Column: NFL should change Thanksgiving

We turned on the television early — the Jets game being the late game at 8:20 — to be pleasantly surprised that the Detroit Lions (2-9) were putting up a fight against the New England Patriots (9-2) in the Lions’ annual Thanksgiving Day home game.

The Lions were actually winning at halftime by a score of 17-10, and the Bill Belichick haters of the world were rejoicing (me being one of them).

The Lions’ lead did not last long, of course, and the Lions eventually lost to the Patriots 45-24. I watched in agony as Deion Branch lit up the Lions for 113 yards and two touchdowns, the whole time regretting starting Vincent Jackson over him in my fantasy lineup.

I wish I could say someone on the Lions had helped them to victory, but no one has been able to say that on Thanksgiving Day since 2003, when the Lions beat the Packers 22-14. Since that game, the Lions have lost every game on Thanksgiving, which explains my surprise that the Lions were putting up a fight this year.

The Lions’ overall record for their Thanksgiving games is 33-36-2, a mediocre record for a tradition going back to 1934.

Both the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys host a game every year on Thanksgiving, and they have done so for many years; however, the teams do not generate interest in their Thanksgiving games every year.

By giving the Lions and the Cowboys a game every year on Thanksgiving, the NFL wastes the potential for a great day of football with an audience that is already home for the holiday.

On Christmas Day, the NBA gifts exciting games to its fans through premier matchups of top teams.

This year, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James will go head to head at the Staples Center, a much-anticipated matchup after LeBron’s “decision” to team up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami this summer.

In years past, the NBA has showcased other anticipated games such as Shaq vs. Kobe or Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics. Fans looks forward to these nationally televised games and use their holiday vacation time to tune in.

The NFL is perfectly capable of scheduling matchups between teams that would generate interest either because of playoff implications or storylines surrounding the game.

Good examples of games that could affect the playoffs are Patriots vs. Jets or Indianapolis Colts vs. New Orleans Saints. Games that have interesting storylines around them are Washington Redskins vs. Philadelphia Eagles or San Diego Chargers vs. Jets.

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Donovan McNabb was traded to the Redskins over the offseason after a long tenure with the Eagles to be replaced at quarterback by Kevin Kolb (who was subsequently replaced by Michael Vick). LaDainian Tomlinson left the Chargers over the offseason to play with the Jets after a great career of running the football in San Diego.

My desire to see other teams play on Thanksgiving is not a shot at either the Lions or the Cowboys as franchises; I just want to be able to watch interesting football on Turkey Day.

When the Lions or Cowboys get their respective programs together and look like either has a good chance to make the playoffs, I would have no problem with the NFL scheduling either team for a Thanksgiving Day game.

Until then, I ask that the NFL gives us games with a little more substance to go with the turkey dinner. If the NFL gave us games between playoff-bound teams that might determine home-field advantage in the playoffs, that would be something I could really be thankful for.