Ready for Thanksgiving Football

John: All right, folks, so we have our regular feast of football on Thanksgiving this year—as we always do—and, so, let’s get started. Patrick?

Patrick: Well, so we have our Chicago Bears kicking it off against the Detroit Lions at 11:30 a.m. CST, then we have the Dallas Cowboys hosting the Las Vegas Raiders at 3:30 p.m. CST, and we follow that up and end the day with the New Orleans Saints taking on the Buffalo Bills in New Orleans at 7:20 p.m. CST. I like it.

Russ: I’m excited as well. I love that the Bears are always in the mix–win or lose–mixing the hope and anticipation of a Bears win to kick off the day with the turkey and dressing and ham and triplecheese macaroni and greens and cranberry sauce—

Patrick: Don’t forget the chit’lins!

Donald: You can keep that! Just give me my sweet potato pie and I’m good.

Russ: Right! All of that. But, yeah, mixing a Bears win with the aromas at the house, man, I’m so looking forward to this year.

John: Okay, so the NFL has treated us with this tradition since the 1920s and, let me say this, although I believe it should last, I think the continuing inclusion of the Detroit Lions who, by the way, have played on Thanksgiving Day since 1934—I don’t feel they should be included anymore. They’re not good enough. The Dallas Cowboys—yes. For the most part throughout history, they’ve been and are a pretty decent team. The Bears—a bit biased here, perhaps, but we’ve been decent for the most part. Or, at the very least, entrenched enough with our football history, that we’re okay as an automatic.

Donald: Look, Thanksgiving football to me is like me waking up with breath: awesome, awesome, awesome. From the time I wake up in the morning, through a nap, and all the way to the end of the football nightcap, I am on 10 as much as I can be at my age!

Russ: That’s funny.

John: So, yeah, I think that unless you’re a diehard Lions fan…or have some big money on or against them, it’s a waste of time to have them on in such an annual event.

Patrick: I feel you, John. With such a celebrated spotlight, one would think we’d have the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, or Baltimore Ravens, or even the Bears’ archenemy, the Green Bay Packers, taking care of business. We must give kudos to the Lions’ owner who, back in 1934, decided to play on the holiday to attract more fans and, as John mentioned, ever since then, has been in on Thanksgiving. Not to mention, the Dallas Cowboys and the Lions have been a dual-team part of the festivities since 1978.

Donald: That’s impressive. Y’know, talking about it now, I can see how it could be slightly unfair to those teams who’ve never been included.

Russ: On the other hand, it could be a blessing for those not playing as they get to spend time with their families, eating good and things, and watching their coworkers grind it out on the field!

John: Good point. So, last words, team—What y’all got?

Patrick: Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. I hope everyone gets some good eating— shoot, just some eating—and we get a Bears victory.

Donald: I like the sound of that.

Russ: On the bandwagon. Also, everybody be easy and stay on top of your health this season. Some good eating out here and excitement with the games, but, remember, family and health is the most important thing we have.

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