The Crystal Ball Week 12 Thanksgiving Special

Welcome one and all to the 2009 season Thanksgiving feast! Yes, in modern times we should all be thankful that the NFL serves up three heaping helpings of NFL action for us to stare at as the tryptophan kicks in after a lovely meal with family and friends. Oh how delicious it is.

But before we get to dishing out the goodies, I must touch on a debate that has gained steam in recent years and reiterate my position once again. With their putrid record for, well, decades and awful performances in recent years, the debate has been raised that the Lions should not be featured on Thanksgiving, and instead be replaced by more competitive games and better teams. I say meh to this nonsense and never want to see the Lions lose their Thanksgiving game.

First off, do we really need or want a competitive game on Thanksgiving Day? Short answer, no we do not. Football on Thanksgiving is merely background anyway, a center point for men and boys to gather while they chew the fat and tell tall tales with the occasional glance at the game. It also serves as a focal point while the turkey digests and satiated diners drift off into afternoon naps. Football is not meant to be the focal point of the day, but merely another aspect, much like the parade or pumpkin pie. The focal point is giving thanks for the good things in your life while breaking bread with your family and friends. Football? Let’s just call it a delicious snack on which to graze.

Secondly, why hate on the Lions just because they stink, does tradition mean nothing? Many moons ago, when the NFL first conceived of the Thanksgiving Day game, the Lions stood tall and accepted the challenge. Yes it would mean the players, coaches and staff would be away from family and friends on this day. Yes it would mean having to play a short week every year. And yes, it would mean working while everyone else relaxed and ate. But their work and sacrifice gave the rest of us entertainment, no matter the quality, for years now establishing one of the best traditions in sports.

Everyone knows the Lions play on Thanksgiving, always have and always should. For those of us who have always known this, it would be like removing a hallowed tradition. Imagine Thanksgiving without turkey, (yes I know my vegetarian friends, this is not difficult for you but you get my drift I hope) or without the Macy’s parade, cranberry sauce or afternoon naps. Sure I suppose you could, but why would you want to? You might as well nix Santa from Christmas, the ball dropping on New Years and trees from Arbor Day as well. I know some traditions become old, stale, outdated or just out of touch. But sometimes, even those still hold meaning and the day would be less without those traditions than with them. The Lions on Thanksgiving certainly fall into this category.

And lastly, Detroit has so little when it comes to football and in many other areas as well. Why take this away from them? Let them have their moment in the sun and enjoy their national exposure. Who knows when the team will be good enough again to grab a featured game on Sunday or Monday night? So to the NFL, I ask, nay beg, leave well enough alone. The world contains too much change. Leave this tradition in place and let the Lions have their day. If you do, I’ll save a place at our table for you. The turkey’s almost done and the game is on, come on over.

On The Menu Today

Green Bay (6-4) at Detroit (2-8)

Matt Stafford’s heroic return to the game to steal the win last week will go down in Lions’ lore and heaven knows they need some modern day lore. Stafford showed he’s at least a gamer, and hopefully the franchise quarterback the team needs to build around. But they’re still a long way away from being relevant, or even mediocre. And with Aaron Rodgers making faster decisions as of late, Green Bay moves back firmly into the wild card race.

Packers over Lions

Oakland (3-7) at Dallas (7-3)

Amazing what a quarterback who can lead and wants to play can do for a team. Can the Raiders steal one in Big D? Possibly, you never know, especially considering the offensive display Romo and company presented against the lowly Redskins last week. But, it’s Thanksgiving, Romo has shown a penchant for playing big on Turkey Day, and I’ll go home team here.

Cowboys over Raiders

New York Giants (6-4) at Denver (6-4)

Another wonderfully presented dish by the NFL Network. Honestly, I swear sometimes watching games on NFLN; they hired people who know nothing about production value. Honestly, are their games a training ground for production crews looking to get a job with a network? But I digress.

Denver is cratering fast, and the Giants are teetering on the precipice of joining them. I’d say Denver has a chance playing at home, but with a gimpy Orton and after their dismantling last week, I just cannot have confidence in them. Not that I have that much confidence in New York, but at least they squeezed out a win last week.

Giants over Broncos