The Detroit Lions Quarterback: Who's Under Center Now, and What's the Plan for 2025?
Okay, so Jared Goff is talking about "embracing" the Thanksgiving tradition now? Give me a break. After years of Lions fans suffering through holiday football humiliation, suddenly he "enjoys" it? I'm calling BS.
The "Tradition" Trap
Let's be real: Thanksgiving football in Detroit is less about tradition and more about the NFL exploiting a captive audience. Families are trapped inside, stuffed with carbs, and looking for something to distract them from their relatives' political rants. Enter the Lions, perpetually mediocre, providing a convenient, if often painful, distraction.
Goff says he's been part of it for five years and that "being able to get our first win in it last year was awesome." Awesome? It was against the Bears. And it only took, what, seven years of misery? He's acting like they won the Super Bowl. And ofcourse, he had to mention "taking that bite of the turkey." Gag me with a wishbone.
Is Goff really "getting it," or is he just saying what he thinks we want to hear? The Lions are 7-4 this season, which, in the grand scheme of things, isn't terrible. But in the NFC North, that's barely treading water. The Bears, of all teams, are leading the division, and the Packers are right there too.
The Green Bay Gauntlet
Speaking of the Packers, they're the opponent this Thanksgiving. And Goff's talking about how "We're a different team. They're a different team." Yeah, okay. Everyone says that. It's coach-speak 101. What else is he supposed to say? "We're the same old Lions, destined to choke in primetime"?
The article notes that the Lions lost to the Packers 27-13 in Week 1. A crushing loss, they call it. And now they're supposed to be different? I'll believe it when I see it.
And what about Jordan Love? The guy's been on fire lately, leading the Packers to two straight wins. Can Goff keep up? Can the Lions' defense actually stop anyone? These are the questions that keep me up at night. Well, these and the existential dread of late-stage capitalism, but I digress.
Beyond the Gridiron: A Family's Perspective
It's not all football and cynicism, I guess. The article about the Peete family and their experiences with autism is legitimately heartwarming. Rodney Peete, former Lions and Cowboys QB, talking about his son RJ and their journey... it's a reminder that there's more to life than wins and losses. See A familiar Dodgers face, an actress and an ex-NFL QB: Thanksgiving with the Peetes.
Holly Robinson Peete's quote about "never let anybody put limitations on your child’s development" is powerful stuff. It makes you think about the bigger picture, about what really matters. And then you remember that the Lions are still gonna find a way to break your heart on Thanksgiving, and it all comes crashing back down.
But wait, are we really supposed to be inspired by a celebrity family's PR-friendly Thanksgiving story while the average fan is just trying to survive the holidays with their sanity intact? I'm not buying it. It feels like a cynical attempt to inject some manufactured "feel-good" into a day that's often filled with stress and disappointment. Then again, maybe I'm the crazy one here.
So, What's the Real Story?
Look, I'm not saying Goff is a bad guy. I'm just saying I'm tired of the same old song and dance. Year after year, we get the same empty promises, the same manufactured hype, and the same inevitable letdown. This Thanksgiving, I'll be watching the game, sure, but I'll be doing it with a healthy dose of skepticism. And a bottle of whiskey. Because let's be honest, that's the only way to get through another Lions Thanksgiving.