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Memorable Thanksgiving Games
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to get together with friends and family to reflect and give thanks for our many blessings. On Thanksgiving Day, NFL football has become as big of a tradition as the turkey and pumpkin pie. If your Thanksgiving celebrations are anything like mine, most of the football fans head right to the television after a delicious meal.
This year’s NFL Schedule:
Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions 12:30 PM Fox
Miami Dolphins at Dallas Cowboys 4:15 PM CBS
San Francisco 49ers at Baltimore Ravens 8:20 PM NFL Network
Game Plan for Life would like to point some of the more memorable games in the NFL from the past 35 years. Feel free to tell us about some of your most memorable games.
November 25, 2010 – Saints 30, Cowboys 27
Just last year the defending Super Bowl champs jumped out to an early 17-0 lead on the Cowboys. The Cowboys, led by back-up QB Jon Kitna, rallied after a second half reverse to receiver, Miles Austin, for a 60-yard touchdown. The Saints offense continued to stall after that explosive first quarter until late in the fourth. The Cowboys had the ball with 4:24 remaining in the game when Kitna throws a short pass to Dallas receiver, Roy Williams, which he takes 47 yards down the field to the 11-yard line where he is caught and then stripped of the ball. With 3:03 remaining in the game and the Cowboys leading 27-23, Saints quarterback, Drew Brees, hits Marques Colston on a 22-yard pass. Then, on 3rd and 10 Brees fires a pass to Robert Meachem down the right sideline for 55 yards. After the 2 minute warning Brees finds Lance Moore for a 12-yard touchdown to take the lead 30-27. The Cowboys get one last shot but the 59-yard field goal attempt by kicker David Buehler falls short.
November 24, 2005 – Broncos 24, Cowboys 21 (OT)
This matchup featured the 7-3 Cowboys against the 8-2 Broncos. The two teams stayed close the entire game with neither team leading by more than 7 points. Denver scored first when Champ Bailey intercepted a pass by Drew Bledsoe and returned the ball 65 yards for the touchdown. Dallas then answered with a touchdown pass from Bledsoe to Keyshawn Johnson. In the second quarter, Jake Plummer found Rod Smith for a 20-yard touchdown pass and a 14-7 Bronco lead. Again, Dallas evened the score on 4th and 1 from the 1 yard line on a QB sneak by Bledsoe. In the 3rd quarter Ron Dayne ran it in from 16 yards out to put Denver on top again 21-14. Jason Witten tied the game 21-21, which sent the game into overtime. On the second play in overtime Ron Dayne set-up the game winning field goal with a 55-yard rumble down to the Cowboys 6-yard line. From there Jason Elam kicked a 24-yard field goal to win it. Ron Dayne finished the game with 7 carries for 98 yards and a touchdown.
November 26, 1998 – Vikings 46, Cowboys 36
Then rookie and future Hall of Famer, Randy Moss, showed the nation his talents with a rejuvenated Randall Cunningham at quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. Moss caught 3 passes in the game, all for touchdowns of 51, 56 and 56 yards. Cunningham, who was known for his scrambling ability, finished the game with a 359-yard, 4 TDs and 1 interception performance. The Vikings would end up 15-1 in the regular season before losing a disappointing game in overtime to the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC title game. If you like a passing game this was the one to watch. Dallas quarterback, Troy Aikman, passed for 455 yards to go along with the air attack the Vikings displayed.
November 27, 1980 – Bears 23, Lions 17 (OT)
This was a game of a great comeback by the Chicago Bears. Down 17-3 going into the 4th quarter, the Bears start a comeback with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Vince Evans to Bob Fisher. Later in the game, Evans would score on a touchdown run from 4 yards out to force overtime. In overtime, kick returner Dave Williams took it to the house with a 95-yard kick-off return to give the Bears a thrilling victory. This is one of only two kick-offs in NFL history that have ever been returned for a touchdown in overtime.
November 25, 1976 – Lions 27, Bills14
Even though the Bills lost the game their running back, O.J. Simpson, set then the NFL record for rushing yards in a game with 273. Most people would question how a team could lose when a running back rushes for that many yards, but Bills quarterback, Gary Marangi, was just 4 of 21 for 29 yards and 1 interception. Lion’s rookie receiver David Hill led the way for Detroit with 2 touchdowns.
November 27, 1986 – Packers 44, Lions 40
In the highest scoring Thanksgiving Day game in NFL history, the Packers overcame a 10-point deficit in the 4th quarter. Walter Stanley, wide receiver for the Packer, had quite a day with 207 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns. The biggest was an 83-yard punt return for a touchdown in the final minute of the game to take the lead.
November 24, 1994 – Cowboys 42, Packers31
“The Jason Garrett Game” – After injuries to Troy Aikman and Rodney Peete the Cowboys turned to third-string quarterback and now current head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Jason Garrett. For the Packers, Sterling Sharpe had 4 touchdown receptions, but the day belonged to the Cowboys as they scored 36 second-half points led by Jason Garrett and his 311 yards and 3-touchdown performance. The Cowboys completed the comeback with a 42-31 win. It is still hard to believe that a third-string quarterback was able to put up those kind of numbers during an NFL game of this stature.
November 26, 1998 – Lions 19, Steelers 16 (OT)
“The coin flip game” – Call it in the air, that’s how it was done – Heads or Tails. After this game was when the rule was changed and players had to call the toss before the official even flips the coin. Jerome Bettis called the toss and the referee heard one thing and the Steeler players claim that he said the opposite. The referee awarded the ball to the Lions, who subsequently marched down the field on that critical overtime drive, and kicked a field goal to win the game. Because of the extensive media coverage, the league changed the way the coin flip was done to the current format that we have today. This was a great game that gets overshadowed by the controversy of the coin flip, but when a rule is changed that part overshadows the games outcome.
November 27, 1997 – Lions 55, Bears 20
Barry Sanders, arguably one of the greatest running backs of all time, was a dynamic player that was exciting to watch his entire NFL career. During this particular game Barry ran for 167 yards and 3 touchdowns. The most significant milestone happened when he passed Eric Dickerson to climb to number 2 (at that time) on the all-time rushing list. Currently, Barry is third on the all-time rushing list behind Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton.
Barry Sanders 1989 – 1998
The last memorable moment would have to be a collection of games where Barry Sanders starred. In Sanders 10-year career, he was 7-3 in Thanksgiving Day games. He rushed for 931 yards, 7 touchdowns and 1 receiving touchdown. Barry made those 10 Thanksgiving’s exciting because there is no player in NFL history that electrified the crowd every time he touched the ball like Sanders.
Nov. 23, 1989 – vs. Browns (W, 13-10) – 28 carries for 145 yards
Nov. 22, 1990 – vs. Broncos (W, 40-27) – 23 carries for 147 yards, 1 TD; also had 1 TD catch
Nov. 28, 1991 – vs. Bears (W, 16-6) – 19 carries for 62 yards
Nov. 26, 1992 – vs. Oilers (L, 21-24) – 22 carries for 54 yards
Nov. 25, 1993 – vs. Bears (L, 6-10) – 16 for 63 yards
Nov. 24, 1994 – vs. Bills (W, 35-21) – 19 carries for 45 yards and 1 TD
Nov. 23, 1995 – vs. Vikings (W, 44-38) – 24 carries for 138 yards, 1 TD
Nov. 28, 1996 – vs. Chiefs (L, 24-28) – 20 carries for 77 yards, 1 TD
Nov. 27, 1997 – vs. Bears (W, 55-20) – 19 carries for 167 yards, 3 TDs
Nov. 26, 1998 – vs. Steelers (W, 19-16, OT) – 20 carries for 33 yards
I have been a Cowboys fan from ’73. I one of the most memorable Thanskgiing for me is the Cowboys-Redskins game from 1974. Clint Longley replacing an injuried Roger Staubach. At that point, I believe Washington had a 23-10 advantage. In a blink of an eye, Cowboys won 24-23 behind long TD’s to Drew Pearson. Was a great game, and what great football was all aout.
I REMEMBER THAT REDSKIN / COWBOY GAME. I SURE WAS MAD.