Baltimore Ravens 2016 Schedule: A Thanksgiving Day Game?

A great Thanksgiving Day game for the 2016 NFL season would be the Baltimore Ravens versus the Washington Redskins.

The Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions are locks to play every Thanksgiving, as it is a yearly tradition.

However, I would give a proposal to the National Football League: The Ravens should play against the Washington Redskins next season on Turkey Day.

Aug 29, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback

Joe Flacco

(5) throws during the first quarter against the Washington Redskins at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Why it May Work

• The AFC North is scheduled to play against the NFC East next season.
• The Ravens and Redskins are part of the Battle of the Beltway.
• Local fans would come to and follow the game in droves because of the close proximity of the two franchises.
• This would allow for the players to stay close to home.

Why it May Not Work

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• There may be “more deserving” rivalries that need to be addressed first, like the Seahawks-49ers or the Giants-Eagles, etc.
• The Ravens are currently in the midst of a 3-7 season. Some fans may believe that a team with a bad season shouldn’t play in prime time on Thanksgiving.
• The Ravens have already had two home Thanksgiving games, one against the 49ers (Baltimore won 16-6 in 2011), and another against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2013 (Baltimore won 23-20). The NFL may want to give another team a shot.

My Verdict

Let the two teams fight it out in front of a local crowd. The fans have a heated rivalry with one another, both teams are close, and every game that the Redskins and Ravens have played recently has been very interesting. After all, we could see another brawl like this one this past preseason:

Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone!