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Classic NFL Thanksgiving Contests

By Andrew Hammond

Nov 28, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker (9) and wide receiver Jacoby Jones (12) are interviewed by NBC personality Michele Tafoya (center) after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 22-20 during a NFL football game on Thanksgiving at M
Nov 28, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker (9) and wide receiver Jacoby Jones (12) are interviewed by NBC personality Michele Tafoya (center) after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 22-20 during a NFL football game on Thanksgiving at M /
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Turkey, Stuffing, Pumpkin Pie, Pat Summerall, Jim Nantz, cranberry sauce and John Madden. The NFL and Thanksgiving Day are a beautiful marriage. 

By this time next Thursday, we will all stuffing our faces and watching the NFL on Thanksgiving Day. The NFL on Thanksgiving is one of the great sporting holidays on the calendar and the league  has produced some of it’s greatest acts on Thanksgiving. We’ve seen the improbable happen along with breakout games from NFL legends and then some stuff that is flat-out weird. Before we get to the classics, here’s the 2016 Thanksgiving Day slate.

  • Minnesota at Detroit (12:30 EST/CBS)
  • Washington at Dallas (4:30 EST/FOX)
  • Pittsburgh at Indianapolis (8:30 EST/NBC)

Now we go back to the past and take a look back at classic games that your father and grandfather remember fondly – or not so fondly – depending on their favorite team.

(1974) Redskins at Cowboys – Clint comes off the bench

The Dallas Cowboys were struggling with the rival Washington Redskins, down 16-3, when quarterback Roger Staubach went down with an injury. In stepped little-known Clint Longley. Then came one of the greatest comebacks in NFL history. Two long touchdown strikes including one to Drew Pearson in the fourth quarter gave Dallas a 24-23 victory over the Redskins. I see that Washington is in Dallas this Thanksgiving Day. Maybe we’ll see another Cowboys quarterback come off the bench and lead a comeback.

(1980) Bears at Lions – Dave Williams walk-off 

It’s rare to see the Lions win a game on Thanksgiving. Hell, you can make the case that it’s rare to see them win a game. Anyway, in 1980 the Lions and Bears became the first two teams to play an overtime on Thanksgiving. It was a quick extra session as Bears running back Dave Williams returned the kickoff 95 yards to win the ballgame. Of all the Lions ways to lose a game, that has to be the most classic way.

(1993) Dolphins at Cowboys – Leon Lett screws up in the snow

In a once-in-a-lifetime moment and a once-in-a-lifetime game, Leon Lett decided to top his infamous Super Bowl moment against the Bills at a much more dramatic moment in the game. In a snow-packed Texas Stadium, the Miami Dolphins were looking to finish off the Cowboys with a game-winning field goal.

The Cowboys ended up blocking the kick and the ball slid forward at the same time. The clock was ticking down and with just a few seconds remaining, Leon touched the ball, giving Miami a second chance. The Dolphins cashed in on that chance and ended up winning the ballgame, reestablishing Lett as the king of the blunder.

(1998) Steelers at Lions – Coin toss screws the Steelers 

A garden-variety Thanksgiving Day game between the Steelers and Lions became much more known for a screwed up coin toss by the officials to start overtime. Pittsburgh running back Jerome Bettis had appeared to call heads then tails as the coin was still in the air. The official awarded Detroit the ball and the Lions kicked a field goal to win the ballgame.

While the game was less than memorable for what happened on the field, it was a game-changing moment for the NFL as now the visiting team has to call their side of the coin before the toss is made. Jerome Bettis, an NFL pioneer in more ways than one.

(1998) Vikings at Cowboys – America, meet Randy Moss

If there was a perfect setting for a breakout on Thanksgiving Day, it was in Texas Stadium against “America’s Team” as Randy Moss scored three touchdowns in a 46-36 win for the Minnesota Vikings. All three of the Moss touchdowns were over 50 yards and the term “Moss’d” became apart of the lexicon that’s now used in Madden and two-hand touch games that occur every Thanksgiving after dinner. Or, if you’re a real savage you play before dinner as well.

(2012) Patriots at Jets – The Butt Fumble

In one moment, Mark Sanchez became an infamous joke and the definition of the New York Jets futility in the last 15-20 seasons. In a Thanksgiving night game against the Patriots, Sanchez took the snap from under center and attempted to escape the New England rush until he was stopped, by his own teammates butt.

Yep, Sanchez crashed into his own teammates butt, fumbling the ball and the Patriots added to the hilarity by returning the fumble for a touchdown. Sanchez has never shaken the moment and will probably have to deal with it for the rest of his life, Thanksgivings must suck around the Sanchez household.

Have any more Thanksgiving memories? Leave them in the comments below and share them on social media.

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