You know the feeling. The turkey is in the oven, the smell of sage is everywhere, and someone is already complaining that the stuffing is too dry. But in Michigan—and for football fans everywhere—the real tradition starts way before the first slice of pie. It’s the Detroit Lions.
Honestly, it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without them. But since the NFL schedule is a revolving door of matchups, the big question every year is: who do the Detroit Lions play on Thanksgiving Day? ## The 2025 Thanksgiving Matchup: Lions vs. Packers
This year, the Lions are hosting their oldest and fiercest holiday rival: the Green Bay Packers.
Forget the polite dinner conversation. This is an NFC North clash that usually ends in some sort of drama. The game is set to kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET at Ford Field. You’ll be able to catch it on FOX, or if you've finally cut the cord, it’s streaming on Tubi and the FOX Sports app.
It’s the 23rd time these two teams have met on Turkey Day. That’s the most frequent matchup in NFL Thanksgiving history. Basically, these two teams have spent more holidays together than most dysfunctional families.
Why the Packers?
The NFL loves a good storyline. Right now, the NFC North is a total dogfight. Going into this game, both teams are chasing the Chicago Bears for the division lead. The Lions actually lost to Green Bay earlier this season (a 27-13 sting back in Week 1), so this isn't just a tradition—it’s a revenge game.
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Plus, there’s the Jordan Love factor. He’s looking to prove he can own this holiday like Aaron Rodgers used to. On the other side, Dan Campbell has turned Detroit into a team that people actually want to watch, which is a massive shift from the "Same Old Lions" era.
A History Born of a Marketing Gimmick
It’s kinda wild to think that this whole tradition started because one guy wanted to sell tickets. Back in 1934, George A. Richards bought the Portsmouth Spartans, moved them to Detroit, and renamed them the Lions.
The team was struggling. Nobody was showing up.
Richards, who owned a major radio station (WJR), had a "lightbulb" moment. He convinced the NFL to let him host a game on Thanksgiving and used his media connections to broadcast it across 94 stations nationwide. Over 26,000 fans packed into the stadium. Thousands were turned away at the gates.
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It worked.
Except for a brief pause from 1939 to 1944 because of World War II, the Lions have played every single year since. They’ve played 86 of these games. Their record? It’s a bit of a rollercoaster—38-46-2.
The "Curse" and the Comeback
For a long time, watching the Lions on Thanksgiving was an exercise in masochism. Between 2004 and 2012, they went on a brutal nine-game losing streak on the holiday. Fans started wearing paper bags over their heads. Critics argued they should lose the privilege of hosting the game.
But things feel different now.
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The 2024 season saw Detroit win 15 games and set franchise records for points. Last year's Thanksgiving game against the Bears was a classic "Lions" moment—they won 34-27 in a game so wild it actually got the Bears' coach fired two days later.
Memorable (and Weird) Moments
- The Coin Flip (1998): Jerome Bettis called "tails," the ref heard "heads," and the Lions got the ball in OT. They won. Steelers fans are still mad.
- The Challenge (2012): Jim Schwartz challenged a play that was already being reviewed automatically. The rules back then meant he got a penalty, and the touchdown counted even though the runner was clearly down. Peak Lions luck.
- The Jahmyr Gibbs Show: Last year, Gibbs absolutely torched the Giants for 219 yards and three scores. That's the kind of performance that makes the turkey taste better.
What to Watch for This Year
If you’re sitting down to watch the game this year, keep an eye on the trenches. Dan Campbell’s squad is built on "biting kneecaps," which is just a fancy way of saying they play incredibly physical football.
The Packers are coming in with a 16-20-2 overall Thanksgiving record. They’ve actually played more games on this day than anyone except Detroit and Dallas. It’s a clash of cultures: the blue-collar, "grit" mentality of Detroit versus the "stately" tradition of Green Bay.
Plan Your Thanksgiving Viewing
Don't get caught looking for the remote while the kickoff is happening.
- Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET.
- Channel: FOX.
- Radio: 97.1 The Ticket (if you're in the Detroit area).
- Food Timing: Aim to have the appetizers out by 12:30. You don't want to be carving the bird during a goal-line stand.
Once the Lions finish up, you've got the Kansas City Chiefs playing the Dallas Cowboys at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS, followed by the Bengals and Ravens in the night slot. It’s a full day of divisional rivalries.
To get the most out of the experience, check your local listings for "The Thanksgiving Day Parade" in Detroit, which usually leads right into the pre-game show. If you're betting or playing fantasy, pay close attention to the injury reports for Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown on Wednesday night; they are the engines that keep this Detroit offense running.