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KNOXVILLE — For years, the National Football League has been a part of the Thanksgiving tradition.
The game of professional football has long gone beside ham, turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie.
Each year, the NFL has traditional games in Detroit and Dallas. In recent years, the league has added a prime time game in the evening and most football fans watch the games with at least a casual passing interest.
But University of Tennessee fans may take a special interest in the league’s holiday offerings in 2019 as several former University of Tennessee standouts will don their professional colors and take the field.
The day opens with the Chicago Bears visiting the Lions in Motown at 12:30 p.m.
Cordarrelle Patterson, one of the game’s most versatile offensive players and an elite special teams players, is a bright spot in an otherwise dismal season for the Bears.
Justin Coleman and Jaylen Reeves-Maybin play for the Lions.
VFL Jason Witten and the Cowboys host the Buffalo Bills at 4:30 p.m.
The New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons will square off in an NFC South battle. Alvin Kamara and Shy Tuttle will look to help the Saints continue their successful 2019 season, while Luke Stocker holds a roster spot for Atlanta.