The Thanksgiving Day game at Ford Field has been a longstanding tradition for the Detroit Lions. But in this year’s game, they found themselves losing to a division rival, the Green Bay Packers, 31-24.
However, for the Packers, this is a holiday wish come true as it helps them catch up to the Chicago Bears, secure a playoff spot, and possibly win the NFC North.
Can the Packers Win the NFC North Now That They Beat the Lions?
The Packers entered the Lions game with a 7-3-1 record and in sixth place in the NFC. Both teams were hoping to win to help catch up to the 8-3 Bears, who lead the division.
According to PFSN’s Playoff Predictor, before the game, Green Bay had a 37.10% chance of winning the division and a 70.50% chance of making the playoffs. With the win, those odds have jumped in the Packers’ favor. Now they have a 53.90% chance of winning the NFC West and an 87.10% chance of making the playoffs.
While there is still a lot of football left to play before Super Bowl 60 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, their chances of winning the big game are now at 6.80%.
#Packers (8-3-1) complete the regular season sweep over the Lions.
31-24 your final.After going 1-5 in the NFC North last year, the Packers currently sit at 3-0. pic.twitter.com/EaQw7P4aUy
— Dominique Yates (@RealDYates) November 27, 2025
Green Bay has solidly improved on both sides of the ball. Running back Josh Jacobs has given them a punishing run game, and new addition Micah Parsons has taken their defense from good to great.
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According to PFSN’s Offense Impact metric, the Packers have a grade of B+ and an impact score of 87.5. That ranks them third in the entire NFL. That is an improvement from seventh place for the 2024 season.
Based on PFSN’s Defense Impact metric, Parsons has helped them go from 11th place in 2024 to eighth for the 2025 season based on their first 11 games.
The NFC North has proved to be a challenging division so far in 2025. While a second-place spot might have felt close to a playoff guarantee, the Lions have been nipping at their heels all season.
However, the Packers dominated the Lions this season, defeating them both times, but the rest of the schedule is no cake walk. They will face the first-place Bears twice in December, as well as the Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens, and Minnesota Vikings to close out the regular season.
The loyal Packers fan base has been generally pleased with the changes Matt LaFleur has brought to the team. In his first six seasons with the Green Bay Packers, he has led his team to the postseason five times. It appears that this season will be the same.
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated throughout the day as more information becomes available.Â