GREEN BAY PACKERS at DETROIT LIONS (FOX, 12:30 PM ET): These two NFC North rivals will meet on Thanksgiving for the 19th time. The Lions, who will host their 70th Thanksgiving Day Classic, have an 11-6-1 record on the holiday against the Packers. Green Bay is coming off a 30-24 win over San Francisco, led by QB Aaron Rodgers’ 344 yards passing and two touchdowns. The Lions pulled off a stunning comeback victory over Cleveland as QB Matthew Stafford passed for 422 yards – the most ever by a rookie – and five touchdowns – tied for the most in NFL history by a rookie (Ray Buivid, 1937, Chicago Bears).

OAKLAND RAIDERS at DALLAS COWBOYS (CBS, 4:15 PM ET): The Cowboys will host their first Thanksgiving Day game at Cowboys Stadium when the team welcomes the Oakland Raiders to town. Dallas, who defeated Washington last week, has a 26-14-1 record on the holiday and QB Tony Romo has a perfect 3-0 mark on Thanksgiving. The Raiders will make their sixth appearance on the holiday and first since 1970 when the team played at Detroit. Last week, Oakland scored 10 points in the final 33 seconds to defeat Cincinnati, only the second time in club history the Raiders have scored two times in the final minute of the fourth quarter for a comeback win (November 17, 1968 vs. NY Jets, the “Heidi Game”).

NEW YORK GIANTS at DENVER BRONCOS (NFLN, 8:20 PM ET): Denver will host a Thanksgiving game for the first time since 1963 when the Broncos face the Giants in a primetime battle of two 6-4 clubs. New York will make its first appearance on the holiday since 1992 and 15th overall dating back to the Giants’ 17-0 win over the Brooklyn Lions in 1926. New York is coming off a 34-31 overtime win over Atlanta, highlighted by QB Eli Manning’s career-high 384 passing yards. The Broncos, who will play their 11th Thanksgiving Day game, will look to rebound from a 32-3 loss to San Diego.

Source: NFL Media

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Thanksgiving Day NFL Games

Detroit Lions End Losing Streak / Photo: Newscom

Following the game, a relieved Lions head coach Jim Schwartz said:

“Our guys were carrying the burden of 0-19, and it was unfair to them. But this gets us off of that and puts it behind us.”

Rookie starting quarterback Matthew Stafford didn’t exactly tear up the league during the team’s 0-2 start this season, but he is developing some chemistry with receivers Calvin and Bryant Johnson, as was evident in today’s win. Johnson and Johnson (not related) combined to catch nine of Matt’s 21 completions for 122 yards and a touchdown. I’m not going to go way out on a limb and predict the Lions are headed to the playoffs. But as long as the team continues to improve and as long as they learn how to win close games like this one, losing streaks will be a distant memory for an organization trying to change a culture of defeat.

Source: DetroitLions.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Detroit Lions End Losing Streak

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints / Image: Zuma Press

Source: NewOrleansSaints.com

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Drew Brees Explodes on Detroit Lions

Dennis Northcutt traded to Detroit Lions / Image: Zuma Press

The Lions get a smart, veteran receiver who actually led the Jags in catches last season with 44 (for 545 yards). Dennis will provide depth at the receiver position and he’ll be a reliable target (who knows his way around opposing defenses) for either Daunte Culpepper or Matthew Stafford.

Source: ESPN.com

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Dennis Northcutt Traded to Detroit Lions

Matthew Stafford and Daunte Culpepper, Detroit Lions / Image: Zuma Press

Obviously, the two players’ on-field performances will be the determining factor in who wins the starting spot. But with a contract that includes $41.7 million in guaranteed money, you can be sure Matthew won’t be on the bench for too long. I guess you could say the handwriting is on the check.

One thing is for sure. Lions owner William Clay Ford won’t be the one calling the shots when it comes to any potential quarterback controversy. Mr. Ford acknowledged he has the right people for that job:

“I do not, contrary to public opinion, interfere with the football side of it. I mean, if so-and-so plays lousy, I’ll say ‘I think he’s a bum.’ But, no, I’ve never said, ‘Play this guy or that guy’ or “Don’t play him.’ No, these guys know more about the game than I do by 10 miles. I’m not going to try to second-guess them. Now, if it goes wrong, we’ll talk about it.”

Source: MLive.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Daunte Culpepper or Matthew Stafford?

Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions / Photo: Newscom

Matthew seemed to embrace the pressure that comes with that kind of investment:

“I was extremely surprised, you know, I didn’t know any of the numbers going in. I didn’t know what he (agent Tom Condon) was negotiating off of or anything. I just thank the Ford family for trusting me that much and putting their name out on the line for me because, you know, that’s a lot of positive pressure for me. I like that. It’s something I have to live up to and I have to prove that I’m worth, and that’s exciting for me ….. I think I’m prepared, I’ve been through a lot in my football career. Obviously in college you win more football games than you do in the NFL and you don’t lose as many. Every guy has to adjust to that coming from college to the pros, but I feel like I’m ready for the challenge. I’ve played in a lot of football games and I know what it takes to win. I’m anxious to learn what it takes to win at the NFL level. It’s going to be a learning process but something that I’m really excited about.”

I’m not saying Matthew won’t be a great quarterback for the Lions. I’m not saying he won’t be the first Lions QB since 1971 to make a Pro Bowl. And I’m not saying he won’t be able to take a winless Detroit team to the playoffs next season. What I am saying is this: all he has to do is win one game to move this team in the right direction. Those would be pretty low expectations, of course. But if Matthew can get the Lions to the playoffs, he’ll be doing what no quarterback has done for the team since 1999. Still, I’m wondering when he’ll get his chance. Returning starting QB Daunte Culpepper reported to minicamp in the best shape of his career and appears fully ready to assume the starting role. It will be a tough call, though, because the Lions have — you know — 41.7 million reasons to start Matthew immediately.

Source: NFL Media

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Matthew Stafford: ‘I Think I’m Prepared’

These new unis really aren’t much different from their previous ones. I mean, the Lion has a bit of furl in his fur. This logo alteration is the biggest difference. But as far as the new logotype, it just doesn’t sit well with me. And like I said, the uniform changes are pretty much unnoticeable to the casual observer. If the organization was trying to give the team a new look to go along with their supposed new outlook, they failed. I’m not saying this was a complete disaster or anything. But they could’ve done more with the opportunity.

Home Honolulu Blue Jerseys

• The Lions new home jerseys are Honolulu Blue, a color first established in 1934.
• The numerals were developed and customized specifically for the Lions uniform. They are Honolulu Blue, trimmed in silver and black.
• Above the new numerals is the new Lions logotype.
• On the collar, there are three trim lines of equal width, with two black trim lines outside a silver trim line.
• The sleeves are a new knit sleeve that features a wide silver trim, inside two smaller white trims and those all inside two black trims of equal width as the white trim. The new material is improved and more flexible for players. The trim is part of the knit-sleeve material, which was changed from the previous silk-screened sleeve.
• Numerals remain on the shoulders but are now in the customized Lions jersey numerals.
• Players’ nameplates on the back of the uniform have slightly modified block letters from the previous block letter names on the back of the uniform.

Road White Jerseys

• The road jerseys are the traditional “road whites,” with blue numerals trimmed in silver and black.
• Included above the front numerals is the Lions logotype.
• On the road jerseys, the collar is in the same black and silver trim pattern as the home uniforms.
• Sleeves are of the same new knit-sleeve material that are on the new home uniforms. The trim on the sleeves includes a wide Honolulu blue trim, inside two smaller silver trims and those are all inside two black trims of equal width as the white trim.

Helmet

• With the introduction of the new Lions logo, the helmet now features the new logo on each side. It is the most significant change since the Lions logo was first placed on the team’s helmet in 1961.
• The facemasks will remain black, but the new Lions logotype will be included on the front and the back of the helmet.
• At the top middle of the helmet, the striping pattern has been modified. Instead of a thick white stripe, two Honolulu blue stripes and a very thin black accent stripe, the helmet striping pattern is now a 5/8-inch Honolulu blue stripe, two 3/16-inch white stripes and two 3/16-inch black stripes. Part of the new brand initiative is to create consistency and one example of this is that the striping pattern on the helmet, at a smaller scale, is the same striping pattern as the team’s game pants.

Pants and Game Socks

• Detroit’s game pants will remain in the team’s traditional silver. Like the striping pattern on the helmet, the pants vertical trim on the side of the legs are now a thick Honolulu blue stripe inside smaller white stripes, which are all inside black stripes that are the same width as the white stripes.
• The game socks, which are the same for the home and road uniforms, now have a 5/8-inch black stripe on the calf midline. The top half is Honolulu blue and the bottom half is white.

NFL Shield, NFL Equipment Logo and Reebok Vector Logo

• The NFL Shield, NFL Equipment logo and Reebok vector will be placed on the same parts of the uniform as in year’s past.
• On the back of the Lions’ helmet, the NFL Shield is placed on the left (from a rear view).
• The NFL Equipment logo is prominently placed at the v-neck of both the home and road uniforms. It also appears at the top of the team’s left pant leg.
• Reebok’s vector logo appears on both top, side shoulders of the home and road uniforms, and the vector is placed on the top of the left pant leg.

Source: DetroitLions.com

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Detroit Lions Unveil ‘New’ Look

Is anyone else tired of hearing about the ongoing soap opera between Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels and quarterback Jay Cutler? At the NFL Annual Meeting today, coach McDaniels said Jay is still the team’s quarterback and he’ll do what he can to improve their strained relationship:

“I’ve always been optimistic. He’s on our team, he’s under contract, and I understand there’s things we have to work toward in our relationship. I’ve heard (Jay’s trade request) but have not heard it from him personally. No one has contacted me, called me, text-messaged or e-mailed me. You take into consideration what anybody is trying to offer up. If the quality of the trade you feel, in the long run, improves your team, you analyze it. It’s been made very clear to me it’s my job to listen to a number of scenarios that would improve the team.”

My guess is Jay’s as good as gone, but I wish both sides would just speed the process along so we don’t need to hear about it anymore. Everyday it’s a new he said/he said and it’s getting absolutely pathetic. The Detroit Lions are interested. Lions general manager Martin Mahew said the team was “open to all options” with the first pick in next month’s NFL Draft. That answer was in response, specifically, to Jay’s availability. Make it happen, already.

Source: NFL.com

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McDaniels-Cutler Saga Becoming Tiresome

The NFL announced its 2009 Kickoff Weekend primetime television schedule today — including a Monday night “AFL 50th” doubleheader — and the Thanksgiving Day national TV tripleheader.

In a tradition that began in 2004, the Super Bowl champion annually hosts the NFL Thursday night season kickoff the following year. This September 10 at 8:30 PM ET on NBC, the Super Bowl XLIII champion Pittsburgh Steelers will host the AFC South champion Tennessee Titans, who had an NFL-best 13-3 record last season. The Sunday night primetime game (8:30 PM ET) on NBC will feature a division matchup as the Green Bay Packers host the Chicago Bears. Green Bay and Chicago have won seven of the past eight NFC North titles. On Monday night, September 14, ESPN will host a Monday Night Football doubleheader that will be part of the NFL’s celebration of the 50th anniversary season of the American Football League. The four clubs competing that night began playing in the inaugural 1960 AFL season. The first game (7:00 PM ET) will send the Buffalo Bills to Foxboro to visit the New England Patriots, the decade’s winningest team (102-42 since 2000). The MNF nightcap (10:15 PM ET) will be an AFC West battle as the Oakland Raiders host the three-time defending AFC West champion San Diego Chargers.

Continuing an innovation introduced in 2006, the NFL will serve up three nationally-televised games on Thanksgiving Day. The early game (FOX, 12:30 PM ET) will be an NFC North meeting of the Green Bay Packers at the Detroit Lions. The second game (CBS, 4:15 PM ET) features the Oakland Raiders visiting the Dallas Cowboys in the Raiders’ first Thanksgiving game since 1970. The Thanksgiving primetime game will be at 8:20 PM ET on NFL Network with the defending NFC East champion New York Giants visiting the Denver Broncos, marking the first Thanksgiving contest in Denver since 1963.

The announcement of the Kickoff Weekend and Thanksgiving Day games was made today by National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell at the NFL Annual Meeting in Dana Point, California. The rest of the 2009 regular-season schedule will be completed and announced in April.

Source: NFL Media

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NFL Announces 2009 Primetime Kickoff Weekend and Thanksgiving Day Games

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Three years ago, the Seattle Seahawks gave linebacker Julian Peterson a seven-year, $54 million contract. When he refused the team’s proposal to reduce his $6.5 million 2009 salary yesterday (mostly because the Hawks are giving current linebackers Lofa Tatupu and Leroy Hill guaranteed money), they traded him to the Detroit Lions for defensive tackle Cory Redding and a 5th round pick in next month’s NFL Draft.

The whole thing is a bit odd as Julian has been to five Pro Bowls and was arguably one of Seattle’s best players. But the Detroit Lions — needy at pretty much every position — were especially interested in stockpiling linebackers and with Julian, they get a player with 46 career sacks and eight career interceptions. As far as Cory is concerned, I don’t really know what to expect from him in Seattle. Sure, the potential is there (he had a career high eight sacks three years ago), but can you really judge his (only) four sacks the past two seasons with the lack of talent that has surrounded him in Detroit?

Source: Seahawks.com, Photo: Newscom

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Seahawks Trade Julian Peterson