I don't know who came up with the concept of making Football such a big part of the Thanksgiving holiday, but I'd like to send that person a thank-you card. The Thanksgiving holiday is one of my favorite days of the year, and it is always enhanced by watching Football. Sitting around watching the games while the aroma of great food being prepared fills the air is almost sensory overload.

Unfortunately, the NFL has scheduled games for Thanksgiving that could spoil your appetite. Thursday's tripleheader opens with the Lions hosting the Titans in a game that could match an 11-0 team against an 0-11 team for the first time in NFL history. Then the Cowboys host the Seahawks, who are 2-8. Enough said. At least the Eagles-Cardinals finale should be good, but then again you might not be able to see it because it's being televised by the NFL Network.

But I'm not complaining. This is the time of the year to be thankful for what you have, and I have plenty. So I'm not going to dwell on the fact that the NFL games might not be as enjoyable as previous years. I'm instead going to think about all the things I am thankful for in the NFL this season.

Such as:

Brett's back: Yeah, I know, I write about him every week, and I've been called a Brett Favre fan boy here in the Deseret News offices. But that's OK, because as Terrell Owens once tearfully said, "that's my quarterback."

It seems like I've explained a million times that I don't expect non-Packer fans to understand the bond cheeseheads have with Favre. It just happens when the same guy plays quarterback for your team for 16 years. But that's beside the point. I'm thankful Favre came back for another year and has the Jets at 7-3 and on top of the AFC East. I'm also thankful Favre has two more wins and three more touchdown passes than Aaron Rodgers.

The brashness of Joey Porter: The Miami linebacker has provided nonstop entertainment this season. He's talked trash about Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall, Jaguars receiver Matt Jones, the Raiders, the Patriots, and probably others. It's nice to have someone speak his mind the way Porter does when most NFL players and coaches are so vanilla with their comments in the media.

Porter isn't all talk, though. He's a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, as he leads the NFL with 13 1/2 sacks per game.

A new path to perfection: The Titans, 10-0, are seemingly following the Patriots' lead to an unbeaten season this year. But unlike New England of last year, Tennessee is a team casual fans can support. The Titans are winning with a fierce defense and a standout running game. They haven't been caught spying, and they haven't run the score up on anyone. There's really no reason to dislike this team.

The villains: I'll admit, the Patriots made last season fun because I ROOTed against them every week. It was a losing proposition until Super Bowl XLII. Thank you, Giants.

Having a team to ROOT against makes following sports enjoyable, for me anyway. There isn't a real standout bad-guy team to me this year, so when in doubt, it's always safe to go with the Cowboys. I find it to be completely laughable how owner Jerry Jones has made desperate free-agent signings and trades in hopes of winning it all this year. It won't end well for Dallas this season.

Fantasy Football: Just as Football enhances Thanksgiving, fantasy Football enhances the NFL. Ten years ago, which was when I started playing, you were considered a geek if you played fantasy Football. Now you're an outcast if you don't. There's nothing like ROOTing for touchdowns from players you otherwise wouldn't care about, or fretting over missed field goals and someone stealing your points on Sundays and Monday nights.

I must say it makes it more enjoyable to have good teams. I'm happy to report, and equally aware that you truly don't care, that two of my teams named the Rose Park Jets are headed for a postseason run. The New York Bretts' playoff chances are still on thin ice. I promise I'll never mention my fantasy teams again.

The regular season: The NFL remains the one professional league where every game counts. I simply don't have the attention span to follow the NBA for 82 games, or Major League Baseball for 162. That's too much. Give me Football on Sundays and Mondays, and even a few Thursdays, for 17 weeks, and a do-or-die playoff setup for a month, and it's all I can ask for.

It's even something to be thankful for. E-mail: aaragon@desnews.com