By Mark Constance
MICHIGAN – Michigan is about football today
This Thanksgiving tradition is so deeply rooted in our local sports culture, we can’t imagine a time without it. And few rivalries embody that spirit more than the battles between the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers.
With decades of history, this series has delivered iconic moments, fierce competition, and lasting memories … for fans of both teams.
And the pair are scheduled to face off again Thursday at 1 p.m. at Ford Field. Detroit currently holds a 12-8-1 record in the rivalry with a 38-45-2 overall Thanksgiving record.
The NFL has played games on Thanksgiving Day since its inception in 1920. The NFL’s Thanksgiving Day games have traditionally included one game hosted by the Detroit Lions since 1934, and one game hosted by the Dallas Cowboys since 1966 (Except 1975 and 77).
A third prime time game was added in 2006. Unlike the Detroit and Dallas games, teams rotate every year.
The Lions, are currently sporting a 7-4 mark, behind that of 1934 when they started 9-1. University of Detroit Stadium was the Lions’ home field from 1934-37 and 1940. Located on the McNichols Campus of Detroit Mercy, the stadium hosted the first Lions Thanksgiving Day game in 1934.
The Packers, not one of the stronger teams of the era, became one of the early opponents. The game was an instant hit, drawing tens of thousands of fans and marking the start of a beloved annual custom.
Over the years, the Lions’ Thanksgiving games grew into a centerpiece of the NFL schedule, and matchups with the Packers became some of the most anticipated.
These recent games have often been high-stakes battles, featuring legendary players like Barry Sanders, Brett Favre, Matthew Stafford, Aaron Rodgers, Jamyr Gibbs, Penne Sewell and Calvin Johnson.
Thanksgiving games between these teams frequently reflect the state of the rivalry—tough, gritty, and hard-fought. Whether it’s a battle for NFC North supremacy or a prideful clash between two storied franchises, these matchups rarely disappoint.
Although many Lions players had memorable contests on Thanksgiving, Barry Sanders added to his hall credentials in 1997. Sanders ran for 167 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Lions to a 55-20 win. He scored on runs of 40, 25 and 15 yards as the Lions scored 45 straight points to rally from a two-possession deficit. He finished the regular season with 2,053 yards rushing.
Perhaps the most memorable old-time game between the Lions and Packers was the Nov. 22, 1962, Thanksgiving Day matchup, where the Lions crushed the then-undefeated Packers 26-14.
This game is remembered for the Lions’ defence, which handed the eventual champion Packers their only loss of the season. Packers coach Vince Lombardi stunned everyone when he said, “This loss will make a better team out of us.”
The Lions jumped to a 23-0 halftime lead, watched the defense sack Packers quarterback Bart Starr 11 times and force him to throw two interceptions.
While the Lions and Packers’ Thanksgiving rivalry hasn’t been an every-year occurrence, it remains a cherished tradition whenever the NFL pits themagainst one another on the holiday.
For fans in Detroit and Green Bay, it’s more than a game—it’s a celebration of community, family, and football. With each meeting, the series writes a new chapter in its rich history, ensuring that the Lions-Packers Thanksgiving battles remain a treasured part of our family lore.
– Information courtesy of the following: Wiki, University of Detroit, profootballhalloffame.com, DetroitLions.com, Detroitnews.com, history.com; detroithistorical.org, jsonline; packers.com
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Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Day record:
- 1934 – 19-16 loss to Bears
1935 – 14-2 win over Bears
• 193613-7 win over Bears
• 1937 – 13-0 loss to Bears
• 1938 – 14-7 win over Bears
• 1945 – 28-21 loss to Cleveland Rams
• 1946 – 34-10 loss to Boston Yanks
• 1947 – 34-14 loss to Bears
• 1948 – 28-14 loss to Chicago Cardinals
• 1949 – 28-7 loss to Bears
• 1950 – 49-14 win over New York Yanks
• 1951 – 52-35 win over Packers
• 1952 – 48-24 win over Packers
• 1953 – 34-15 win over Packers
• 1954 – 28-24 win over Packers
• 1955 – 24-10 win over Packers
• 1956 – 24-20 loss to Packers
• 1957 – 18-6 win over Packers
• 1958 – 24-14 win over Packers
• 1959 – 24-17 loss to Packers
• 1960 – 23-10 win over Packers
• 1961 – 17-9 loss to Packers
• 1962 – 26-14 win over Packers
• 1963 – 13-13 tie with Packers
• 1964 – 27-24 loss to Bears
• 1965 – 24-24 tie with Colts
• 1966 – 41-14 loss to 49ers
• 1967 – 31-7 loss to Rams
• 1968 – 12-0 loss to Eagles
• 1969 – 27-0 loss to Vikings
• 1970 – 28-14 win over Raiders
• 1971 – 32-21 win over Chiefs
• 1972 – 37-20 win over Jets
• 1973 – 20-0 loss to Redskins
• 1974 – 31-27 loss to Broncos
• 1975 – 20-0 loss to Rams
• 1976 – 27-14 win over Bills
• 1977 – 31-14 loss to Bears
• 1978 – 17-14 win over Broncos
• 1979 – 20-0 win over Bears
• 1980 – 23-17 loss to Bears
• 1981 – 27-10 win over Chiefs
• 1982 – 13-6 loss to Giants
• 1983 – 45-3 win over Steelers
• 1984 – 31-28 win over Packers
• 1985 – 31-20 win over Jets
• 1986 – 44-40 loss to Packers
• 1987 – 27-20 loss to Chiefs
• 1988 – 23-0 loss to Vikings
• 1989 – 13-10 win over Browns
• 1990 – 40-27 win over Broncos
• 1991 – 16-6 win over Bears
• 1992 – 24-21 loss to Oilers
• 1993 – 10-6 loss to Bears
• 1994 – 35-21 win over Bills
• 1995 – 44-38 win over Vikings
• 1996 – 28-24 loss to Chiefs
• 1997 – 55-20 win over Bears
• 1998 – 19-16 win over Steelers
• 1999 – 21-17 win over Bears
• 2000 – 34-9 win over Patriots
• 2001 – 29-27 loss to Packers
• 2002 – 20-12 loss to Patriots
• 2003 – 22-14 win over Packers
• 2004 – 41-9 loss to Colts
• 2005 – 27-7 loss to Falcons
• 2006 – 27-10 loss to Dolphins
• 2007 – 37-26 loss to Packers
• 2008 – 47-10 loss to Titans
• 2009 – 34-12 loss to Packers
• 2010 – 45-24 loss to Patriots
• 2011 – 27-15 loss to Packers
• 2012 – 34-31 loss to Texans
• 2013 – 40-10 win over Packers
• 2014 – 34-17 win over Bears
• 2015 – 45-15 win over Eagles
• 2016 – 16-13 win over Vikings
• 2017 – 30-23 loss to Vikings
• 2018 – 23-16 loss to Bears
• 2019 – 24-20 loss to Bears
• 2020 – 41-25 loss to Texans
• 2021 – 16-14 loss to Bears
• 2022 – 28-25 loss to Buffalo Bills
• 2023 – 29-22 loss to Packers - 2024 – 24-14 win over Packers
