The media has been all over the upcoming Thanksgiving day Har-bowl.
Besides the enticing match-up between two top-tier NFL teams — first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh’s San Francsico 49ers (9-1) playing at John Harbaugh’s Baltimore Ravens (6-3) — it is also the first ever brother vs. brother head coaching match-up in the league’s history that everybody is waiting to see.
As a 30-year member of the 49ers faithful, I’m obviously very excited for the Har-bowl (5:20 p.m. on NFL Network), but especially so since it will be the first time my Niners will be playing on Turkey Day in my lifetime.
This year’s NFL schedule is also a holiday double-whammy for me, as the Niners play at Seattle on Christmas Eve in a Saturday night game.
Now back to Thanksgiving.
The 49ers have played on Thanksgiving four times since becoming a franchise in 1946, beating the Brooklyn Dodgers 21-7 in the 1947 All-America Football Conference holiday game.
San Francisco also beat the Detroit Lions, who play annually on Thanksgiving (along with the Dallas Cowboys), 41-14 in 1966. The Cowboys were San Francisco’s last two Thanksgiving day opponents, with the Niners coming out on top 31-10 in their final appearance after the teams tied 24-24 in 1969.
The day has always been about food, football and, of course, family, but this year, it’s all about the Forty-Niners.
Much to my mother’s dismay, I politely asked (demanded) that we move up this year’s holiday feast to no later than 3 p.m., in order to give full attention to the last of the three Thanksgiving NFL contests. (My brother-in-law’s Green Bay games have never been an issue. Scheduled in two of the last four Thanksgivings, Green Bay usually starts at 9 a.m.)
Parents Jack and Jackie Harbaugh have already told the press that they will be leaving before the coin toss, as they are torn between cheering for their two sons. They also said it is to avoid the constant on-camera reactions that the Manning family endured when Peyton and Eli Manning faced off.
My family will likely want to avoid me, much like those annoying cameras, during those three-plus hours.
Knowing my football-watching habits, all in attendance at the Rosenberg household will be more than willing to send me home ASAP, and help me “beat the Black Friday rush.”
So, in advance, I would like to say I’m sorry for ruining Thanksgiving this year. I’ll understand why the leftovers are ready to go by the fourth quarter … and I won’t be offended if you get me 49ers-Seahawks tickets for Christmas.
