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Daily Madden: Full Plate Of Thanksgiving Football

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – Football plays an important role on Thanksgiving for millions of Americans, John Madden included. And it's been that way for most of his life.

"I don't have a lot of experience being home on Thanksgiving," Madden told the KCBS Morning Crew. "I was thinking about that this morning. I go all the way back to high school, and in high school at Jefferson, we played South City every Thanksgiving. So I played in high school, was away in college and played in college.  In the pros, Thanksgiving was just a Thursday and then I went into broadcasting for 25 years and did the Thanksgiving Day game."

Looking ahead to the Week 12 National Football League schedule, Madden said the slate of three games on Thanksgiving will give fans a lot to look forward to.

"It's a good viewing day because you get to see Houston. Are they really the best team in the AFC? The second game is the Redskins and the Cowboys and...you get to watch RGIII play, who is amazing," Madden said. "And than the night game is the Patriots against the Jets."

Madden said the Raiders and 49ers both have tough games on the schedule as well. Oakland is on the road taking on the Cincinnati Bengals, who Madden calls "sneaky good." And San Francisco is also on the road in a rematch of last year's playoffs as they take on the resurgent New Orleans Saints, who are led by quarterback Drew Brees.

Madden said that, although the Saints offense is one of the most prolific in the league, the team's defense is still nowhere near the 49ers, which could be a key in the game.

Listen to the John Madden segment live weekday mornings at 8:15 on KCBS All News 740 AM/106.9 FM. And catch John's extra report at 9:15 a.m. Mondays and Fridays during the NFL season.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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