Lions, Packers First Course Of NFL Thanksgiving Football Feast

Because 20 times just wasn’t enough, Detroit and Green Bay will tee it up for the 21st Thanksgiving Day game played in this long-standing NFC North rivalry. The last time these two played on Turkey Day came back in 2011 when the Packers defeated the Lions 27-15. This Thursday, the two teams will get the NFL Thanksgiving triple-header of games started at 12:30pm ET with coverage shown live on FOX.

The Lions own the record for most Thanksgiving Day appearances followed by the Dallas Cowboys, Packers and Chicago Bears. The Packers are expected to be without starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers for the third straight game. The Packers have won lost two of three without Rodgers with the latest outcome a tie against the Minnesota Vikings. The Packers are still alive in the North as both the Lions and Bears fell in week 12 and hold a one-game lead.

These two teams met back in week six with the Packers winning, 22-9, behind Eddie Lacy and the running game. Lacy finished the game with 99 yards on 23 carries. Randall Cobb added 72 yards on two carries as well as four catches for 35 yards. Matthew Stafford finished the game with 262 yards passing and one touchdown but Reggie Bush and the running game was held to only 64 yards on 19 carries.

The other key to remember about the last meeting was the Lions were without their star wide receiver Calvin Johnson. Johnson is expected to start and continues to put up big numbers week in and week out. Johnson has 65 catches for 1,062 yards and 11 touchdowns in 11 games against the Packers in his career. The stats look good but the Lions are 1-10 in his career against the Packers.

The Packers will have a decision to make this week as Scott Tolzein struggled during week 12 against the Vikings. This led to Matt Flynn taking over at the quarterback position for the remainder of the game. Flynn, who has bounced around since his last appearance for the Packers finished strong leading the Packers to 19 straight points but couldn’t help win it in overtime.

The Packers have won the last three meetings between these two teams on Thanksgiving with the Lions last win (22-14) coming back during the 2003 NFL Season.