It’s Thanksgiving, you are about to dig into some turkey, and as you do the game comes on. What Thanksgiving football game will you be watching?
If you are still unsure what game you should be tuning in to this Thanksgiving, the following previews should help give you a good answer.
Eagles @ Lions 12:30 ET on FOX
This is the first match-up of the day for Thanksgiving. The struggling Philadelphia Eagles will face-off against a struggling Detroit Lions. It will be who can slap harder in what will probably turn into a punting cornucopia. As both teams fight to just stay alive in their respective divisions, their coaches are fighting to just keep their jobs.
The Lions have won their last 2 games, and coming home on thanksgiving may give them the extra strength they need to make it 3 in a row. They have put up decent passing numbers this year, but have left a lot to be desired in almost every other category.
On the other side for this game are the visiting Eagles who are in the middle of the road for passing yards allowed, ranking 16 in the NFL as of Week 11. The Eagles have also lost the last 2 games at home before they start this road trip.
If the Eagles manage to win this game, they will have deserved it. The favor appears to be to Detroit who will get only their fourth win of the season if they pull it off. All in all though, I would suggest this game as background noise to a loud family gathering.
Panthers @ Cowboys 4:30 on CBS
This will be the game to watch on Thursday as the undefeated Panthers take on a Dallas team that has won every game that Tony Romo has been healthy for. They will fight punch for punch until a victor is claimed.
Last week Cam Newton showed his true skill by completing 5 touchdown passes against the Washington Redskins last Sunday. The Panthers, who many thought would only be around 5-5 on the season, come into this game a mighty 10-0. The rushing offense of the Panthers has eaten up multiple defenses this year, and they have the ability to change on the fly to adapt to the defense in front of them. This along with Cam Newton’s charismatic leadership and athleticism has led this Panther team into the hearts of many.
Tony Romo has entered the building, and the Dallas Cowboys are looking good with their star quarterback at the helm once again. The Cowboys are still 3-7, however, two of those wins came prior to Romo’s stint on the IR, and the third came last Sunday when he retook the field. Romo’s consistency, even after being injured for such a long period, shows that he is not a chump to be messed with. The cowboys look to be top form once again, and will fight a hard fight at home.
The Cowboys do seem to have some struggles on defense against the run, and against a team that can work miracles on the run the Panthers may be the ones who take it this weekend. Don’t judge them by their stats though, Romo linking up with Dez Byrant for a lethal combination is something the Panthers need to figure out how to shut down, or they may find themselves 10-1.
Bears @ Packers 8:30 on NBC
This Thanksgiving classic will bring a rivalry to the table on Thursday as the Chicago Bears take on the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
This game will more than likely tilt in the favor of the Packers who have put up incredible numbers against the Bears when playing at home. They have managed to keep Jay Cutler to only an 8.9 quarterback ranking in their meetings at Lambeau, and that is out of 100 possible points.
At Halftime the Green Bay Packers will be retiring Brett Favre’s number “4” which is something that no fan will want to miss. It will be a moment of emotions as the quarterback of many years was respected not only among Packers’ fans, but across the league by fans and players alike. And against a team like their rival, the Bears, they couldn’t have picked a better game.
In summary –
If you need background noise for your lunch, go ahead and throw on the early game where the Eagles will take on the Lions. For the edge of your seat entertainment, tune in at 4:30 for the Panthers against the Cowboy games on FOX.
And then, to cap the night off with well wishes and thanks, say congratulations as you watch Brett Favre have his number retired during what will surely be a lopsided battle for the ages as the Bears take on the Packers at 8:30.