Detroit Lions legend Calvin Johnson at Ford Field before the Lions/Giants game
Detroit Lions legend Calvin Johnson visits Ford Field ahead of the New York Giants game on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2025 in Detroit.
The Detroit Lions‘ Thanksgiving Day game comes with a little extra gravy in 2025.
The Lions (7-4, third in NFC North) will face the rival Green Bay Packers (7-3-1, second in NFC North) in a titanic Thanksgiving Day tilt on Thursday, Nov. 27, at 1 p.m. ET (Fox) at Ford Field in Detroit. The winner will have an inside track toward the NFL playoffs and a better shot to catch the first-place Chicago Bears in the division, while the loser will face a tougher task in the crowded NFC playoff picture.
Detroit is coming off a come-from-behind 34-27 overtime win over the New York Giants (2-10) on Sunday. The game featured plenty of reasons why Lions fans should be worried about this team down the stretch, and also once again demonstrated the resiliency that has become a hallmark over the Dan Campbell era.
Watch all 3 NFL Thanksgiving games on Fubo
But that resiliency will be tested against a Packers team that handed the Lions their biggest loss of the season, a 27-13 thumping in the season opener.
Both teams are markedly different now, however. Green Bay has never looked quite as good since, but is on a two-game winning streak − beating the Giants 27-20 and Minnesota Vikings 23-6 − while the Lions feature a secondary wrecked by injuries and an offensive line that has struggled in pass protection all season.
Here’s an early prediction for the Lions-Packers game on Thanksgiving, plus start time, TV channel, betting odds and more.
Lions vs Packers prediction for Thanksgiving game
Would anybody seriously pick the Lions to beat the Packers after watching that game against the Giants? Let’s consider some reasons why that’s not such a bad idea.
For one, the Giants, as one fan noted outside the Ford Field media elevator, might be the best 2-10 team in NFL history. The Packers also only beat the Giants by seven points the week prior (on the road), and also have a close loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, like the Lions, and an embarrassing loss to the Cleveland Browns on their resume. Packers fans might be thinking about their own team the same way Lions fans are thinking about theirs.
But then again, it didn’t seem like the Lions offensive line could provide any interior protection for quarterback Jared Goff against the Giants, necessitating an all-time performance from running back Jahmyr Gibbs to keep this team alive in the playoff race. Also, the secondary looks like it badly misses safety Kerby Joseph and cornerback Terrion Arnold. Oh, and the Packers have already beaten the Lions this season.
If Packers running back Josh Jacobs remains out due to a knee injury, the sportsbooks, which have the Lions as a field goal favorite, seem like the smart pick − especially since the Lions have Gibbs on their side. The pick: Lions 27, Packers 23.
Lions vs Packers channelLions vs Packers streaming
The Thanksgiving Day matchup between the Lions and Packers will air on Fox, with streaming available on Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
Watch Lions vs Packers Thanksgiving game on Fubo
Lions vs Packers odds
The Lions are slight favorites at home against the Packers in Detroit.
Spread: Lions by 2½ points.Over/under: 48½ points.Moneyline: Lions (-150), Packers (+125).
Odds are courtesy of BetMGM as of Monday afternoon.
Lions schedule 2025Week 1: L, 27-13 at Green Bay Packers.Week 2: W, 52-21 vs Chicago Bears.Week 3: W, 38-30 at Baltimore Ravens.Week 4: W, 34-10 vs Cleveland Browns.Week 5: W, 37-24 at Cincinnati Bengals.Week 6: L, 30-17 at Kansas City Chiefs.Week 7: W, 24-9 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Week 8: Bye week.Week 9: L, 27-24 vs Minnesota Vikings.Week 10: W, 44-22 at Washington Commanders.Week 11: L, 16-9 at Philadelphia Eagles.Week 12: W, 34-27 vs New York Giants.Week 13, Thursday, Nov. 27: vs Green Bay Packers, 1 p.m., Fox.Week 14, Thursday, Dec. 4: vs Dallas Cowboys, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video.Week 15, Sunday, Dec. 14: at Los Angeles Rams, 4:25 p.m., Fox.Week 16, Sunday, Dec. 21: vs Pittsburgh Steelers, 4:25 p.m., CBS.Week 17, Thursday, Dec. 25: at Minnesota Vikings, 4:30 p.m., Netflix.Week 18, Saturday/Sunday, Jan. 3-4: at Chicago Bears, TBD.
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.