Piling it on the plate
If the Detroit Lions are the “meat,” then the Dallas Cowboys are the “potatoes.” That’s because no other NFL team outside of the Lions has played more games on this great American holiday than America’s team. Therefore it makes perfect sense that the QB record next in line belongs to a Cowboys Hall of Famer.
Four years removed from Kreig’s perfect day, Troy Aikman attempted 57 passes in an effort to catch up to the visiting Minnesota Vikings. His 455 passing yards are still the most by any NFL QB on Thanksgiving Day.
The 46-36 victory for the Vikings was highlighted by an outstanding performance by a young receiver named Randy Moss. However, it’s Aikman’s passing yard total that has withstood the test of time. Is 2019 the year it finally falls?
Odds are the Atlanta Falcons defense may very well put Matt Ryan and the offense in a hole early. If so, Ryan and company may have to abandon the run in place of spreading the football to receivers Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. Not that the Falcons run game has been a strength anyhow.
A sixth helping
This next “Turkey Day” record is shared between two players currently immortalized in Canton. Both players would also share in throwing all six scores in just three-quarters of play. The first name may surprise you.
That’s because Bob Griese currently holds the record for most touchdown passes on Thanksgiving Day with six. The reason it comes as such a surprise is that Griese played for a Miami Dolphins team in the 70s whose claim to fame was the running game. While true, 1977 was Griese’s most productive passing season. That year, he’d achieve a career-high in passer rating, and his 22 touchdown passes were a career-best and enough to lead the AFC–at that time.
Remember how I said the first guy might surprise you? Well, this second quarterback will certainly not.