with a triple-header of action on the field, making sure that football fans get a full serving of football to go along with the Thanksgiving feast.

The Denver Broncos won’t play on Thanksgiving and in fact, have not appeared in a Thanksgiving Day game since the 2009 season. The team has played in 11 games on Thanksgiving across its history, carrying just a 4-7 record in those games.

Unlike fans of the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys, who are able to see their team play every year on Thanksgiving, Broncos fans have only witnessed it a handful of times, though they have been treated to some great performances.

As we delve into food and football on this day, we are also going to look back at each of those four wins the Broncos have had on Thanksgiving.

November 22, 2001 vs. Dallas Cowboys

07 Oct 2001: Head coach Mike Shanahan of the Denver Broncos observes during the game against the kansas City Chiefs at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos beat the Chiefs 20-6. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr/Allsport
07 Oct 2001: Head coach Mike Shanahan of the Denver Broncos observes during the game against the kansas City Chiefs at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos beat the Chiefs 20-6. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr/Allsport /

It’s always good to beat the Cowboys, something the Broncos have done every time the two teams have played since 1995, but in 2001, the Cowboys were a poor football team.

The Broncos were able to come away with a 26-24 victory, but they struggled with a team that was just 2-7 going into that game.

The Broncos were a team fighting for playoff position at the time and the Cowboys’ starting quarterback in the game was Ryan Leaf. It should have been an easy Denver win, but the Cowboys were able to score two late touchdowns in the fourth quarter to make things interesting.

The Broncos rode Mike Anderson, who carried the ball 33 times for 118 yards and a touchdown, to the victory.

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