‘Can you take me higher? To a place where blind men see?’
On Thanksgiving Day 2001, rock band Creed were thrust into the consciousness of NFL fans for generations to come.
Their performance at Dallas Cowboys’ Texas Stadium melded heavy rock ballad, Cirque du Soleil and 9/11 tribute to create a unique performance which has grown to an almost cult-like status within NFL circles.
There have been periods during the last 20 years where the performance was quoted as an ironic reference to Americana, and even ridiculed in popular culture.
But positive social media posts appearing around Thanksgiving each year culminated in the ultimate glory of a Super Bowl commercial starring the band alongside Patrick Stewart last February.
Which brings us nicely to the Chicago Bears opponents this Thanksgiving Day, the Detroit Lions.
Derided and ridiculed for years, the Lions have soared to become Vegas favourites to win next year’s Super Bowl in New Orleans. The Bears, however, have as much chance of hoisting the trophy as the aforementioned blind man regaining his sight.
Thanksgiving has not been kind to the Detroit Lions in recent years. We have to go back to 2016 for their last Turkey Day triumph.
The Bears, meanwhile, have scored a hat trick of Thanksgiving wins at Ford Field since this date.
Chicago’s happy memories on Thanksgiving
The Bears have a strong connection to Thanksgiving, playing in the very first set of Thanksgiving games as the Decatur Staleys and recording a 6-0 victory over the Chicago Tigers.
Chicago Bears legend Harold ‘Red’ Grange played his first NFL game on Thanksgiving of 1925. This ended – in the words of the great Kevin Cadle – as a “Zero-Zero ball game”. An unthinkable result in comparison to the modern Thanksgiving shootouts we have come to expect in Detroit.
The Bears most famous Thanksgiving game was arguably the one played against the Lions in 1980. The game finished 17-17 in regulation, with the Bears scoring a game-tying touchdown after a 94-yard drive as time expired.
The Lions then took the overtime kick off, which was immediately returned 95 yards by the Bears’ Dave Williams for the match-winning touchdown.
So there you have it. If the Bears most exciting Thanksgiving Day conclusion was replicated this year, it would only be the third most dramatic finish to a Bears game in the last fortnight.
Have a great Thanksgiving whoever you are rooting for, and remember to set an alarm for the Black Friday sales!
