Tag: Thanksgiving

Opinion: Lions games I’m looking forward to in 2020

Our Sonja Greenfield highlight which Detroit Lions games she is most looking forward to during the 2020 regular season.

The Detroit Lions have released their 2020 schedule and while there are plenty of interesting games on the docket, I was asked which games I was most looking forward to.

Is it OK to say all of them?

If only because it’ll mean that life as we know it is back to normal — or close to it, anyway. Outside of that, here are the ones I’m looking forward to seeing the most.

  1.  Both Chicago Bears games. I really want to see Jeff Okudah feast on the Bears offense. And it’s always a good day when the Lions beat the Bears.
  2. The Cardinals. We know that The Tie will be the big storyline going into the game. So, let’s actually win this time.
  3. The Saints. If the Saints start 3-0 and the Lions are at least 2-1, it’ll be a very good test for the Lions. And if the Lions are 1-2, or heaven help us, 0-3, I’ll at least be able to see Cesar Ruiz from Michigan at center.
  4. The Redskins. That’s a family thing. My father in law is a Redskins fan so that one is always a fun game for me personally.
  5. Thanksgiving. Regardless of who they play — it’s the Texans this year –, it’s my favorite holiday. You can never go wrong with food and football.
  6. Green Bay at home in December. It’s always fun to beat the Packers — especially at home.
  7. Tampa Bay. It’ll be fun to see Tom Brady in something other than a Patriots jersey. Besides, the last time Brady was in Detroit for a regular-season game, the Lions beat him. So, can lightning strike twice?

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Check out game-by-game score predictions from around the NFL Wires network:

Buf / Mia / NE / NYJ // Bal / Cin / Cle / Pit // Hou / Ind / Jax / Ten // Den / KC / LV / LAC //// Dal / NYG / Phi / Was // Chi / Det / GB / Min // Atl / Car / NO / TB // Ari / LAR / SF / Sea

Steelers HC Mike Tomlin fine with playing on Thanksgiving

The Steelers will face off with the Ravens on Thanksgiving.

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When you are one of the most popular NFL teams in the world, you are bound to get attention from the league’s schedule makers. Despite two straight seasons out of the playoffs, the Pittsburgh Steelers still land four prime time games including the late game on Thanksgiving.

Pittsburgh will square off with the Baltimore Ravens at home on the holiday in what will be a huge AFC North matchup and one of the most-watched games of the season. It can’t be fun for players to have to spend their holiday playing as opposed to being with family but it is something head coach Mike Tomlin is looking forward to.

“We just are humbled and honored to entertain our fans on a special day like that,” Tomlin said just after the schedule was announced. “We’ve had an opportunity to be in a number of those games over the years. We don’t take them for granted. We will be excited about this one.”

Thanksgiving games haven’t been kind to the Steelers. They are only 2-6 in the game with their last win being in 2016 against the Indianapolis Colts. The last time the Steelers and Ravens faced off on Thanksgiving the Ravens won 22-20.

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A look back at the last time the Lions and Texans met on Thanksgiving

After a disappointing 3-12-1 season, it’s not overly surprising that the Detroit Lions were only awarded one nationally televised game in 2020.

After two consecutive Thanksgiving Day games against the Chicago Bears, the Detroit Lions will have a new opponent this year — the Houston Texans.

The Lions and Texans have faced each other just four times in their history with the Lions winning the inaugural meeting and dropping the next three, each loss by just one score.

Ironically, the most famous of the Lions-Texans’ games came in 2012 on Thanksgiving day, with the Texans winning in overtime 34-31, after one of the most controversial moments in then-coach Jim Schwartz’s career.

The Lions traded touchdowns in the first half, with the Lions scoring in the final 22-seconds to go up 21-14 at the half. The Lions were the first to score in the third quarter — a Jason Hanson field goal — to take a 10-point lead going into the later parts of the game.

Late in the third quarter, Texans running back Justin Forsett rushed the ball up the middle and was clearly down — both elbow and knee — but with no whistle blown, he gets up and 81-yards later he was in the endzone.

Everyone knew he was down.

Everyone.

Schwartz threw the challenge flag and controversy ensued.

The NFL has a rule in place where every scoring play was reviewed and referee’s commonly let a close situation play out, knowing they could look at it on replay after it was over — but in 2012 there was a unique addendum to the rule.

With the referee already needing to review the scoring play, Schwartz’s challenge was deemed unnecessary and per the NFL rulebook — which has substantially been changed to avoid this situation in the future — Schwartz was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct and his challenge nullified the referee’s ability to review the play, and in turn, the “touchdown that wasn’t” counted.

“I knew the rule — you can’t challenge on a turnover or a scoring play — but I was so mad that I overreacted,” Schwartz said after the game. “I had the flag in my hand before he even scored because he was obviously down.”

The teams continue to swap touchdowns and field goals over the final quarter and eventually end up in overtime.

In overtime, both teams had multiple possessions, each turned the ball over, and each missed a field goal — Hanson’s 47-yarder hit the right upright — before Texans kicker Shayne Graham hit a game-winning 32-yard field goal.

If you want to relieve the game you can in the video below, and if you want to see the Schwartz controversial mistake, skip ahead to the 1:23:09 mark:

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‘Thanksgiving Special’ is Bills’ new play of the year

The “Thanksgiving Special” helped launch the Bills into the national spotlight on Thanksgiving.

There’s a good chance that if you watched the Buffalo Bills-Dallas Cowboys game on Thanksgiving that you took a moment from your plate and yelled at the television. 

And it didn’t matter if you were a Bills fan, Cowboys fan, a general football of football, or just needed a distraction from the inlaws. Your interest peaked just after the two-minute warning in the first half. 

The Bills were driving into Cowboys’ territory. With the score tied at seven, Buffalo could take a lead into halftime with some clever play-calling and execution. The Bills defense shut down the Cowboys after the initial drive of the game, so Buffalo could be aggressive with their playcalling. 

On fourth down at Dallas’ 30-yard-line, the Bills passed on a second field goal attempt which would have been a long 48-yard attempt, as their first one was unsuccessful. Quarterback Josh Allen fumbled the snap and jumped Superman-style over the defensive line to secure the first down. 

However, this play only set up the play of the season for the Bills. 

Rather than run the clock down to ensure that they would have the lead going into halftime, offensive coordinator Brian Daboll took the bull by the horns (purposeful Cowboy comparison) and threw caution into the wind. 

Daboll called what is affectionately being called the Thanksgiving Special, culminating with a pass and the final lead change of the game. 

Allen handed off to Andre Roberts, who was already in motion. The wideout then pitched to John Brown, who was returning across the field on a reverse. Brown then delivered a perfect pass to Devin Singletary, who ran a wheel route and was lost among the trickery of the play. 

While the play was exciting, it’s the greater symbolism of the call that makes it important. Buffalo stepped on the throat of an opponent when they had the chance. This wasn’t done against a team working toward a top-ten draft pick, this occurred against the NFC East divisional leaders in front of a nationally-televised audience. 

The Bills, at this moment, decided to announce the NFL-viewing audience that the team should be taken seriously. 

The ball traveled through several players whom the Sean McDermott-Brandon Beane regime brought to the team in various capacities.

From the snap of Mitch Morse, brought to Buffalo to help improve a struggling offensive line; to Josh Allen, drafted to give the Bills a legitimate game-breaking quarterback; to Andre Roberts, making his way to Western New York to help a pitiful special teams unit; to John Brown, signed to give Allen a real weapon in the passing game; to Devin Singletary, an overachieving diminutive running back who simply gets the job done and support the running game; the play encapsulated so much about the Bills process over the past two-and-a-half years in an eight-second play. 

That play essentially crushed the spirit of Cowboys Nation while simultaneously vaulting the Bills into the national spotlight. 

It’s quite a place to be for Buffalo as they make their push into the playoff run. This drive and play epitomize the team’s overachieving status this year.

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Watch: GMFB analyst says Bills are ‘America’s spirit animal’

Dallas may still claim to be America’s team, but the Buffalo Bills are taking on a new moniker for the nation. 

Dallas may still claim to be America’s team, but the Buffalo Bills are taking on a new moniker for the nation.

The Buffalo Bills Thanksgiving triumph on Thanksgiving Day, in front of a national audience, has put the team on the NFL landscape in a way that hasn’t been viewed in decades. The team’s play has made them a regular piece of conversation on national shows. The Bills, as a topic of conversation, are intruding into segments.

On the NFL Network’s Good Morning Football, the Bills were once again a focal point. Analyst Nate Burleson veer off track, deviated from discussing the Dallas Cowboys and gave Buffalo some love. “I know we’re supposed to talk about the Cowboys and I get it. We have this graphic on the bottom of the screen that shows the Cowboys right there. Let me get this camera. See that graphic right there? With all due respect to the producers, you know what, I’m tired of talking about this team,” Burleson noted.

The analyst then said after discarding his notes, that “I’m tired. This is ridiculous. As talented as they [the Cowboys] are… I get it, they’re America’s Team. Why aren’t we talking about America’s Spirit Animal in the Buffalo Bills?”

Burleson returned to describe Buffalo, the blue collar, nose-to-the-grindstone, bring your lunchpail ready-to-work team as the team that should be receiving the attention.

“America’s Team is the glitz and the glory. The fancy stadium and Jerry Jones talking every single day.” Burleson praised Buffalo, putting them as a symbolic part of the national stage.  “But what do we represent as a country? It’s what the Buffalo Bills represent. You wake up, you go to work, you quietly do your job and then you get the results that you put the work in for.”

The Bills are the antithesis of the Cowboys’ attention-seeking owner and disappointing team.

Burleson also praised quarterback Josh Allen and Cole Beasley for their performance on Thursday. He added, “I love the fact that every other player on this team is backing up a quiet, soft-spoken, praise-deflecting young quarterback who is having one hell of a sophomore season.That’s why I wanted to take a left turn.” Burleson affirmed,

Let’s give the Buffalo Bills respect.

Buffalo’s 26-15 defeat of Dallas has quieted naysayers about the team. Any concerns about the Bills’ scheduled or perceived talent deficits were put to rest as the Bills dominated the Cowboys during the dinner hour on Thanksgiving.

It makes sense that Buffalo would represent the humble and hard-working nature of America.

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Report card: Bills top Cowboys, 26-15

The Buffalo Bills played lights out against Dallas on Thanksgiving to move to 9-3 on the season.

“Well, well, well…” is what BillsMafia is saying to the collective national media, who counted out the Buffalo Bills on their Thanksgiving clash with the Dallas Cowboys, 26-15.

On the national stage, the Bills had their pie and ate it too. The Bills played their most complete game of the season in Dallas showing off to the nation what many in Western New York already knew. The Bills are legitimate playoff contenders.

With that, here’s how the positional groups graded in the Bills’ Week 13 win on Thanksgiving:

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Quarterback: A

Josh Allen played like a true franchise quarterback on Thursday, using both his legs and arm to make plays down the field. Allen showed that he can beat a team with his arm, he can improvise in the pocket, and turn a seemingly dead play into something positive. This is something Bills fans have seen all season, but never against a quality opponent on this big of a stage.

Allen completed 79 percent of his passes on 19-for-24 passing with 231 yards, and one passing touchdown. Allen also used his legs to rush for 43 yards and the game sealing touchdown in the third quarter.

He also showed improved decision making and better ball placement and he was making it easy for his receivers to make big plays. This type of game is something the Bills franchise has been looking for since the days of Jim Kelly.

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PODCAST: Bills shine in the National Spotlight; are they prepared for Baltimore?

The Buffalo Bills won big on Thanksgiving, landing their first “statement win”, against the Dallas Cowboys with the world watching. Buffalo, for the last 20 years, has been a team that collapsed when the national spotlight was placed on them, but …

The Buffalo Bills won big on Thanksgiving, landing their first “statement win”, against the Dallas Cowboys with the world watching. Buffalo, for the last 20 years, has been a team that collapsed when the national spotlight was placed on them, but this was different.

The Bills delivered in a big way, and embarrassing the Cowboys, in their home stadium, and in a game that they have played in every year, since the 1960’s. I’ll admit, that it was strange to watch the Bills in a scenario like this, and a player in a Bills jersey eating a turkey leg to close out the game.

The offense fired on all cylinders, with Josh Allen moving the ball efficiently, by air, connecting with Cole Beasley, who was out for revenge against his former team. Devin Singletary caught a touchdown pass himself, as well as dominating on the ground. Allen looked like the franchise quarterback that Buffalo has long awaited, for the first time. It was certainly a defining game.

The Bills defense handled itself well. Giving up touchdowns to Dallas on their first and last possessions only, they did well, disrupting the number one ranked offense in the NFL. Dak Prescott, in an important contract situation this season, turned the ball over several times. He had defenders in his face all night, and even Ezekiel Elliott couldn’t get anything going.

Buffalo looked good when the lights shined bright, but what lays in front of them is another challenge, in the form of the red hot Baltimore Ravens. It’s hard to not try and enjoy this win against Dallas on a special occasion. With 10 days to prepare for the offensive onslaught that Lamar Jackson has brought against the best of the NFL, there is a lot more work that has to be done before the real celebrating can commence.

Billswire Podcast host Matt Johnson explores the win and outlook towards Baltimore in Week 13:

 

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10 things in sports we are thankful for

Happy Thanksgiving from the team at For The Win.

This is the online version of our morning newsletter, The Morning Win. Subscribe to get irreverent and incisive sports stories, delivered to your mailbox every morning.

It’s the day after Thanksgiving, and we’re feeling pretty appreciative here at For The Win. So while we work through digesting yesterday’s meal, and suspect you are doing the same, we wanted to write a quick note about what we’re thankful for this year.

1. We are thankful that we get to write about sports for a living. Like, what? How is that a job?

2. We are thankful for the stuffing we gorged on last night, and our families, and friends who are family.

3. We are thankful that we are alive to watch Lionel Messi play soccer. It’s cool to watch a genius, a real genius, someone who is better at something than anyone ever has been before. On this same token, we are thankful that we got to see Tiger Woods in his prime, and Simone Biles, and Katie Ledecky and Michael Phelps, and Serena Williams and Roger Federer, and all the other GOATs we have gotten to witness.

4. We are thankful that the Egg Bowl exists, and we got to enjoy a player in that game pretending to pee on a field along with our pumpkin pie.

5. We are thankful for the Dallas Cowboys, because while our families may disagree with on politics, music, movies, and politics again, we can all come together and agree that Jason Garrett may stink, but Jerry Jones is the real problem there.

6. We are thankful for Klay Thompson. Just, him. All of him. Same for Bill Walton.

7. We are thankful for Lamar Jackson, who has taken over the league in the most fun way possible.

8. We are thankful for Stephen A. Austin for upsetting Duke. Well, our editor Nick Schwartz went to Duke, so he might have an issue with it, but the rest of us are very thankful.

9. We are thankful for Alex Trebek, a perfect man.

10. Mostly, we are thankful for you, our readers. Without you all, we’re just a group of people shouting things into the void. (We do that sometimes anyway with our weirder posts, but that’s fine.) Your feedback, humor, and readership is what gives this site life and makes it all worth it for us. So, thank you.

Now go enjoy that holiday weekend. There are sports to watch, and we’ll be watching them with you.

3 takeaways from Falcons vs. Saints Thanksgiving matchup

This was by far the most exciting/predictably disappointing loss the Falcons had all season due to two onside kick recoveries giving them a chance at the end.

The Atlanta Falcons came up short on Thursday night, losing, 26-18, to the New Orleans Saints in front of their home crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Thanksgiving.

It was the same old story fans are sick of reading about each and every week. The Falcons’ slow start offensively hurt the defense, then the team put up garbage-time points, and seriously flirted with a comeback.

Here are four takeaways from Atlanta’s ninth loss of the 2019 season.

Ryan’s turnovers, offensive line killed the Falcons

Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Ryan scrambling behind a leaky offensive line is not the kind of production that analysts had in mind when they routinely projected Atlanta to have one of the NFL’s elite offenses the season. For the second straight week, the Falcons offensive line lost the battle up front, which was the biggest difference between Thursday’s loss and the team’s Week 10 upset. While Ryan made the best of it early, he clearly got rattled late, fumbling and throwing two interceptions to kill the team’s chances with the game still up for grabs. This was the kind of offensive performance that gets offensive coordinators fired.

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Winners and Losers from Falcons’ Thanksgiving loss to the Saints

The Atlanta Falcons made it fun at the end by almost coming back to win against the New Orleans Saints with three great onside kicks, but came up short.

The Atlanta Falcons made it fun at the end by almost coming back to win against the New Orleans Saints with three great onside kicks, but came up short. The Saints won this one, 26-18, but the game shouldn’t have even been this close.

Winner: K Younghoe Koo

The Falcons kicker missed his second kick just before the half. And the Falcons would have been completely done for because of them. But with three consecutive great onside kicks, Younghoe Koo gave the Falcons a chance to get back into the game. Koo even hit a couple of field goals after his early misses to give Atlanta a solid chance.

Loser: Falcons offensive line

Not only were the Falcons poor in pass protection, allowing nine sacks on the night, but they were atrocious in run blocking, averaging just 2.95 yards per carry in the run game. The Falcons need to get their offensive line healthy and have better coaching up front to make a difference in 2020. This is the biggest issue with the team right now.

Winner: LB Foye Oluokun

Foye Oluokun had himself a day in Atlanta. He did a good job against the run making open field tackles and was also exceptional in coverage despite not getting many opportunities. Not only was Oluokun impressive on defense, but his special teams play as a gunner and his two onside kick recoveries on back-to-back attempts were amazing as well. He even contributed to another onside kick recovery by knocking it out of Michael Thomas’ hands.

Loser: QB Matt Ryan

The Falcons had two chances to get back into the game in the third and early fourth quarters that were ended by poor play by Matt Ryan. It’s rare when he’s put as a loser on this list, but he did not have a good game against the Saints. He even had another fumble on a drive with 9 minutes left that sealed the game. Outside of the touchdown pass to Jaeden Graham and a 18-yard completion to Calvin Ridley, the franchise QB let the team down today.

Winner: LB Deion Jones

In coverage, Deion Jones had one of his best games of the season, breaking up multiple passes. He also played very well against the run, tackling Saints running backs and preventing huge plays. Jones has shown that he was worth that contract extension the Falcons signed him to. He just needs to give this kind of effort every week in future seasons.

Loser: RB Devonta Freeman

Volume was the name of the game for Devonta Freeman in this one. His pass blocking was atrocious all game. He also didn’t produce well despite being force fed the ball 21 times. The offensive line didn’t do him any faovors, but he only gained 64 yards and didn’t score a touchdown in this game. There’s a point where you just have to cut your losses, and that point may be very soon with Freeman based on production.

Ultimate Loser: HC Dan Quinn and OC Dirk Koetter

In what was one of the worst called games of the season, Dirk Koetter and Dan Quinn showed why they should be shown the door. At this point, cut the losses, give the reigns to Greg Knapp on offense, Jeff Ulbrich on defense and Raheem Morris as head coach.

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