Fear not. We will continue to play on Thanksgiving.

by Lionsrmycrack on Oct 28, 2009 11:40 AM EDT Comment 7 comments

As I was catching up on my reading of this blog, I noticed that there were a few concerns about our upcoming game with the Pack and its possible repercussions on our playing on Thanksgiving in the future. I am here to allay those concerns. I went to this website.

http://www.nfl.com/thanksgiving/story?id=09000d5d80437c09&template=with-video&confirm=true

It contains the winners and losers, with scores, of every game played on Thanksgiving starting in 1920. You'll notice the Detroit team of that time, known as the Heralds, got blanked. The first year we played on Thanksgiving as the Lions was 1934 and we lost to the Bears. We played on Thanksgiving in 1934-38 and every year from 1945 on. In 34-38 we were 3-2. We lost our first 5 Thanksgiving games in a row starting in 45. This is a losing streak only matched by our current one of 2004-08. Then came the golden era of Lions football and we won our next 6 in 50-55. We have never matched that winning streak on Thanksgiving since. The late sixties sucked with 4 losses in a row including the last two having us being shut out. Since then we've never won or lost more than 3 in a row until 2004 til the present. Without actually counting it out we are very close to a .500 team on Thanksgiving. If the NFL takes our entire history into account they have no reason to remove us from the Thanksgiving day schedule as we have just as much chance of winning as we do losing.

Disclaimer: all stats I used came from this one website, but it's NFL.com and it says true at the end of the link so it has to be accurate right?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pride of Detroit's main writer, Sean, or the site in general. FanPosts are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable fans.

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Comments

How many of those games were played under the current commissioner?

I don’t trust Goodell. He’s been eager to prove he’s a tough guy, but his justice has not seemed evenhanded. I question his judgement. My hunch is he wouldn’t hesitate to throw us under the bus for short-term gain.

What? He can’t block a dead gopher? Humph, details.

by GRLion on Oct 28, 2009 12:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe.

I agree there is more than a bit of the vinegar and water about Goodell, but most of his decisions, for good or bad, seem to come from a traditionalist bent. There’s very little about the NFL that’s more traditional than the Lions on Thanksgiving.

by Lionsrmycrack on Oct 28, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Would I be upset if the Lions lost Thanksgiving?

You bet I would. I love to see the Lions on Thanksgiving. Would I understand if the NFL decided to pull it from us? Yes I would. Wouldn’t like it, but I can understand it. Fact is, the NFL is an entertainment business. Big emphasis on the business. And unless your a Lions fan, they haven’t been very entertaining for the past decade. Theres a reason we haven’t got a Monday or Sunday night game in a long time. As far as the NFL is concerned, tradition be damned, they want to make money.

by vanman on Oct 28, 2009 1:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm thinking the same thing

I would be very upset if we lost the Thanksgiving game, I mean, it’s my one guaranteed TV game a year. I lose that and I’ve got nothing. But, I can see why the NFL might drop us off the tradition. I’m just hoping it doesn’t happen.

2009 = The start of the Lions Golden Age (We hope).

by Hyperion Ecta on Oct 28, 2009 7:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

they better never take that game away

I’d be so damn pissed if they took that game away from us…….I grew up watching that game since I was a kid, it’s a Thanksgiving day tradition……I have a bunch of great memories from those games……..spanking the Bears, the coin flip game vs. the Steelers…….man, I hope they realize we’re turning things around and we’ll eventually represent the NFL well on Thanksgiving once we get things going

by Angry Johnny on Oct 28, 2009 8:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs