Growing up in Michigan, the Lions’ Thanksgiving tradition has been something Detroiters have looked forward to every year. Most families in the area schedule their entire holiday around the game on Turkey Day. Whether it is going to the game and tailgating or gathering with family around the TV while mom is cooking dinner.
Even people who don’t watch football regularly tune into the Thanksgiving game. For years, the Lions have been a joke, and many have protested to try to get the Lions game replaced by another team. Many even believe the NFL added the third game because, for years, the Lions weren’t competitive, yet fans nationwide were forced to watch the team.
Lions Thanksgiving History
In past years, the NFL fanbase was forced to watch the dreadful Detroit Lions year after year on Thanksgiving Day. On the 90th anniversary of the first Thanksgiving game in 1934, the Lions will take on the Bears again as they did back then. Most years, this would be the only “primetime” game for the Lions even though it’s not considered a primetime game, the team would get national exposure. Many fans complained that the continuously horrible team from Detroit should be removed from the Thanksgiving tradition. Even “Family Guy” would poke fun at the Detroit Lions in a special Thanksgiving episode.
The Detroit Lions have played on Thanksgiving Day 84 times with a record of 37-45-2 with a current seven-game losing streak. They have had more downs than ups over the years, especially on the holiday. Back in 1982, the Lions were tied against the New York Giants in the fourth quarter, about to take the lead at the goal line when the Lions’ “luck” would strike. Hall of Famer and blindside specialist Lawrence Taylor would drop into coverage intercepting Gary Danielson for a 97-yard pick-six touchdown to win the game 13-6.
More Thanksgiving History
Not all was bad. In 1997, Barry Sanders ran for over 2,000 yards and had a very special Turkey Day. Sanders would slash the Bears for 167 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Lions would go on to dominate the Bears 55-20, scoring 45 unanswered points. Most fans remember 1998 when Detroit native “The Bus” Jerome Bettis’ infamous coin flip call in overtime. The Steelers tied the game up with four seconds left in regulation with a field goal. The visiting captain called “tails,” but after referee Phil Luckett determined he had said “heads” first. The GOAT, Jason Hanson, would end up kicking the winning field goal in overtime. This was under the old sudden-death overtime rules.
We all remember Ndamukong Suh’s stomp on Green Bay Packers offensive lineman in 2011 that gave him the dirty player reputation and a two-game suspension. 2012’s Thanksgiving game vs the Houston Texans had one of the strangest plays in NFL history, and of course, it went against the Lions. Texans Running Back Justin Forsett would score an 81-yard touchdown that should have never counted.
Forsett would be visibly down before the marker, yet the play continued. The play was set to be reviewed but before the refs took a look at it coach Jim Schwartz threw the challenge flag resulting in an odd 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty negating the video review. “What kind of s*** is that?” The Lions would go on to lose in overtime.
Final Thoughts
This year marks the first time the Detroit Lions are Super Bowl favorites entering the Thanksgiving Day game against the Chicago Bears. Read that again! The team went from fans wanting them off the Thursday special traditional game to one of the most exciting teams to watch and “America’s New Team.” Welcome to the bandwagon, everyone, I hope you enjoy the ride! Make sure you get the Jared Goff chants down. I miss the days of John Madden handing out Turducken legs every Thanksgiving but this has been a tradition since the existence of the NFL.
