Week 12 Player Spotlight

The world was upside down. How fast a year or two could change what had become an expected performance of excellence for decades? The NFC North had always belonged to the Packers, as far back as he could remember. 

This Thanksgiving didn’t feel the same.

Paul sniffed the air. The unmistakable scent of turkey in its early stages of roasting wafted through the house. Yes, it smelled like Thanksgiving, but it didn’t feel like Thanksgiving. The Packers were 4-6, Rodgerless, leaderless. The Lions? 8-2, the class of the NFC North. This had a disappointing Thanksgiving performance written all over it. The doorbell rang, and Paul opened it to be greeted by 15 or so relatives, all decked out in Packers gear. He smiled, invited them in, as they all eagerly placed themselves in strategic locations relative to the T.V.

“Buster is hosting everyone!”

One relative’s voice pierced the chatter. Paul thought this odd, as clearly he was the one hosting. 

“What’s this all about?”

“He’s hosting the private contest in Call It!”

Paul raised his eyebrow inquisitively, sensing the confusion, his relative continued.

“It’s a game where you predict the outcome of a drive as the game is happening. You risk points and get points if you are right, the less likely the outcome the more points you win! Whoever has the most points at the end of the game wins, and we already have a prize in mind!”

Paul had never heard of this game, “Call It” as they referred to it. It sounded fun.

“What prize did you have in mind?”

“First place gets first crack at the food, and wins the title of Thanksgiving 2023 Champion (to be contested next year), last place has to upload a social media post of themselves dressed in a turkey suit”

His relative then revealed the said turkey suit, it was…appalling to say the least. This sounded like just the kind of distraction Paul needed.

“Just get me set up and let’s do this!”

Several minutes later, everything was good to go on Paul’s phone, and the game was just minutes away from kickoff. 

Paul began the game predicting pessimistically. To his delight, he was wrong, and 4 drives into the game the Packers led 20-6 including a fumble recovery for a TD. Drinks were flowing, and spirits were high- unfortunately Paul was also dead last in the private contest, as his faith in his Packers wasn’t that great. Sensing the urgency, Paul made a bold prediction.

*Lions/Fumble/20*

Four plays later, his gamble paid off and vaulted him back into the competition. As the game unfolded, and it became clear that the outcome of the game was never in doubt, Paul shifted his focus to the private contest. He was in third place, just 127 points behind. With under 3 minutes remaining, the Lions got the ball back, down 29-14.

*This is obvious, its time to give up a garbage time TD*

*Lions/Touch Down/100*

Using his peek, he checked the two ahead of him, neither had a TD predicted. Paul smiled. Fourteen plays and 2 minutes of game clock later, the Lions punched it in, and with it, Paul’s almost assured victory. Shortly after, groans filled the room as Paul’s triumph was realized. 

“It was a good game”

Paul turned to see his nephew congratulating him.

“Yes, it was a great game, and I think this is the start of a wonderful tradition”