Notes: New COVID-19 restrictions mean no fans at Lions Thanksgiving game

Our TV screens will be absent of the joyful pilgrims in Honolulu blue in the stands of Ford Field this Turkey Day.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced new restrictions on Sunday to combat a recent spike in COVID-19 cases, which means no fans at the Nov. 26 game against the Houston Texans. The Turkey Trot has gone virtual and the annual parade will be televised only.

For some families, the events downtown and the Thanksgiving game have been integrated into their family traditions—tailgating at Eastern Market, stuffing their heads into the behinds of turkeys, and cheering on the cats.

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While looking for info about this year’s situation, I ran an article from Ryan Mathews asking about our favorite Lions on Thanksgiving memories from last year, in which he used the greatest line perhaps ever written on this website: “When I was a young boy, my father took me into the city to see a Honolulu Blue parade.”

Last year, I hosted a “tailgate” on FOX 2 at Eastern Market before the game, bit into a turkey leg someone else was holding and said the word juicy on air, then tried to forget I did that by going to the game and doing many alcohols.

While the attendance restrictions aim to curb the spread of the virus amid a pandemic, I think it’s still okay to briefly reflect on some of the traditions we’ll miss by going to the game or hanging out downtown. What will you miss?

Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images

And onto the rest of your notes.

• Dave Birkett for the Detroit Free Press spoke to players about how they manage to stay calm in the eleventh hour and squeak out a win.

• Highlightssss.

• Speaking of Turkey Day, Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina argues the league should boot the Lions from the Thanksgiving spot. “Nothing against Detroit, but it’s time for the NFL to move on from forcing us to start out Thanksgiving afternoons by watching the Lions.” Uhh, that certainly sounds like something against the Lions.

• Carlos Monarrez for the Freep explains why D’Andre Swift could be the next Alvin Kamara.

• “It at least felt like everyone in Detroit was fighting for their jobs in the 3 o’clock ET hour.” Albert Breer touches on the Lions game in this week’s Monday Morning Quarterback.

• Happy Birthday!