Happy Thanksgiving

[Harlan Huckleby]

I want the Lions to keep winning so we can see a battle of undefeateds on turkey day. It will be like having a second Super Bowl to watch.

[Freak Out]

That would make for an incredible day.

[Joemailman]

Maybe the Packers need to lose. Things didn't go so well the last time an undefeated Packer team went to Detroit on Thanksgiving Day.

http://packerville.blogspot.com/2007...ving-1962.html

DETROIT (Nov. 22) — A picture hanging outside the locker room of the Lions' practice facility in Allen Park frames a special moment in time. It depicts an overpowering display of defensive dominance on Thanksgiving Day in 1962. Bart Starr, the Packers' Hall of Fame quarterback, is surrounded by a group of charging, swarming defenders. Starr is helpless, with no protective pocket of blockers near him. Starr went down on that play and was sacked 10 more times as the Lions atoned for a loss to the Packers earlier in the season with a 26-14 victory at Tiger Stadium.

There have been other big games, and great performances, in the traditional holiday game. It began in 1934 and continues today with the Lions playing the Packers at Ford Field. The 1962 game — 45 years ago today — is the pinnacle. For one day, one game, they were superior to Vince Lombardi's Packers. It was the Packers' only loss in the '62 season, in which they went 13-1 and won a second straight NFL championship.

Roger Brown, a defensive tackle who played the first seven of 10 pro seasons with the Lions, led the defensive charge that smothered Starr. "I don't think a Sherman tank could have stopped us that day," Brown said in a telephone interview from his home in Portsmouth, Va. Brown was in on seven of the 11 sacks, including five solos. He also trapped Starr in the end zone for a safety. "They were getting the jump on us something awful," Lombardi said after the game.

In 1962, the Packers were the gods of pro football as Lombardi, the legendary coach, was building a dynasty. The Packers won the NFL championship in 1961, the first of five under Lombardi. The Lions finished second to the Packers in the Western Division for three straight years, 1960-62. By 1962, the Packers-Lions rivalry was as fierce as any. The rivalry was fueled partly by the Thanksgiving matchup. The Packers were the opponent for 13 straight years, from 1951-63. After that, the NFL began rotating opponents.

The Lions were tired of being second-best. In the fourth game of the season at Green Bay, they led 7-6 late in the fourth quarter. On a third-down play, the Lions tried a pass. The receiver, Terry Barr, slipped. Herb Adderley got an interception and a long return to set up a field goal in the last minute for a 9-7 Packers win. Seven weeks later came the rematch. The Packers were 10-0. The Lions were 8-2.
"I think we were fired up the whole month, the whole week," Brown said. "Ever since that game in Green Bay, we looked forward to Thanksgiving so we could vindicate ourselves."

The onslaught began early. On the Packers' fourth play, Alex Karras broke through on a running play to throw Tom Moore for a 3-yard loss. On the next play, Darris McCord, Joe Schmidt and Karras sacked Starr, but the play was nullified by a delay-of-game penalty. It didn't matter. Brown sacked Starr for a 15-yard loss on the next play. A short punt put the ball at the Packers 39, and three plays later, Milt Plum passed to Gail Cogdill for a touchdown. The rout was on.

Starr was sacked eight more times in the half, and the Lions had a 23-0 lead at the intermission. The Lions coasted through the second half and won easily. After the game, Schmidt, the Hall of Fame middle linebacker, seemed in awe of the performance. "I've never seen anything like it," Schmidt said. "We killed them."

[red]

we're finally gonna have a watchable game on thanksgiving

and maybe the biggest game of the year

[Joemailman]

Does it mean anything with out a turducken?

[pbmax]

Does it mean anything with out a turducken?

It does to the duck.

[channtheman]

I'm hoping for Detroit to be unbeaten. I know we should want Detroit and our other NFC North foes to lose, but what a game would that be to have to the only two unbeaten teams playing on Thanksgiving. I get excited just thinking about the Packers finally showing the Lions their place!

[Upnorth]

If GB and Det are undefeated it would be huge. Has there ever been two undefeated teams in the same division that far into the regular season before? Black and Blue on top where it belongs!

[gbgary]

F you people! i hope the lions go on 5 game losing streak, we keep winning, and the game doesn't mean a damm thing in the grand scheme of things. i don't need to have my insides tied up in knots, with children running around all over the place, while i'm trying to feed family (and a hand full of straingers that always seem to appear), and concentrate on a game of undefeated. calm, boring, a fast clock, and an empty house as soon as possible, are the thoughts for the day.

[Harlan Huckleby]

F you people! i hope the lions go on 5 game losing streak, we keep winning, and the game doesn't mean a damm thing in the grand scheme of things. i don't need to have my insides tied up in knots, with children running around all over the place, while i'm trying to feed family (and a hand full of straingers that always seem to appear), and concentrate on a game of undefeated. calm, boring, a fast clock, and an empty house as soon as possible, are the thoughts for the day.

You need a serious attitude adjustment. And a DVR. Lets start with your role as male head of household. Look to the lion pride for guidance. The lionesses are responsible for hunting and food prepartion (ripping off the tough hide of the gazelle to expose tender innards.) The lionesses and cubs step aside while the lion gorges himself. The entire pride eats later while the lion stretches, sleeps, passes gas.

Now, I'm not suggesting that this ideal model can be replicated exactly, but you need to harness the spirit. You watch the entire game, eating your food from a TV tray if necessary. If conversation is disturbing, up goes the volume. If anyone is offended, that makes next year's gathering smaller and more managable. You'll want to DVR the game for deeper analysis later in the quiet of your castle.

[Pugger]

F you people! i hope the lions go on 5 game losing streak, we keep winning, and the game doesn't mean a damm thing in the grand scheme of things. i don't need to have my insides tied up in knots, with children running around all over the place, while i'm trying to feed family (and a hand full of straingers that always seem to appear), and concentrate on a game of undefeated. calm, boring, a fast clock, and an empty house as soon as possible, are the thoughts for the day.

I don't want the loins to be undefeated either! I was pissed when Romo threw that game away to Detoilet on Sunday. We sure as hell don't need to have those clowns full of confidence and swagger. In my mind those bozos are our only threat to the division so the sooner they start losing the better.

[mmmdk]

I don't want the loins to be undefeated either! I was pissed when Romo threw that game away to Detoilet on Sunday. We sure as hell don't need to have those clowns full of confidence and swagger. In my mind those bozos are our only threat to the division so the sooner they start losing the better.

I agree; yet there's little doubt that it'll be the showdown of the regular season.

[mraynrand]

Does it mean anything with out a turducken?

It does to the duck.

We're better off without the turd

[mraynrand]

F you people! i hope the lions go on 5 game losing streak, we keep winning, and the game doesn't mean a damm thing in the grand scheme of things. i don't need to have my insides tied up in knots, with children running around all over the place, while i'm trying to feed family (and a hand full of straingers that always seem to appear), and concentrate on a game of undefeated. calm, boring, a fast clock, and an empty house as soon as possible, are the thoughts for the day.

If you lived near me, I would invite you to watch the game with me.

[MJZiggy]

If you lived near me, I would invite you to watch the game with me.

What about me?