Thanksgiving Day traditions look a little different in every household, from signature dishes and parade-watching to the brave few who still attempt a deep-fried turkey. But one ritual many families share is gathering around the TV for a full day of NFL football. This year’s slate delivered new faces, returning holiday favorites, and a down-to-the-wire matchup that kept viewers locked in (we see you, Cowboys!)
With approximately 141 million viewers tuning in, advertisers had a massive stage and only seconds to stand out. Using MarketCast’s gold-standard natural exposure Brand Effect solution, we rounded up the top five ads that resonated most during this year’s Thanksgiving Day NFL games.
Bud Light Brings Gameday Energy to the Office
Bud Light was the standout winner of the Thanksgiving Day Gameday lineup. As the official beer sponsor of the NFL, the brand scored big with “Officegate,” a humorous spot starring Peyton Manning and packed with clever, contextual references to the game. The ad delivered a strong Breakthrough score at 18% above the NFL regular-season norm, fueled by its timely setting, memorable cameo, and seamless tie-in to the brand’s NFL partnership.
Verizon Made the Nice List
Verizon’s quirky spot, “Holidays: Kevin & Verizon Want You on the Nice List,” claimed the second-highest score of the Thanksgiving lineup thanks to its humor, high energy, and Kevin Hart’s festive charm. Strong branding and sustained engagement helped the ad land 7% above the norm.
Wayfair Rings into Place
Wayfair carried the holiday cheer with “Black Friday Caroling: Up to 80% Off,” a playful spin on Carol of the Bells. The memorable musical twist reinforced the brand’s value message and left a lasting impression, scoring 6% above the norm.
Chewy Sniffs Out a Win
A familiar face in our top-performing lists, Chewy delivered again with “Holidays: Hunter.” The brand stuck to its proven formula (emotional storytelling with a holiday lift) earning a score 4% above our breakthrough norm.
Chipotle Shares the Love
Breaking from holiday themes, Chipotle took a UGC-inspired approach with “Build Your Own Chipotle.” The straightforward format delivered clear messaging and strong brand presence, performing right at the NFL regular season norm.
These Thanksgiving winners were just the warm-up for the Big Game. Contact us below to learn more about MarketCast’s Super Bowl LX Ad Performance Report, which delivers winning insights into the ads that scored on game day and the creative and media drivers that carried them into the end zone.