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Thanksgiving celebrates three “f” words: family, food and football. National Football League games, traditionally featuring the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys, have been played on Thanksgiving since 1920. Broadcast announcers salute winning team members with honors such as the CBS All-Iron Award and the Fox Galloping Gobbler Award. During his broadcasting career, John Madden awarded players with a turducken, a poultry cornucopia consisting of turkey, duck and chicken.
Food perfectly complements football. Thanksgiving and Super Bowl Sunday are the top two days of food consumption in America, according to the National Chicken Council. Fox Sports said viewers ate 1.25 billion chicken wings during Super Bowl XLVI. NFL pregame tailgating fare ranges from Kansas City barbeque to Green Bay bratwursts.
Drinks also have a role in football. In 2010, TreeHugger.com said Americans drank 325.5 million gallons of beer on Super Bowl Sunday. Bud Light became the official beer sponsor of the NFL in 2011 in an agreement valued at over $1 billion. Pepsi purchased Super Bowl XLVI advertisement time, likely paying around the average of $3.5 billion, according to ESPN, for a 30-second commercial.
Foods and drinks certainly fill football fans’ bellies and the league’s wallet. In honor of Thanksgiving and the many edible and drinkable football connections, the Week 12 predictions theme is foods and beverages.
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Houston Texans (9-1) at Detroit Lions (4-6)-Nov. 22-12:30 p.m.-CBS
Butterball, a poultry company, began selling turkeys in 1940. Lions fans should purchase their turkey from another producer this Thanksgiving. Since 1940, Detroit is 30-35-2 on Thanksgiving.
Bryan Paul’s Pick: Houston
Pollock’s Pick: Detroit
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Washington Redskins (4-6) at Dallas Cowboys (5-5)-Nov. 22-4:15 p.m.-Fox
Detroit’s last Thanksgiving victory came in 2003. Pizza Today magazine named Domino’s Pizza “Pizza Chain of the Year” in 2003, 2010 and 2011. The Cowboys were 1-2 on Thanksgiving in those years. Luckily for Dallas, the magazine felt there “didn’t seem to be enough competition” to select a 2012 winner, according to Pete Lachapelle, Pizza Today’s president and publisher.
Bryan Paul’s Pick: Dallas
Pollock’s Pick: Dallas
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New England Patriots (7-3) at New York Jets (4-6)-Nov. 22-8:20 p.m.-NBC
Lombardi’s Pizza in New York City claims to be the first United States pizza establishment. Patriot fans are happy it’s remained in business since 1905. Since Lombardi’s celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2005, New England is 12-5 against New York.
Bryan Paul’s Pick: New England
Pollock’s Pick: New England
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Captain Clarky 