For the first time in decades, the man who introduced the television world to the Turducken will in no way be a physical part of our Thanksgiving Day football viewing. John Madden passed away shortly after the 2021 Thanksgiving celebration, and once again we have a lineup of brutal games to watch on November 24 with family and friends.

I just realized that this upcoming Thanksgiving Day will be the first in a long time without legendary football coach John Madden. Madden passed away on December 28, 2021, and sports fans lost a one-of-a-kind personality and football mind. And yes, the Detroit Lions will be playing to a nationally-televised audience.

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I have nothing against the Detroit Lions. Barry Sanders made Thanksgiving Day a real treat for me for a number of years, but that was almost 25 years ago. The Jarod Goff-led lions will play the Buffalo Bills on turkey day, in what will no doubt be a total massacre of Detroit. It's the first in three gut-wrenching games football fans will have to sit through a couple of Thursdays from now.

John Madden spent years on television as a commentator following his Hall of Fame coaching career, and I always enjoyed watching him fumble around in the broadcasting booth with utensils and the big bird while drawing goofy stuff with the telestrator. This Thanksgiving will certainly be different knowing Madden is no longer with us.

The other two Thanksgiving Day games are the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys, and the Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots. Heaven help us.

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