Every Thanksgiving, my house feels like it runs on two things, the smell of food that is never actually ready and always getting delayed and whatever football game is on the TV.
My family has this routine we never question. We all show up hungry, thinking the turkey will be done soon, and then we find out it has “another hour.” So while we wait, someone opens a bag of chips, someone else brings out a random plate of appetizers, and before we know it, we have basically eaten a whole meal before the real meal. It always happens, and none of us learn.
Out of all the games this year, the one I am watching for sure is Green Bay Packers vs Detroit Lions. The other matchups are good, like Chiefs vs Cowboys or Bengals vs Ravens, but Packers and Lions just fits Thanksgiving better. The Lions have been playing on Thanksgiving since the 1930s, so the game already feels tied to the holiday. Even people who are not Lions fans still know that Thanksgiving starts with Detroit on the screen. There is something about that tradition that feels right.
Packers and Lions games are usually unpredictable too. It does not matter who has the better record or who is supposed to win. Both teams play like they want bragging rights for the whole year. That makes it the perfect background for the chaos in my living room. Someone is arguing over a call, someone is trying to guard the chips, and someone else is pretending they are not full even though they have been snacking for two straight hours.
Watching this game on Thanksgiving feels less like a choice and more like something my family naturally does together. It fits the day, helps the time pass, and gives us something to focus on while we wait for a meal that always takes way longer than anyone expects.
