Thanksgiving Football NFL Recap

Why do the Detroit Lions continue to host Thanksgiving day games? I get tradition, but at what point is it time for a change? Coming into this year, the Lions had lost 5 consecutive games on Thanksgiving, and they were big underdogs against the Green Bay Packers. I will admit this looked like i could be an entertaining game early. Green Bays Jordy Nelson fumbled the opening kickoff giving the Lions the ball on the GB 21. The Lions would cash in on a Matt Stafford to Calvin Johnson 1 yard touchdown pass. Giving the Lions a 7-0 lead. The score would stay that way until the first play of the second quarter when Aaron Rodgers found Donald Lee in the end zone, tying the game at 7. After forcing Detroit to punt on its next possession, the Packers would put together a 12 play 94 yard drive, that was halted at the 2 yard line. A Crosby field goal would give the Pack a lead 10-7. The wheels would begin to come off for the Lions as Stafford threw his second interception of the game. However, the Packers only turned that into 3 points, now leading 13-7. The scored remained 13-7 until mid way through the third, when Rodgers found Donald Driver in the end zone giving the packers a 20-7 lead, that Detroit would not recover from. Matt Stafford would finish the game with 4 interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown by Charles Woodson. Aaron Rodgers threw for 348 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Packers handed Detriot its 6 consecutive loss on Thanksgiving, by a final of 34-12.

The second game took us to Dallas where the Cowboys were big favorites over the Oakland Raiders. This was a big game for the Cowboys as it marked the first Thanksgiving day game in the new stadium. The scoring would begin late in the first quarter on a 36 yard field goal by Nick Folk, giving the Cowboys a 3-0 lead. Then early in the second quarter the Cowboy offense really got going. After a few Romo to Austin completions, Felix Jones broke an impressive 46 yard touchdown run giving Dallas a 10-0 advantage. Later in the second quarter Romo would find Miles Austin again on a 9 yard screen pass for a touchdown. Dallas's lead up to 17-0. The Raiders offense would finally show signs of life in the third quarter when QB Bruce Gradkowski led them on a 12 play 88 yard drive, culminating with a 4 yard touchdown pass to Hayward-Bey. Cutting the Cowboy lead to 17-7. Dallas would put the game out of reach early in the 4th quarter when Romo found Roy Williams for 6 yard touchdown giving Dallas a 24-7 victory.

The late game featured the New York Giants heading to Denver to take on the struggling Broncos. In the first quarter the defenses started out strong. The first 3 possessions of the game all resulted in punts. The first points would come at the end of a Broncos, 13 play 76 yard drive resulting in a Matt Prater field goal, giving Denver a 3-0 lead. The defenses continued to shine until the 10 mark in the second quarter when Prater added a second field goal, putting Denver ahead 6-0. On the Giants in sewing drive RB Danny Ware would fumble giving the Broncos the ball back, at the Giants 38 yard line. It only took Denver 4 plays to cash in with a 1 yard touchdown run by Knowshon Moreno. Giving the Broncos a 13-0 lead. Denver would take a 16-0 lead into halftime. The Giants would try to stay close with a pair of field goals in the third quarter. However, Denver would add to their lead in the fourth, on an Kyle Orton to Brandon Stokley 17 yard touchdown pass, putting Denver ahead 23-6. The Giants would have no answer, and the Broncos went on to win 26-6. Brandon Marshall hauled in 6 catches for 86 yards and Knowshon Moreno rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown for Denver.