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Getting ready for Thursday Night Football

Some years ago, yours truly – then of USA Today – spoke with an NFL coach on a Monday about an upcoming Thursday night road game.

“We’re going to lose,” he said.

Beg pardon?

“We’re banged up from Sunday. We just did some running today. We’ll kind of walkthrough on Tuesday. Wednesday we have to leave,” the coach said. “Division game. We’re gonna lose.”

He had already accepted his fate. Injuries, fatigue, no prep time, plus travel. Many thanks, NFL. And his team lost.

Which is a horrible segue into a preview of Thursday Night Football on NBC. The Philadelphia Eagles (1-2) travel to Green Bay to play the Packers (3-0). It could be make-or-break for Philly, or it could establish the Packers among the NFC’s elite. None of which is a guarantee of future results.

If you like creative minds, consider the fun of watching Eagles coach Doug Pederson, long the backup quarterback in Green Bay to Brett Favre, duel with rookie Matt LaFleur at Lambeau Field. That’s compelling. But would you put on a Broadway show with so little rehearsal time? How can they really be ready?

The other reason to watch this game is that Fox televises it at 8:20 p.m. ET (and the time is not the critical factor). Joe Buck and Troy Aikman occupy the broadcast booth.

Minor nit to pick. This pair stands in bold opposition to what ESPN shovels at us on Monday nights with Joe Tessitore and Booger McFarland. Opt with your eyes and ears – Vote Thursday Night Football. Eagles-Packers.

 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman