Lions and Packers compared to your favorite Thanksgiving foods
Joe Rivera and Chris Bumbaca break down Thursday’s Lions vs. Packers Thanksgiving matchup.
It’s time to gear up for another thrilling week of the NFL, and the NFL Thanksgiving football games kick off with a tasty NFC North matchup when the Detroit Lions (7-4) host the Green Bay Packers (7-3-1).
The Packers defeated the Lions in Week 1, 27-13 and Jordan Love is hoping to lead the Pack to another win on the road. Both teams are in the thick of the NFC playoff race, and the NFC North remains up for grabs with both sides trailing the Chicago Bears in the standings.
The Lions are 38-45-2 on Thanksgiving Day since the tradition began in 1934, except for the 1939-1944 seasons, which were canceled due to World War II. The 2025 version of this Detroit team is eyeing a deep playoff run despite trailing Green Bay in the standings. The Lions have won the NFC North title two years in a row, but the Packers are looking to usurp them this season.
Green Bay is eyeing its third straight win entering this showdown on Thanksgiving at Ford Field. They’ll need to bring their A-game if they want to overcome the Lions who have been a juggernaut at home.
In a playoff race that sees just seven teams make the dance, this matchup could go a long way in deciding if either team misses out in January. There’s plenty of star power on the field for both sides and the first of the Thanksgiving triple-header promises to be entertaining.
USA TODAY Sports will be tracking live scoring plays, updates, stats and highlights from the NFL Thanksgiving game today. Follow along below for the latest developments from Detroit. All times are Eastern.
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Typically, halftime last 12 minutes in the NFL. However, that can be extended in the event that there is a halftime show.
After getting a stop on fourth down to start the half, the Packers scored almost instantly off the arm of Jordan Love: Love found Christian Watson for 51 yards for a touchdown to extend Green Bay’s lead. Packers 24, Lions 14
The singer and guitarist and former member of the famed White Stripes took the stage for the break during the Thanksgiving matchup, and he was joined by legendary rapper and Detroit native, Eminem.
Jameson Williams accounted for a big chunk of yards on the Lions scoring drive, including the Detroit TD. The scurry to the end zone led to a touchdown, and the Lions now trail 17-14. Packers 17, Lions 14
Prior to the Doubs score, flags flew for a potential Packers false start. After some deliberation among the refs, LaFleur was granted a timeout.
Cameras caught LaFleur approaching the side judge prior to the flag being thrown, but the timeout signal wasn’t made until the flag had been thrown.
That kept it a fourth-and-1 rather than a fourth-and-6, and led to the Doubs score.
On a fourth-and-1 from inside the 5-yard line, the Packers again converted fourth down and again found pay dirt. This time, Jordan Love found Romeo Doubs for a touchdown to lengthen Green Bay’s lead ahead of halftime. Packers 17, Lions 7
The Packers hail from Green Bay, Wisconsin, which is located on the Fox River of the Green Bay inlet of Lake Michigan.
A short TD run from David Montgomery finally gets the Lions on the board, with the run coming late in the second quarter. Packers 10, Lions 7
Tom Kennedy has played in the NFL since 2019, strictly as a member of the Lions. However, his journey to game day features being waived several times, and last played in a game in 2024. He’s played in just 24 games total in his NFL career, catching 14 passes.
He is not related to any of the Kennedys of political fame.
Jordan Love found Dontayvion Wicks for a fourth-and-2 touchdown to lengthen the Packers’ lead to 10-0 over the Lions in the second quarter. Replay review upheld the call. Packers 10, Lions 0
The Lions wide receiver was rolled up on by two of his own players, and took a second to get to his feet. He eventually got up and walked off, and headed to the locker room with Lions staff.
He is officially listed as questionable to return with an ankle injury.
The Packers get the first bite at the turkey leg on Thanksgiving: Brandon McManus hits a field goal after the Lions defense holds. Packers 3, Lions 0
The Cowboys acquired one current player and two first-round picks in the deal that sent Parsons to the Packers. The pieces Dallas acquired are as follows:
DLÂ Kenny Clark2026 first-round pick2027 first-round pick
Clark, the lone current asset in the deal for Dallas, spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Packers. The 29-year-old made the Pro Bowl three times with Green Bay and racked up 417 tackles and 35 sacks across 140 games with the team.
Winans is an American gospel singer who is the best-selling female gospel artist of all time and has won 17 Grammy Award over her decades-long musical career.
Winans was born in Detroit as one of 10 children to David Winans Sr. and Delores Winans. The family became renowned gospel artists when four of her older brothers – Marvin, Carvin, Michael and Ronald – formed a gospel quartet known as “The Winans.”
The start time for the Lions vs. Packers game is scheduled to kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, Nov. 27.
This is a little later than the usual Thanksgiving start time of 12:30 p.m. ET (11:30 a.m. CT).
Yes, the Packers running back is playing after a single-game absence. Jacobs banged up his knee in Week 11 vs. the Giants, and missed Week 12 vs. the Vikings.
Cord-cutters will be able to access the Lions vs. Packers game with Fubo, which carries NFL Network, as well as CBS, Fox and the ESPN family of networks. That will allow Fubo subscribers to catch almost all of the league’s action during the 2025 NFL season.
NFL’s proprietary streaming service, NFL+, will also carry the game, along with Fox’s streaming services of Tubi and Fox One.
The Lions head coach is Dan Campbell, former NFL tight end. Campbell was hired by the Lions ahead of the 2021 season, and has guided them to a 46-32-1 record.
He was also the Miami Dolphins interim head coach in 2017, replacing a fired Joe Philbin.
Wide receiver Matthew Golden will again be out with a wrist injury. Here’s the complete list for today’s game:
Matthew Golden, WRQuay Walker, LBNate Hobbs, CBDonovan Jennings, OLSavion Williams, WRLukas Van Ness, EDGEKarl Brooks, DL
Frank Ragnow will not yet make his re-debut with the Lions, and they will again be without Kerby Joseph in the back end of the defense. Here’s the list:
Miles Frazier, OLGraham Glasgow, OLKerby Joseph, STyler Lacy, DLKalif Raymond, WRMekhi Wingo, DLWhat channel is Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers on today?
Fox is set to broadcast the Thanksgiving game between the Lions and the Packers. The network’s No. 1 crew of Kevin Burkhardt (play-by-play) and Tom Brady (game analyst) will be on the call for the game, while Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi will patrol the sidelines.
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Here’s the lineup of Turkey Day football today:
Lions vs. Packers: 1 p.m. ETCowboys vs. Chiefs: 4:30 p.m. ETRavens vs. Bengals: 8:20 p.m. ET
Center Frank Ragnow is coming out of retirement to join the Lions for the final stretch of the regular season, per multiple reports. The franchise posted a photo of Ragnow with no context on X but it appears the four-time Pro Bowler is set to suit up once again.
Lions vs. Packers predictions, picks
Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels the Lions-Packers Thanksgiving game will shake out:
Jarrett Bell: Lions 27, Packers 26Nick Brinkerhoff: Lions 27, Packers 23Chris Bumbaca: Packers 27, Lions 24Nate Davis: Lions 24, Packers 20Tyler Dragon: Lions 28, Packers 24Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: Lions 24, Packers 19
The Packers currently sit in second place in the NFC North with Week 13 getting underway, making the Turkey Day matchup between the Lions and Packers especially important for the playoff race.
Chicago Bears (8-3)Green Bay Packers (7-3-1)Detroit Lions (7-4)Minnesota Vikings (4-7)Lions vs. Packers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 9:20 a.m.
Moneyline (ML):Â Detroit -150 (Bet $150 to win $100) | Green Bay +125 (Bet $100 to win $125)Against the spread (ATS):Â Detroit -2.5 (-118) | Green Bay +2.5 (-102)Over/Under (O/U):Â 48.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)