A Handy Guide to Thanksgiving Football
Football and Thanksgiving go way back, like late 1800s back, and for many folks around this great country of ours, watching NFL games on Thanksgiving is as great a tradition as eating dried out turkey and canned cranberry sauce. Though the last decade has provided some lackluster Thanksgiving showdowns, this year's lineup of games has all the signs of being a worthwhile viewing experience.
Game #1: Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers
The day starts early (9:20 am Pacific), but even those of you who are taking part in your local Turkey Trot will be able to make it back in time to catch the end of this NFC North showdown. Here's what you need to know...
Comeback Kids: The Lions have hosted an annual Thanksgiving game since 1934, and the presence of Barry Sanders in the 1990s ensured that the games were good. Then came the dark ages: the Lions were 31-81 between 2000-2008, including a winless season in 2008. This season, however, Detroit is experiencing a bit of a renaissance. They are 7-3, second in their division, and are playing like they have something to prove.
Dirty Defense: Last week, a player was asked about the Lions' defense and their dirty reputation. His response: "They play till the echo of the whistle." Led by Ndamukong Suh, Detroit's defense plays hard and perhaps a little dirty, but it is sure fun to watch. Be prepared for a few whistles blowing in this matchup.
Perfect Record: The Green Bay Packers are defending Super Bowl champs. They are also coming in to tomorrow's game in defense of their 10-0 record and their title of lone remaining undefeated team in the NFL. There is more than just a division game on the line for the Pack, a loss could bring an end to a perfect season.
No Nickelbacks: Over the last month, a petition has been making the rounds among Detroit fans. What are they protesting? The choice of halftime entertainment. Canadian rockers Nickelback are scheduled to play the halftime show, but Lions fans are asking "Hasn't Detroit been through enough?" In spite of 50,000 signatures, the band is still slated to rock Ford Field. While fans at the game will have to grin and bear it, you can still protest by flipping the channel.
Game #2: Dallas Cowboys vs. Miami Dolphins
If you are scheduling your Thanksgiving dinner around the football games, we recommend that you choose this one to eat during. However, if you do plan on watching, here's what to look for...
On a Streak: Both the Cowboys and the Dolphins are coming off of three-game win streaks. The Cowboys have leveraged that into a tie for first place in the NFC East, while the Dolphins are thankful for anything that helps them forget their 0-7 start to the season.
Give Us Moore: Dolphins QB Matt Moore is playing like a man inspired. His 118.6 quarterback passer rating over the past three games reflects just how well he has played. Perhaps it has inspired the rest of the team? Reggie Bush is running well and the defense is giving up the fewest points per game of any team in the league.
Romo-rific: Tony Romo has his boosters and detractors, but the Cowboys QB also has a hell of a record when it comes to playing on Turkey Day. Also, like Matt Moore, Romo has been on fire in the last three wins. However, there is a lot of pressure being a Cowboys QB, and Romo hasn't always lived up to those expectations.
Game #3: Baltimore Ravens vs. San Francisco 49ers
The final game of the evening is rich with story lines, here are a few...
Family Feud: Most family members argue about politics, or religion, or longstanding family grudges. John and Jim Harbaugh, however, have something unique to duke it out over this holiday. For the first time in NFL history, brothers will be squaring off as head coaches. John, coach of the Ravens since 2008, brings his defensive-minded team and several years experience to the matchup. Jim, in his first season as NFL head coach, comes armed with a 9-1 record and the credit for turning both Stanford and the 49ers football programs around. Someone is going to lose, the only question is who is going to get a hug from mom and dad first?
Drinking Game: You know what else goes well with Thanksgiving besides football? Drinking. Drink every time the announcers say Harbaugh and you might get drunk enough to get out of doing the dishes.
Look Out for Lewis: Star Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis sat out last Sunday's game with an injury, and his status for tomorrow's game is still questionable. However, if he does line up on defense, it could re-energize the Ravens already strong defensive unit.
Quarterback Questions: We are not alone in thinking that the 49ers Alex Smith just isn't that good at playing quarterback. However, the much maligned Smith has flourished under Jim Harbaugh's leadership, and he is responding well to the West Coast offense. And it doesn't hurt that he has Vernon Davis at tight end, Michael Crabtree as a receiver, and Frank Gore to get the run going. Meanwhile, on the Ravens side of things, Joe Flacco has been cited with inconsistency before. He does seem to come up big in critical games, and this game fits that bill.
