A commenter raised a great point this morning regarding the crappy trio of football games to which we were subjected on Thanksgiving.

With a captive national audience, why waste “good” games on Thanksgiving?

It’s an intriguing point.  With Giants-Redskins, Steelers-Patriots, and Bears-Vikings on the schedule for Week Thirteen, there’s no reason to play them on Thanksgiving when they can be used on Sunday afternoon and evening to pry eyeballs away from better television alternatives.

That said, we doubt that the league intentionally targets so-so games for Thanksgiving.  Part of the problem, as we’ve recently explained, is that apparently compelling matchups when the schedule is determined in April can end up being overcooked turkeys after more than half the season is played.

Still, the reality that we’ll watch whatever NFL games happen to be played on Thanksgiving will likely ensure that the Lions will continue to host the early game on the fourth Thursday in November, regardless of whether the Lions ever win again, on Thanksgiving or otherwise.