Excessive penalties, Bill Belichick’s dismissive press conferences, and the Detroit Lions shattering your heart on Thanksgiving are all things fans have learned to anticipate in the current NFL.
After nearly escaping a heartbreaking home loss to the Chicago Bears last Sunday, Detroit was defeated 29-22 by the Green Bay Packers on Thursday at Ford Field. According to Bleacher Report, it was the team’s seventh consecutive Thanksgiving loss, bringing its overall Turkey Day record to 37-44-2 (6-17 in the twenty-first century).
Fans did their part to celebrate, nay, curse, this institution. “There’s nothing more powerful on this earth than the Detroit Lions Thanksgiving curse,” Talkin’ Hawks wrote on X.
Ending the holiday drought would have been a fitting change of pace for this traditionally troubled team in a year when they are off to a great start. Unfortunately, their devoted and patient fans were once again served a large slice of humble pie.
In the second half versus Green Bay, head coach Dan Campbell’s typical aggressiveness failed spectacularly. On fourth-and-4 from his own 23-yard line, he chose to go for it. His deception–a direct snap to linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin–did not fool the Packers as well as it did the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs in the season opener.
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Three plays later, Jordan Love connected with Christian Watson for a game-changing touchdown, giving his team a 29-14 lead at the end of the third quarter. Campbell and Detroit were never the same after that.
So the curse of Thanksgiving Day continues. The Lions (8-3) will try to redeem themselves next season, but they must get back on track right soon. If not, a miserable Christmas will be the least of their worries.
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