After racing out to a 16-0 lead, the Detroit Lions held on for dear life and escaped the Chicago Bears with a 23-20 win in their annual Thanksgiving home game in Week 13.
The NFL regularly plays three games on Thanksgiving, and the Lions have been a constant presence on the slate of games. Playing a fixture on Turkey Day annually has become regular for the Lions and is a deep-rooted holiday tradition.
Prior to the Week 13 win, when was the last time Detroit won on Thanksgiving, and what is their all-time Thanksgiving record?
The Detroit Lions’ Last Thanksgiving Victory
Despite playing on Thanksgiving every season, it had been a while since Detroit registered a win.
Before beating Chicago in 2024, you had to go back to Thanksgiving 2016 for the Lions’ last win on the holiday, overcoming the Minnesota Vikings 16-13.
Both Detroit and Minnesota entered that game with winning records, but the game was an unattractive watch. Yes, both teams scored a touchdown in the first quarter, but that was followed up with an exchange of field goals as the only form of scoring before the Lions kicker, Matt Prater, scored a walk-off field goal as the clock hit zeroes.
The Lions were on a four-game unbeaten run on Thanksgiving before it came to an end in 2017. Between their 2016 and 2024 wins, the Lions lost to the Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, Vikings again, Green Bay Packers, and twice to the Bears.
The Lions’ Thanksgiving Record
Detroit hosted the first-ever Thanksgiving game in 1934 and has played on Thanksgiving since, only taking a break during World War II. They are one of two teams who play on Thanksgiving every year.
For families, watching the Lions play has become a Thanksgiving staple up and down the country. We have, however, seen them lose more often than they have won.
When playing on Thanksgiving, the Lions have a record of 38-45-2.
Despite playing on Thanksgiving being a tradition for the Lions, it has not brought them great results. Between 2004 and 2012, the Lions lost nine games on the bounce on Thanksgiving.
The Lions have played on Thanksgiving 85 times including the 2024 season, making Detroit the team that has played the most Thanksgiving games by a wide margin. Unfortunately for the Lions, though, they have lost over half of those Thanksgiving games.
The Lions are currently on a seven-game losing streak on Thanksgiving, but 2024 has been a new chapter in Detroit’s history. The Lions’ stirring win over the Bears was their 10th in a row, tying the 1934 team for the longest in franchise history.
This was be the fourth Thanksgiving game that Lions head coach Dan Campbell has taken charge of, and he is now in a routine in the build-up to Thanksgiving games. Speaking to “97.1 The Ticket“, Campbell said, “It’s really pretty similar to what we’ve done since Year 1. I mean, there’s only so much you can do.”