To say the arrow is pointing upwards for the Lions right now would be an understatement. Detroit is 8-3 this season and 16-5 since Week 9 of last season, and Dan Campbell's squad entered Thanksgiving weekend leading the NFC North by 2.5 games.
Still, there are hurdles to clear before the Lions officially reach new heights. Detroit hasn't made the playoffs since 2016 and hasn't won a playoff game since 1991. Before they overcome those demons, the Lions might have to snap their Thanksgiving losing streak.
Ford Field hosts a Lions game on the holiday each year, but the last seven have all been losses. Detroit entered a matchup with the Packers with expectations of a streak-breaking win, only to fall behind early and struggle to keep up with Green Bay. Lions fans witnessed yet another Thanksgiving loss in an otherwise promising season.
MORE: Why do the Lions always play on Thanksgiving?
Here's a look back at the Lions' last Thanksgiving win and Detroit's overall record on the holiday.
When was the last time the Lions won on Thanksgiving?
The Lions' last Thanksgiving win came in 2016, when they defeated Minnesota 16-13.
Both the Lions and Vikings went into the matchup at 6-4 with playoff hopes in hand, and both scored a touchdown in the first quarter. Neither would find the end zone again.
The remainder of the game was a field goal fest, with Matt Prater kicking not one, but two field goals after the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter. Prater's initial field goal tied the game at 13, and he got another opportunity when Darius Slay intercepted Sam Bradford with 30 seconds remaining.
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The turnover instantly put the Lions in field goal range, and they simply took a knee to set up the last-second attempt by Prater, who would drill the kick from 40 yards out.
The win came during a much different time for the franchise, with Matthew Stafford looking for a playoff berth under third-year coach Jim Caldwell and first-year GM Bob Quinn. The Lions would reach the playoffs at 9-7 but lose to the Seahawks in the wild-card round. The Vikings finished one game behind the Lions at 8-8, so Bradford's interception made all the difference in the end.
On Thursday, it will be Jared Goff -- who made his first NFL start just days before the Lions' last Thanksgiving win -- under center facing another NFC North rival, the Packers. Detroit remains a feel-good story, but the expectation on Thanksgiving will be a victory. That alone is a change of pace for a long-suffering franchise.
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Lions Thanksgiving record
The Lions are 37-45-2 playing on Thanksgiving in franchise history.
Thanksgiving games have been quite a whirlwind for the Lions over the last two decades, as Detroit endured a nine-year losing streak on the holiday from 2004-12 only to rattle off four consecutive wins from 2013-16.
Since then, however, losses have again piled up. The Lions are 4-16 on Thanksgiving since 2004, and they missed a major opportunity to get back in the win column in 2023.
Here's a complete look at the Lions' Thanksgiving history.
| Year | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1934 | Chicago Bears | L, 19-16 |
| 1935 | Chicago Bears | W, 14-2 |
| 1936 | Chicago Bears | W, 13-7 |
| 1937 | Chicago Bears | L, 13-0 |
| 1938 | Chicago Bears | W, 14-7 |
| 1945 | Cleveland Rams | L, 28-21 |
| 1946 | Boston Yanks | L, 34-10 |
| 1947 | Chicago Bears | L, 34-14 |
| 1948 | Chicago Cards | L, 28-14 |
| 1949 | Chicago Bears | L, 28-7 |
| 1950 | New York Yanks | W, 49-14 |
| 1951 | Green Bay Packers | W, 52-35 |
| 1952 | Green Bay Packers | W, 48-24 |
| 1953 | Green Bay Packers | W, 34-15 |
| 1954 | Green Bay Packers | W, 28-24 |
| 1955 | Green Bay Packers | W, 24-10 |
| 1956 | Green Bay Packers | L, 24-20 |
| 1957 | Green Bay Packers | W, 18-6 |
| 1958 | Green Bay Packers | W, 24-14 |
| 1959 | Green Bay Packers | L, 24-17 |
| 1960 | Green Bay Packers | W, 23-10 |
| 1961 | Green Bay Packers | L, 17-9 |
| 1962 | Green Bay Packers | W, 26-14 |
| 1963 | Green Bay Packers | T, 13-13 |
| 1964 | Chicago Bears | L, 27-24 |
| 1965 | Baltimore Colts | T, 24-24 |
| 1966 | San Francisco 49ers | L, 41-14 |
| 1967 | Los Angeles Rams | L, 31-7 |
| 1968 | Philadelphia Eagles | L, 12-0 |
| 1969 | Minnesota Vikings | L, 27-0 |
| 1970 | Oakland Raiders | W, 28-14 |
| 1971 | Kansas City Chiefs | W, 32-21 |
| 1972 | New York Jets | W, 37-20 |
| 1973 | Washington Redskins | L, 20-0 |
| 1974 | Denver Broncos | L, 31-27 |
| 1975 | Los Angeles Rams | L, 20-0 |
| 1976 | Buffalo Bills | W, 27-14 |
| 1977 | Chicago Bears | L, 31-14 |
| 1978 | Denver Broncos | W, 17-14 |
| 1979 | Chicago Bears | W, 20-0 |
| 1980 | Chicago Bears | L, 23-17 (OT) |
| 1981 | Kansas City Chiefs | W, 27-10 |
| 1982 | New York Giants | L, 13-6 |
| 1983 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W, 45-3 |
| 1984 | Green Bay Packers | W, 31-28 |
| 1985 | New York Jets | W, 31-20 |
| 1986 | Green Bay Packers | L, 44-40 |
| 1987 | Kansas City Chiefs | L, 27-20 |
| 1988 | Minnesota Vikings | L, 23-0 |
| 1989 | Cleveland Browns | W, 13-10 |
| 1990 | Denver Broncos | W, 40-27 |
| 1991 | Chicago Bears | W, 16-6 |
| 1992 | Houston Texans | L, 24-21 |
| 1993 | Chicago Bears | L, 10-6 |
| 1994 | Buffalo Bills | W, 35-21 |
| 1995 | Minnesota Vikings | W, 44-38 |
| 1996 | Kansas City Chiefs | L, 28-24 |
| 1997 | Chicago Bears | W, 55-20 |
| 1998 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W, 19-16 (OT) |
| 1999 | Chicago Bears | W, 21-17 |
| 2000 | New England Patriots | W, 34-9 |
| 2001 | Green Bay Packers | L, 29-27 |
| 2002 | New England Patriots | L, 20-12 |
| 2003 | Green Bay Packers | W, 22-14 |
| 2004 | Indianapolis Colts | L, 41-9 |
| 2005 | Atlanta Falcons | L, 27-7 |
| 2006 | Miami Dolphins | L, 27-10 |
| 2007 | Green Bay Packers | L, 37-26 |
| 2008 | Tennessee Titans | L, 47-10 |
| 2009 | Green Bay Packers | L, 34-12 |
| 2010 | New England Patriots | L, 45-24 |
| 2011 | Green Bay Packers | L, 27-15 |
| 2012 | Houston Texans | L, 34-31 (OT) |
| 2013 | Green Bay Packers | W, 40-10 |
| 2014 | Chicago Bears | W, 34-17 |
| 2015 | Philadelphia Eagles | W, 45-14 |
| 2016 | Minnesota Vikings | W, 16-13 |
| 2017 | Minnesota Vikings | L, 30-23 |
| 2018 | Chicago Bears | L, 23-16 |
| 2019 | Chicago Bears | L, 24-20 |
| 2020 | Houston Texans | L, 41-25 |
| 2021 | Chicago Bears | L, 16-14 |
| 2022 | Buffalo Bills | L, 28-25 |
| 2023 | Green Bay Packers | L, 29-22 |
Why do the Lions always play on Thanksgiving?
1934 was a landmark year for the Lions, even beyond the start of the franchise's Thanksgiving tradition. It was actually the first year of the "Lions" name, as the team had been known as the Portsmouth Spartans from 1930-33. As part of the Lions' relocation, they played at University of Detroit Stadium starting with the 1934 season.
MORE: How John Madden started the NFL's Thanksgiving Turkey Leg tradition
Owner George A. Richards concocted a plan to attract fan interest by playing on Thanksgiving, and the decision instantly worked with fans filling the stadium to see the Lions host the Bears.
Why did the game quickly stick as a tradition? Richards owned an NBC radio affiliate and was able to work out a deal to broadcast the 1934 game on NBC. That kind of exposure paid dividends for both Richards and the network, and the Lions have continued to play on Thanksgiving ever since.
