Turkey, Touchdowns, and a Huge NFC North Rivalry
Turkey, touchdowns, and a huge NFC North rivalry — that’s the recipe at Ford Field this Thanksgiving. The table is set, the bird’s in the oven, and the Detroit Lions are gearing up for their annual Thanksgiving Day Classic. This isn’t just any holiday game, though. On Thursday, November 27, the Lions (7–4) welcome the Green Bay Packers (7–3–1) to Ford Field for a divisional throwdown with massive playoff implications. It’s more than tradition; it’s a shot at redemption after a 27–13 loss to these same Packers back in Week 1.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. The Lions are currently chasing both the Packers and the first-place Chicago Bears (8–3) in a crowded NFC North race. A win on national TV wouldn’t just erase some Week 1 frustration — it would be a critical step toward securing a playoff spot and keeping the division title within reach.
And let’s be honest, if the Lions don’t win this game, like so many Thanksgiving disappointments in the past, it will cast a shadow of disappointment over what, for many, is their favorite holiday. The turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and mashed potatoes just won’t taste as good with the bitterness of a defeat to Green Bay. They absolutely have to win this game!
📊 Lions vs Packers — Thanksgiving Game Snapshot
Matchup: Detroit Lions (7–4) vs Green Bay Packers (7–3–1)
Kickoff: Thursday, Nov. 27 • 12:30 PM ET • Ford Field
Last Meeting: Week 1 — Packers 27, Lions 13
🦁 Lions Trending
- Coming off a 34–27 OT win vs Giants, avoiding back-to-back losses.
- RB Jahmyr Gibbs erupted for 264 total yards & 3 TD, including a 69-yard OT game-winner.
- K Jake Bates hit a 59-yard FG to force OT — long-range weapon in close games.
- DE Aidan Hutchinson sealed the Giants win with a 4th-down OT sack.
- O-line banged up: Glasgow (knee) DNP; Decker, Sewell, Ratledge limited.
- Secondary thin: Kerby Joseph expected to miss 6th straight game; Terrion Arnold still in concussion protocol (limited).
🧀 Packers Trending
- Record 7–3–1 with a top-five scoring defense in the NFL.
- Already beat Detroit 27–13 in Week 1, holding the Lions to just one touchdown.
- Defense excels at keeping scores down and limiting turnovers by their offense.
- Opportunity to strengthen control in a tight NFC North race vs a depleted Lions O-line.
Last Week: An Overtime Thriller Fueled by Gibbs
To understand where the Lions are, you have to look at how they got here. Their last outing was a heart-stopping 34–27 overtime win over the New York Giants, a game that required every bit of grit and resilience this team claims to be built on.
Jahmyr Gibbs stole the show. On the very first play of overtime, he took a handoff, hit the edge, and ripped off a franchise-record 69-yard touchdown run that blew the roof off Ford Field. By the time the afternoon was over, Gibbs had piled up 264 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns — the kind of performance that shifts how the rest of the league talks about you.
Jared Goff didn’t hold back afterward. “That dude is as good as they come in this league,” he said. “He’s making his claim across the league as one of the best players regardless of position. We’re lucky to have him. He’s so electric.” Dan Campbell echoed it, calling Gibbs a “game-changer” and the spark that saved what could’ve been a brutal loss.
And it wasn’t just offense bailing them out. After the line struggled at times, allowing three sacks and seven QB hits, special teams and defense had to close the door. Jake Bates drilled a 59-yard field goal with seconds left in regulation to force overtime, and when the Giants had one last shot, Aidan Hutchinson ended things with a fourth-down sack.
Campbell summed it up perfectly: “It wasn’t perfect, there are things to clean up, certainly… but I’ll take that win. That’s a good win.”
The Injury Report: A Cause for Concern
If there’s a cloud hanging over this short week, it’s the injury report — especially up front.
Center Graham Glasgow (knee) did not practice on Monday, and that’s no small thing for an offensive line that leans heavily on communication. Tackles Taylor Decker (shoulder) and Penei Sewell (ankle), along with guard Tate Ratledge (knee), all worked in a limited fashion. Rookie Miles Frazier may be active, but tossing him into the mix against a disciplined Packers front is asking a lot.
The secondary isn’t at full strength either. Top corner Terrion Arnold remains in concussion protocol, though he was able to practice in a limited capacity. Safety Kerby Joseph is expected to miss his sixth straight game, leaving the back end thinner than you’d like heading into a matchup against a team that doesn’t turn the ball over much.
There was talk about activating Marcus Davenport and Josh Pascal, but that remains to be seen.
Scouting the Packers & Keys to Victory
Make no mistake: Green Bay is a legitimate problem. At 7–3–1 with a top-five scoring defense, the Packers have already proven they can frustrate this Lions offense — they did it back in Week 1.
For Detroit to flip the script, a few things have to happen:
- Protect Jared Goff.
With a banged-up line, protection becomes priority one. The Packers will test every weak link and bring pressure until the Lions prove they can handle it. - Feed Jahmyr Gibbs early and often.
Gibbs changes the geometry of the game. His ability to turn a crease into a chunk play keeps defenses honest and opens up everything else in the playbook. - Let Hutchinson and the front dictate.
The Lions’ defense has to make life uncomfortable for Green Bay’s quarterback and finally steal a possession or two. This Packers team does a good job avoiding mistakes — Detroit needs to force some. - Stay clean in the moment.
National TV, Thanksgiving, rivalry game — emotions will run hot. The Lions can’t afford drive-killing penalties, missed tackles, or red-zone stalls.
This one has all the classic NFC North ingredients: physical football, a long history, and real consequences in the standings. For Detroit, it’s a chance to show the Week 1 loss was an early-season version of themselves they’ve outgrown.
Beyond the Game: A Full Thanksgiving Experience
Ford Field will be rocking well before kickoff. Detroit native and 12-time Grammy winner Jack White is set to headline the halftime show, with global icon Eminem and his longtime manager Paul Rosenberg serving as executive producers. The Lions are also teaming up with Eminem on a limited-edition merch drop — another little piece of Motor City flavor on a day the whole country is watching.
Off the field, the franchise is clearly thinking long-term. The Lions have locked in defensive end Aidan Hutchinson through the 2030 season and wide receiver Jameson Williams through 2029, signaling a commitment to keeping their core intact. Throw in the announcement that ticket prices will remain flat for 2026, and you can feel a front office that believes this window is just opening.
So as the plates get loaded and the TVs click on across Michigan and beyond, the Lions will be stepping into a moment that’s bigger than just one game. It’s Thanksgiving, it’s Detroit, it’s Packers-Lions with the division on the line.
Grab a plate, find your lucky spot on the couch, and settle in. This one matters.
What’s your Thanksgiving tradition — wait until the game is over to eat, enjoy both at the same time, or do you turn off the TV, eat, then catch up on the DVR? Drop a comment below or join the conversation in the Lion’s Den — where fans break down every game, every angle.
Info gathered from team reports, pressers & trusted media outlets — the way we always do it at Mitten Sports Talk.
