Thanksgiving Day is an important holiday in the United States and it is not complete without the Detroit Lions playing football. Since 1934, the Lions have been playing on Thanksgiving and it has become a tradition for many families to gather around the television to watch them play. In this article, we will take a look back at the Detroit Lions Thanksgiving games record and relive some of their most memorable moments.
The Early Years
The Detroit Lions played their first Thanksgiving Day game in 1934. They were still known as the Portsmouth Spartans at the time and they played against the Chicago Bears. It was a close game, but the Bears ended up winning 19-16. The Lions did not play on Thanksgiving in 1935, but they have played every year since then. In the early years, the Lions did not have much success on Thanksgiving. They lost their first four games and did not win their first Thanksgiving game until 1945.
The 1950s
The 1950s were a great decade for the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day. They won six out of ten games during the decade and had some memorable moments. In 1952, the Lions played against the Green Bay Packers and won 52-35. This game is still the highest-scoring game in Thanksgiving Day history. The Lions also had two shutouts during the decade, one in 1953 against the Packers and one in 1959 against the Baltimore Colts.
The 1960s and 1970s
The Detroit Lions did not have much success during the 1960s and 1970s. They only won three Thanksgiving Day games during the two decades and had several losing seasons. However, they did have some memorable moments. In 1962, the Lions played against the Packers and won 26-14. This game was memorable because it was the first game played at Tiger Stadium, which was the Lions' home field at the time. The 1970s were also memorable because of the Thanksgiving Day game in 1976. The Lions played against the Kansas City Chiefs and the game ended in a 16-16 tie. This was the first tie game on Thanksgiving Day.
The Barry Sanders Era
The 1980s and 1990s were the Barry Sanders era for the Detroit Lions. Sanders was one of the greatest running backs in NFL history and he had some amazing performances on Thanksgiving Day. In 1997, the Lions played against the Chicago Bears and Sanders had a 40-yard touchdown run that is still talked about today. The Lions won the game 55-20. Sanders also had a 167-yard rushing performance in 1994 against the Minnesota Vikings. The Lions won that game 13-10.
The 2000s and Beyond
The Detroit Lions have had some success on Thanksgiving Day in the 2000s and beyond. They have won seven games since 2000 and have had some memorable moments. In 2012, the Lions played against the Houston Texans and won 34-31 in overtime. This game was memorable because of the amazing performance by Lions' wide receiver Calvin Johnson. He had 188 receiving yards and two touchdowns. The Lions also had a memorable game in 2013 against the Green Bay Packers. They won the game 40-10 and it was the first time since 2003 that the Lions had beaten the Packers.
Conclusion
The Detroit Lions Thanksgiving games record is filled with memorable moments and performances. From the early years to the Barry Sanders era to the present day, the Lions have given their fans plenty to cheer about on Thanksgiving Day. Whether they win or lose, the Lions will always be a part of Thanksgiving tradition in the United States.
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