Detroit Lions Break Thanksgiving Curse with Nail-Biting Win Over Chicago Bears
DETROIT — For Dan Campbell, Thanksgiving Day hasn’t exactly been a holiday to savor in recent years. The Detroit Lions head coach had endured three straight Thanksgiving losses, and the frustration was palpable. Campbell himself admitted he was a “bear” to be around during the holiday, leaving his wife, Holly, praying for a change of fortune this year. Well, her prayers were answered on Thursday as the Lions finally delivered a Thanksgiving win, narrowly defeating the Chicago Bears 23-20.
“It’d be nice to feel good about it when you’re with everybody because it’s just not real fun. It’s not real fun to be around,” Campbell confessed before the game. “Ask my wife, she’ll tell you.”
But this year, the Lions gave Campbell and their fans something to celebrate. The victory not only snapped a seven-game Thanksgiving losing streak but also propelled the Lions to an 11-1 record, marking the best start in franchise history. For a team that has long been synonymous with Thanksgiving heartbreak, this win felt like a turning point.
Campbell’s Relief: “I’m Gonna Enjoy This”
After the game, Campbell’s mood was a stark contrast to previous years. “Listen, much better. Much better. I’ll take a W,” he said with a smile. “Look, that’s division win No. 3, which is huge, especially in the race we’re in right now, and that’s win 11, and it’s another conference win. So, I feel good. I’m going to take that W and I’m going to enjoy this Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, and all your families and everybody out there. I’m gonna enjoy this.”
For Campbell, the win wasn’t just about breaking a streak; it was about setting a new tone for the team and the city. “If you’re not careful, you start grading your own wins,” he told his players. “It’s good because you have these standards and the way you think you should play by your own standards, by what you have. It has nothing to do with the opponent. It’s just you know yourselves and you know what you’re capable of. So, if you’re not careful, you start going too far down that thing, then you start taking wins for granted. And ultimately, that’s a good win.”
Jared Goff Checks Off a Bucket List Item
Veteran quarterback Jared Goff also had reason to celebrate. After leading the Lions to their 10th straight win, Goff finally got to experience a Thanksgiving victory in Detroit. He even enjoyed the traditional turkey leg as the 2024 Madden Thanksgiving MVP, sharing the honor with teammates David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, DJ Reader, and Al-Quadin Muhammad.
Goff finished the game with 221 passing yards and two touchdown passes to tight end Sam LaPorta, completing 21 of 34 passes with zero interceptions. “It’s kind of a bucket list for me to win on Thanksgiving, and now we can start our new streak of winning,” Goff said. “But yeah, it was big. And certainly, the game came down to the wire there, and you’re worried about which way it’s going to go. But to get the W in the way we did and to end that skid that we’ve been on and kind of put that to rest is another check off our list that we’ve been working on for the last handful of years, and it feels good.”
Game Recap: A Tale of Two Halves
The Lions came out strong, jumping to a 16-0 halftime lead. Their defense, which had gone 12 straight quarters without surrendering a touchdown, looked impenetrable. But the second half told a different story. Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams found his rhythm, throwing three second-half touchdowns to receivers Keenan Allen and DJ Moore, bringing Chicago within three points.
In the game’s final moments, the Bears had a chance to steal the win. But Williams overthrew receiver Rome Odunze as time expired. A critical sack at the Lions’ 41-yard line with 32 seconds left and questionable clock management—letting 26 seconds run off despite having a timeout—sealed Chicago’s fate.
Key Stats and Takeaways
- Lions running backs Gibbs and Montgomery combined for 175 rushing yards on 30 carries.
- The Lions’ 25-game streak of having a rushing touchdown, the longest in NFL history, came to an end.
- Detroit secured its third division win of the season, a crucial step in their playoff push.
Despite the close call, the Lions left Ford Field with their heads held high. The team continues to rewrite its narrative, overcoming long-standing droughts and setting new milestones. For Campbell, Goff, and the rest of the Lions, this Thanksgiving was one to remember.
Originally Written by: Eric Woodyard
