The 2021 NFL Thanksgiving slate featured two close games and then an absolute dud in primetime.
Well, the final game was at least enjoyable for Buffalo Bills fans.
The Chicago Bears, Las Vegas Raiders, and Bills all went home victorious Thursday, while the Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys, and New Orleans Saints all suffered tough losses.
The trend here is that all three road teams won on the day.
Talk about a rough holiday for the home fans.
And as it turns out, this road domination has been going on for several years.
All 3 road teams won on Thanksgiving. Since the start of 2019 road teams are 8-0 on Thanksgiving.
Thursday also saw 2 games decided on the final play of the game.
There have been 25 games decided on the final play this season, already the most through Week 12 since the merger. pic.twitter.com/R6zfLtVysA
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 26, 2021
Road teams are officially 8-0 since 2019, which is a fact both Lions and Cowboys fans are well too aware of after yet another loss.
The mark is 8-0 without a ninth game because one game was postponed in 2020 due to COVID-19.
FINAL: @Raiders win in OT! #LVvsDAL pic.twitter.com/THH2t26Wv7
— NFL (@NFL) November 26, 2021
Two Teams In A Tough Stretch
The Lions and Cowboys are home every Thanksgiving, and neither has won since 2018.
That came when the Cowboys beat Washington by a final of 31-23.
We have to go further back to 2016 to find the Lions’ last win on the holiday, which came in a tight 16-13 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.
Rough games in general are to be expected on Thanksgiving because of the teams all dealing with a short week.
Yet one would think that advantage would go to the home team.
Perhaps the Lions are a bad example because they have been so bad there is no real difference in home and road splits.
But the Cowboys?
This is a team with Super Bowl aspirations that could do nothing to stop Derek Carr and the Raiders on Thursday.
However, it is fair to note the officiating was brutal throughout the entire game.
Lions and Cowboys fans may just want to stay home and enjoy the holiday in 2022.
NEXT: Giants Breaking NFL Media Rule Ahead Of Week 12
