It’s a shame the NFL can’t flex standalone games determined last spring before the season played out and the fortunes of teams took a dive.
Of the four games played on Thanksgiving and, God forbid, Black Friday, all four of the expected winners are favored by more than a touchdown – the Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers by 7.5 points, the Miami Dolphins by 9.5 points, and the Dallas Cowboys by 12.5 points. In contrast, of the 12 games played Sunday and Monday, only one team (the Kansas City Chiefs at 9 points) are favored by more than 3.5 points, with five teams favored by less than two points.
It would seem the NFL botched this holiday tradition by having the games expected to be the closest being played when only part of the fan base is watching.
