Ah,Thanksgiving—a time for turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie and…pigskin? Indeed, football has become part of the Thanksgiving tradition in America, with NFL games often taking a central role in family gatherings. In the timeline of Thanksgiving celebrations, NFL football is a relative newcomer to the party; the first time the two joined forces was in 1920, when the Canton Bulldogs fell to the Akron Pros in an Ohio grudge match. Turkey Day is one of the few times that NFL match-ups migrate from Sunday to Thursday, so it's definitely a big deal.
And while most of the memories created on Thanksgiving are those of friends and family, the prominence of NFL games on this holiday has helped football become infused with the festivities. Through the years, there have been countless thrilling games on Thanksgiving, but a recent one—the 2010 contest between the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints was among the most memorable.
The game was played in the heart of Texas, but thanks to a new HD television, the game was in the center of my living room as the turkey hit the table. The game looked to be a complete blowout, as Drew Brees and the Saints came marching in with a 17-point lead after just three possessions. The Cowboys barely managed to get on the board through the first two quarters, and the game still seemed a sure thing at halftime with the Saints in command, 20 to 3.
However, the gravy train came to a halt in the second half, and by the end of the third quarter, Dallas was down just 23 to 20. At this point, the game had become so exciting that even the delicious spread on the table became an afterthought. The Cowboys then looked upset-bound by pulling ahead, 27 to 23 in the fourth quarter. Apparently eager to earn their turkey, the Saints defense came up with a fumble recovery the next time the Cowboys entered the red zone.
With more than 80 yards to go, Brees sliced and diced the Dallas defense not unlike fresh cooked turkey and led his team down the field to go ahead 30 to 27 with the final scoring drive of the game. Even the homemade pumpkin pie I got to enjoy that Thanksgiving could not have tasted as sweet as this victory; New Orleans won its Thanksgiving debut thanks to Brees' 352 yards passing. But both teams worked up a feast-worthy appetite, as Cowboys QB John Kitna threw for 313.
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