The NFL Thanksgiving Classic

The Insider: Why Detroit, Dallas get Turkey day benefit

Wikipedia: Thanksgiving Classic

Comment: If you are a fan of the NFL, these are interesting reads. Because we have family that lives in Dallas (actually Arlington), the Dallas game is always an interest to us. And because I went to seminary in Michigan; for several desperate, disappointing years (desparate and disappointing only about football!), we were Detroit Lions fans. Kathee and I went to the Thanksgiving classic in Detroit (the Pontiac Superdome) in 1979 (the Lions upset the Bears 20-0).

NFL scores - 1979 (PDF)

Lions 1979 details

Nov. 22, 1979 - The Lions shocked Chicago and a national television audience on Thanksgiving Day, blanking the playoff-bound Bears, 20-0. Jeff Komlo highlighted the day for Detroit, shaking off three interceptions and passing for 244 yards and one TD. Rick Kane picked up 67 yards and plowed over from one-yard out for a TD. Detroit held Walter Payton to 54 yards and Al "Bubba" Baker picked up four of the club's five sacks. The shutout was Detroit's first in 40 Turkey Day appearances and stuck Chicago with its only loss in the season's last eight weeks.