Thanksgiving football games fail to interest, disappointing match-ups bore NFL viewers
Kyle Towne
Issue date: 12/1/09 Section: Sports
12/01/09 - Thanksgiving is a holiday known for families coming together, eating a large feast, and watching plenty of football.
This past Thanksgiving featured three NFL games. Many people like to nap after eating the large meal, and these one-sided and, overall, unentertaining games served as a lullaby for those who watched.
The first game of the afternoon featured the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions. The Packers are fighting for a playoff spot and the Lions are one of the worst teams in the league. The Packers improved their record to 7-4 with the victory over the Lions, who fell to 2-9 with the loss.
The coin toss was won by the Packers, who chose to receive the ball. Kick returner Jordy Nelson fumbled the ball, and the Lions recovered. Detroit was able to take advantage of the mistake, eventually scoring on a one-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to wide receiver Calvin Johnson. Detroit's defense backed up the offense, and after one quarter the Lions held a 7-0 lead.
Green Bay evened the score early in the second quarter on a seven-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers to tight end Donald Lee. The Packers' defense continued to dominate the Lions, forcing them to punt in the following possession. Green Bay drove down the field and scored on a 20-yard field goal by Mason Crosby to take a 10-7 lead.
In the following drive, the Packers picked off Stafford for the second time in the game to regain possession. Once again, the drive was capped off by a Crosby field goal, giving the Packers a 13-7 advantage. The Lions ran out the remainder of the clock and went into halftime trailing by six.
Detroit started the second half with the ball, but on the second play of the drive Stafford threw his third interception of the game, giving the Packers a prime field position. Detroit forced Rodgers to fumble on the following play and regained possession of the ball. The Lions went three and out and punted the ball back to the Packers. Then, Rodgers led Green Bay down the field on a 90-yard touchdown drive, scoring on a 7-yard pass to veteran wide-receiver Donald Driver, giving the Packers a 20-7 lead.
This past Thanksgiving featured three NFL games. Many people like to nap after eating the large meal, and these one-sided and, overall, unentertaining games served as a lullaby for those who watched.
The first game of the afternoon featured the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions. The Packers are fighting for a playoff spot and the Lions are one of the worst teams in the league. The Packers improved their record to 7-4 with the victory over the Lions, who fell to 2-9 with the loss.
The coin toss was won by the Packers, who chose to receive the ball. Kick returner Jordy Nelson fumbled the ball, and the Lions recovered. Detroit was able to take advantage of the mistake, eventually scoring on a one-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to wide receiver Calvin Johnson. Detroit's defense backed up the offense, and after one quarter the Lions held a 7-0 lead.
Green Bay evened the score early in the second quarter on a seven-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers to tight end Donald Lee. The Packers' defense continued to dominate the Lions, forcing them to punt in the following possession. Green Bay drove down the field and scored on a 20-yard field goal by Mason Crosby to take a 10-7 lead.
In the following drive, the Packers picked off Stafford for the second time in the game to regain possession. Once again, the drive was capped off by a Crosby field goal, giving the Packers a 13-7 advantage. The Lions ran out the remainder of the clock and went into halftime trailing by six.
Detroit started the second half with the ball, but on the second play of the drive Stafford threw his third interception of the game, giving the Packers a prime field position. Detroit forced Rodgers to fumble on the following play and regained possession of the ball. The Lions went three and out and punted the ball back to the Packers. Then, Rodgers led Green Bay down the field on a 90-yard touchdown drive, scoring on a 7-yard pass to veteran wide-receiver Donald Driver, giving the Packers a 20-7 lead.
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