NFL, It's Time for a Change To the Thanksgiving Day Format

This weekend, we get treated to three games on this wonderful feast day known as Thanksgiving.

First, the 2-8 Detroit Lions will host the 8-2 New England Patriots (12:30pm EST on CBS) to start off the day.

That's followed by the 3-7 Dallas Cowboys hosting the 7-3 New Orleans Saints (4:15pm EST on FOX), then wrapping it up with the Cardiac Kids, the 8-2 New York Jets, playing host to the lowly 2-8, just-blew-a-31-14-lead-to-the-Buffalo-Bills-at-home Cincinnati Bengals (8:20pm EST on NFL Network.)

Can you say boring?

Sure you could trot out all the reasons why these games might be exciting, like the fact that the Jets and Patriots meet in Foxborough next week and Belichick will pull his usual "don't show too much, treat it like a pre-season game" routine to keep it close against a Lions squad that so far is 7-3 vs. the spread.

The other reason it could be exciting is because the Cowboys seemed to have found their swagger and usually do get up for Thanksgiving Day games, or the fact that the Jets always seem to have to make a comeback late in the game.

But more likely than not, the Patriots will play a boring, efficient, yet dominating game over Detroit, New Orleans will pull it out against the Cowboys and the Bengals-Jets game will actually just be a Bengals meltdown, meaning Friday's NCAA football slate (especially Auburn vs. Alabama) will be much more intriguing. 

It would be more of an annoyance than anything except for the fact that this seems to happen every year.

Yes no one would predict that the Cowboys would be 3-7 and the Bengals and Jets were both playoff teams last year; however, the Lions haven't been good in a long time. They even went into their Thanksgiving game two years ago against Tennessee winless on their way to the anti-perfect 0-16 season, yet they still get at least one semi-prime-time home game every year based off of "tradition."

Well, it's time to break the tradition. It's time to fix Thanksgiving Day football. It's time to shake things up, that way when we fall asleep on Thanksgiving it will be solely because of the tryptophan in the turkey and not because of boring football games.

Rotate These Games

Now I know I'll sound like the national media, however, the Dallas Cowboys will get a free pass here because this season feels more like an aberration than the reality.  Next season, the Cowboys will have a new head coach, Romo will be back and they'll be helped out by a top-15 draft pick.

It's safe to say they'll compete in the NFC East once more.

However, if they have another season like this one, then they'll have their Thanksgiving privileges revoked.

As for the Lions, it's time for them to take a Thanksgiving Day break. From now on the key is rotating the games.

Instead, the teams that will play on Thanksgiving will be determined much like the Monday Night Football and Sunday Night Football schedule is determined: How they did the season before as well as what their national draw is.

The formula will then go NFC-NFC; NFC-AFC; AFC-AFC. No more of this an NFC team in every game stuff... especially since, for the last decade, the AFC has been the stronger and more compelling conference.

With that formula in place, while I won't touch this year's schedule, I'll plan ahead to next season based off of the current schedule formula.

First off, the 1pm EST game.

Instead of the Lions hosting it, I'd make it between the Bears and Packers, who are both fighting for first place in the NFC North. I have a hunch that those two teams will be fighting for the division next season as well.

Then for the 4:15pm game, a traditional Thanksgiving day game matchup: Miami Dolphins vs. Dallas Cowboys.

I know neither of those teams are good this year; however, both should be improved next year. The Cowboys will have the benefit of getting Romo back, along with a real head coach and a top-15 draft pick to go with the talent that they have, while the Dolphins will get many of those things sans Romo, or at the very least a new offensive coordinator.

(Quick Tangent: If that does happen, Leon Lett does the coin toss.)

Then for prime time, I'll go with two teams playing this Thanksgiving: The New England Patriots at the New York Jets.

Give me a reason why these two teams won't be in the thick of it again next season? If anything, that should be the prime-time game this season.

Use Flex Scheduling

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CINCINNATI - JANUARY 9: Quarterback Carson Palmer #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals walks off the field after being defeated by the New York Jets in the 2010 AFC wild-card playoff game at Paul Brown Stadium on January 9, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jo

First off, and this didn't deserve its own slide, but I'll mention it here, instead of NFL Network having the prime time game, give it to NBC. Done.

Now, with flex scheduling, I'm not saying take a Sunday game and move it to Thanksgiving while switching it with a Thanksgiving Day game, I mean from within the games themselves.

It wouldn't help out much this season, but with the slate I have for next season, it works out well.

Say, for instance, Miami and Dallas, who would play the 4:15pm game, improve to the point where both teams are 7-3 going into the game, while the Pats or Jets, who would originally be slated to the prime-time slot, find themselves at 4-6.

Well, you switch those games up two weeks before they're played, much like the NFL handles the Sunday Night games this week. Cowboys-Dolphins moves up to NBC, while Pats-Jets moves down to CBS.

What about if it's the early afternoon NFC game that becomes the better matchup though?

Well, Dallas is an NFC team, so if anything, you can move the Jets-Pats down to 1pm on CBS, followed by Fox getting the 4:15pm Cowboys-Dolphins, then the Bears-Packers tilt gets the night game.

A Black Friday Night Game

I know Black Friday is for college football, mainly, but why not play an NFL game on Black Friday?

For one, it gives ESPN a chance to jump into the Thanksgiving spirit.

On top of that, expect rowdier crowds than you would on Thanksgiving. Plus the matchup doesn't necessarily have to be that great—people will still watch.

Ravens-Browns in Baltimore with a Ravens "Blackout" night on Black Friday, anyone? Count me in. The Ravens will be contenders and the Browns will be better. 

Plus, this one is free to rotate amongst all teams not already playing on Thanksgiving.

Now For My Week 12 Picks

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

NEW ORLEANS - NOVEMBER 21: Quarterback Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints reacts after a first down against the Seattle Seahawks at Louisiana Superdome on November 21, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

DETROIT (+6.5) over New England

Expect the Pats to play this one very close to the vest, however, the game will be much more dominant than the score would indicate.

Patriots 23, Lions 19.

New Orleans (-3) over DALLAS

Garrett's been great in his first two games as Cowboys head coach, but with the Saints rounding into shape, expect a dominant Saints victory.

Saints 38, Cowboys 20.

Cincinnati (+9) over NEW YORK JETS

The Jets will follow the same script that has worked for them: win it late. Expect another big fantasy game from T.O.

Jets 29, Bengals 26.

BUFFALO (+6) over Pittsburgh

The Bills like to play even the best teams close. This will almost be a replica of the Bills-Ravens tilt from a few weeks ago.

Steelers 35, Bills 32.

ATLANTA (-2) over Green Bay

Falcons have a better defense than the Packers and are almost unbeatable at home. Home field advantage in the NFC will be decided here.

Falcons 28, Packers 20.

Jacksonville (+8) over NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS

Really? This line makes about as much sense as the fact that Jacksonville still can't sell out despite being in the driver's seat in the AFC South. In fact, the Jags are my sleeper AFC South pick thus far, and they might wind up finishing the year on a 5-1 clip. 

Jaguars 31, Giants 28.

Kansas City (-1) over SEATTLE

This one was tough for me considering that I'm not completely sold on the Chiefs on the road, nor am I completely sold on the Seahawks in general.  I'm going to err on the side of the team that looks better.

Chiefs 27, Seahawks 20.

CHICAGO (+3) over Philadelphia

How great has Vick been? I'm tempted to say the Eagles will take it going away, but this Bears defense could really shut them down. Plus, Tyler Thigpen did a great job trying to emulate Vick on the Bears practice squad this week.

What's that you say? Thigpen was actually playing for another team, and that Bears practice squad game was actually not a practice squad game but instead a real NFL game against the Miami Dolphins?

All kidding and bad jokes about my favorite team aside, the Bears are better than I thought they were. Now I'm not ready to crown their @$$ yet, but this game won't be as easy for Philly as one might think. 

They won't even leave with a win.

Bears 29, Eagles 24.

OAKLAND (PK) over Miami

I still don't know if Henne is going to play on Sunday. It won't matter, as the Raiders are winning this game on their way to an AFC West title.

Raiders 21, Dolphins 9.

Tampa Bay (+7.5) over BALTIMORE

Is it just me, or do the Ravens tend to play down to their competition? I think they'll still win, but underestimate the Bucs.

Ravens 31, Bucs 28.

DENVER (-4) over St. Louis

The Rams suck on the road, and my prediction that they could steal the NFC West seems to be falling apart on me, at least until I remember they're in the NFC West.

Broncos 35, Rams 20.

San Diego (+3) over INDIANAPOLIS

And the NFL's MVP gets decided then. Both quarterbacks are playing with almost nothing around them, yet both are successful. The Chargers are back in the AFC West race, plus they always play well against the Colts. Sunday Night will be no different.

Chargers 31, Colts 28.

ARIZONA (+1) over San Francisco

I don't even care about this game.

Cardinals 35, 49ers 20.

Last Week: (vs. Spread): 8-8 (10-6)

Overall (vs. Spread): 85-76 (85-73-3)