Five most memorable Thanksgiving moments

When most Americans think of Thanksgiving, a handful of thoughts flood the mind. Turkey, family, football and an afternoon nap usually lead the way, but beware of that quick siesta! You might miss one of the moments that everybody will be talking about when you wake up, and then you have a sad holiday on your hands.

Since 1934, the National Football League has been playing games on Thanksgiving, with the tradition beginning with the Detroit Lions. In 1966, the Dallas Cowboys joined the fray and gave us the tradition we revel in, with both Detroit and Dallas hosting opponents every Turkey Day. In recent years, the NFL has added a nightcap with teams rotating through the schedule.

There have been plenty of memorable moments over the years. Let’s run the best of them down:

5. Bob Griese goes wild

When most NFL fans think of the Miami Dolphins of the 1970’s, they think great defense and a killer ground game. However, on Thanksgiving Day in 1977, Griese took to the skies against the St. Louis Cardinals. In a rare holiday game hosted in St. Louis, Griese connected on six touchdown passes to lead Miami to a 55-14 upset of the Cardinals.

It is a moment that has been somewhat lost in time, with neither team being particularly great that season. Still, it was a Hall-of-Fame quarterback enjoying his finest statistical day, so it deserves a spot on this list.

4. Randy Moss clowns Cowboys

Moss was bypassed by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1998 NFL Draft, a fact he wanted to make Dallas regret in his rookie season. When the Minnesota Vikings met the Cowboys on Thanksgiving, Moss did exactly that. The lanky receiver out of Marshall University tore up Dallas on only three receptions, going for 163 yards and a trio of touchdowns.

Minnesota was virtually unstoppable that season, going 15-1 and reaching the NFC Championship Game. For Moss, the game signaled a coming-out party to a nation which had been skeptical of his draft stock after some missteps off the field in college.

3. O.J. runs all over the Lions

Unfortunately, the name O.J. Simpson is no longer thought about in football terms. However, Simpson was a terrific running back for both USC and the Buffalo Bills, earning a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In 1976, the putrid Bills went to the Silverdome and lost to the Lions, but not before Simpson set an all-time mark for rushing yards in a game.

Despite losing 27-14, Simpson rushed for 273 yards, a mark which was broken by Walter Payton the following season.

2. Clint Longley beats the Redskins

Longley was a nobody backup quarterback for the Cowboys between 1974-75, that is until Thanksgiving of his rookie season. After Washington knocked Roger Staubach out with an injury, Longley came into the fray and staged a famous comeback, culminating with a 50-yard touchdown pass to Drew Pearson.

The fame would be fleeting for Longley, who was out of Dallas after sucker-punching Staubach during training camp in 1976. Still, Longley will always have that one shining moment on the national stage.

1. Leon Lett forgets how to play football

Lett won a pair of Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys in the early 1990’s, but he will always be remembered for his fiasco in 1993 on Thanksgiving against the Dolphins. The game was oddly played in a Texas snowstorm and came down to a Pete Stoyanovich field-goal attempt with the Cowboys leading 14-13. The kick was blocked, and by NFL rules the ball would be considered dead if Dallas did not touch it.

Lett was unaware of the rule and attempted to recover the ball, but fumbled it. The Dolphins recovered and had another opportunity to win the game, this time connecting for the clincher.

About Matt Verderame

Matt Verderame, 26, is a New Yorker who went to school at the frozen tundra of SUNY Oswego. After graduating, Verderame has worked for Gannett and SB Nation among other ventures.

Quantcast