They get blasted by Tennessee 47-10, and even Detroit sports writers urge the NFL to take the annual Thanksgiving Day game away from Detroit:
"Enough already. The NFL should take away the Thanksgiving Day game from the Lions. And next season wouldn't be too soon. Exhibit A would simply be the Lions' embarrassing 47-10 loss to the Tennessee Titans at Ford Field on Thursday. If that's not enough to break the long-standing tradition, which started in 1934, you can add in the four previous games on this holiday in which the Lions lost by an average of 20 points. Either way, America no longer should be subjected to this burnt cornbread each year."
I disagree, though. The Lions started this tradition of a Thanksgiving Day pro football game, way back in 1934. Without the Lions' franchise coming up with it, such a tradition might not exist. The Lions started it. They should be able to keep it, and thus retain their one shot at being on national TV each year. It's only one national TV slot; there are hundreds more throughout the year, snapped up by all the good teams. The Lions don't dominate Thanksgiving; there are two other games on the docket now as well.
Let the Lions keep their game. The team will improve, eventually, some day, maybe...
