For decades, football has established itself as a staple of the American Thanksgiving tradition. Whether you enjoy competitive football (Dallas) or comedy (Detroit), there is something for everyone to enjoy on Thanksgiving football. Here is an early outlook of the three games that will be played on Thanksgiving for the 2010 NFL season.
2010 NFL Thanksgiving Day Schedule: New England Patriots at Detroit Lions
While Thanksgiving Day games are regular for the Detroit Lions, they haven’t won many more than other teams who haven’t partaken in the tradition in the past decade. Since 2001, the only victory the Lions have mastered on Thanksgiving was a 22-14 victory against the Green Bay Packers in 2003. Since 2003, the Lions have been defeated by double digits in all of their games.
The last time the Detroit Lions played the New England Patriots on Thanksgiving was on November 28, 2002. The Lions were defeated 20-12 as the Patriots were in the midst of their 2000 dynasty run. In the past three Thanksgiving Day games against AFC opponents in 2008, 2006, and 2004, the Detroit Lions have been outscored 115-29. Their previous Thanksgiving Day game against an AFC opponent was a 47-10 loss against the Tennessee Titans in 2008.
2010 NFL Thanksgiving Day Schedule: New Orleans Saints at Dallas Cowboys
Entering their Thanksgiving ritual on a 4 game winning streak, the Dallas Cowboys will be represented with what could be one of the most intriguing games of the 2010 NFL regular season. The Dallas Cowboys ruined the New Orleans Saints shot of a perfect season in 2009 after a 24-17 defeat in week 15. In 2010, can the Saints return the favor by invading Dallas during Thanksgiving and coming away with a victory?
The Dallas Cowboys have won their past four Thanksgiving Day games by outscoring opponents 130-29. However, their last competitive opponent on Thanksgiving was in 2005 against the Denver Broncos, who defeated the Cowboys 24-21 in overtime. As the Saints are expected to be competitive coming off their Super Bowl campaign, expect the Cowboys Thanksgiving Day ritual to finally be of more importance and entertaining in 2010.
2010 NFL Thanksgiving Day Schedule: Cincinnati Bengals at New York Jets
The New York Jets will try to build off ofa suprising 2010 season that ended up with them falling just short of the Super Bowl. After defeating the Cincinnati Bengals on two consecutive occassions to end their season in 2009, the Bengals will have the opportunity to seek revenge during the prime-time game on Thanksgiving. In 2009, the New York Giants were upset by the Denver Broncos 26-6 in this situation. Can the Jets avoid the same fate as their in-state rivals on Thanksgiving?
REFERENCES:
NFL.com, Week 12. Schedules are from nfl.com, Apr 22, 2010.
Pro Football Hall of Fame, Thanksgiving Day results, Apr 22, 2010.
