It's Thanksgiving, and it's gameday for the Green Bay Packers. It's also the perfect time of the year for us to reflect on how life has been, the good things that have happened and sometimes we don't value enough.

For Packers fans, sports life probably hasn't been perfect, but there are more things to be glad than sad about.

So, before the Miami Dolphins game at Lambeau Field, let's talk about five things that Packers fans should be grateful for.

The Packers don't have an owner

Yes, there have been complaints about the lack of action sometimes. But have you seen how the Dallas Cowboys, the Las Vegas Raiders, and the New York Jets are managed? Packers fans should be elated that Mark Murphy is a reasonable president, that they are making a smooth transition to Ed Policy, and that general manager Brian Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur have space to do their jobs. Obviously, that also guarantees that the Packers will never leave Green Bay.

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Willingness to add veterans

The Packers had a moment when it was unimaginable to add multiple and high-priced veterans to the roster with Ted Thompson. Brian Gutekunst has some of the same philosophies, but this is not one of them. The current GM has been much more willing to sign free agents, to claim players off waivers, to sign pieces of other teams' practice squads.

This year, three of the most important and effective pieces of the roster are veteran free agents: safety Xavier McKinney, running back Josh Jacobs, and kicker Brandon McManus.

It's ok to say that the draft is the main way to build a roster. It's not ok when it's the only one.

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Malik Willis' trade

Full disclosure, I didn't think the Packers managed the backup quarterback position well going into the season. They overdrafted Sean Clifford last year, they waived Michael Pratt without having the patience to develop him, and they traded for a quarterback that had been awful in the NFL.

Those things are all true, and the two first ones still apply. Credit to the Packers, though, they saw something in Malik Willis and they have taken the most out of him. His athletic ability and physical attributes are real, and Matt LaFleur has been able to maximize him, something the Tennessee Titans never did.

Willis has been instrumental to the Packers' success this season, being the starting quarterback in two wins, Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans, and entering in the second half to secure another one, against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

And all that for a seventh-round pick.

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Jordan Love's calmness

It hasn't been the easiest and smoothest season for Jordan Love. His numbers are clearly worse than last year, and his performance has taken a hit — in part because of the multiple injuries he suffered. But Love doesn't change.

He is calm, he is always the same person. And for a quarterback, that's a great quality. He won't be too high, he won't be too low, and that passes an important confidence to the rest of the offense.

Jordan Love is a leader. A positive type of leadership. Packers fans should be grateful for him, on and off the field.

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Draft and development of offensive linemen

The Packers are the best or second best offensive line of the season, depending on which metric you choose. It's between them and the Denver Broncos. But have you seen the types of investments the Packers make at the position?

The starting offensive line has a seventh-round pick at left tackle, second-round picks at left guard and center, a third-round pick at right guard, and a fourth-round pick at right tackle. Three of them, Rasheed Walker, Sean Rhyan, and Zach Tom, were drafted in the same draft class (2022).

The Packers ability to draft offensive linemen and to develop them into real, positive starters is unmatched in the league. And it's ultimately the big reason for their offensive stability.

Yes, Jordan Love is good. There's talent around the skill positions. But the Packers have survived games with Malik Willis and injuries at the wide receiver position because the line is so good.

Adam Schefter reveals Giants’ details that should make Packers fans feel thankful for big addition

Xavier McKinney became available for free