The Detroit Lions are set to kick off the NFL”s Thanksgiving triple-header on Thursday, facing off against the Green Bay Packers at 1 PM ET. Both teams are eager for a victory as they pursue the Chicago Bears, who currently lead the NFC North with an 8-3 record this season. The Lions and Packers, each with seven wins, are closely trailing. Meanwhile, the Bears are preparing for a challenging match against the Philadelphia Eagles on Black Friday.
After the Lions-Packers game, the Dallas Cowboys will host the Kansas City Chiefs at 4:25 PM ET, followed by the Baltimore Ravens taking on the Cincinnati Bengals to conclude the Thanksgiving slate.
The tradition of playing on Thanksgiving Day is deeply rooted in the Lions” history, a custom that has been maintained almost every year since 1934. The franchise was first established in Portsmouth, Ohio, in 1928, originally named the Portsmouth Spartans when it entered the NFL in 1930. In 1934, the team relocated to Detroit and was rebranded as the Lions, in line with the city”s other major sports team, the Detroit Tigers.
At that time, the Tigers were the preeminent sports franchise in Detroit, supported by the Detroit Red Wings, a founding team of the National Hockey League. Founded in 1926, the Red Wings experienced early struggles before gaining popularity following a rebranding in 1932. When the Lions arrived in Detroit two years later, owner George A. Richards sought innovative ways to attract fans. He initiated the Thanksgiving Day game tradition to boost attendance.
Richards arranged a game against the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving, and although the Lions lost, the outcome was significant. The stadium reached full capacity, with many fans turned away at the entrance. Additionally, Richards owned the WJR radio station, an NBC Blue Network affiliate, and after discussions with him, the network agreed to broadcast the Lions-Bears matchup. This game marked the first national NFL broadcast, airing across 94 stations and significantly enhancing the franchise”s visibility.
The Lions” Thanksgiving tradition has continued, leading to a record of 38 wins, 44 losses, and 2 ties on this holiday. In 1966, the Cowboys adopted a similar tradition, and since 1978, both the Lions and Cowboys have hosted Thanksgiving games annually. The Lions always play the early game, while the Cowboys follow suit, contributing to the NFL”s Thanksgiving festivities.
Since 2006, the league has also introduced primetime slots for Thanksgiving, creating a much-anticipated tripleheader each year. This season”s matchups could be critical for the NFL playoff picture, particularly as the NFC North remains one of the league”s most competitive divisions. The Cowboys and Chiefs are also in contention for playoff spots, each with five losses this season. The primetime game may prove exciting, especially with the potential return of Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow from injury. While Cincinnati”s playoff aspirations seem slim, they could still challenge the Ravens” momentum.
