A Frustrating Tradition: The Lions’ Thanksgiving Woes
As the Detroit Lions prepare to face the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving Day, they enter the matchup with a heavy dose of recent history working against them. Despite being 10-point favorites at home, the Lions’ Thanksgiving struggles are a shadow that looms large over their annual holiday showdown.
For the past seven years, the Lions have failed to deliver a victory on the national stage, with three of those losses coming at the hands of their divisional rivals, the Bears. This alarming trend has become an unsettling tradition for a team that once owned the holiday spotlight but has since seen its fortunes take a drastic turn.
A Streak of Misfortune
The Lions’ Thanksgiving Day record has been anything but festive in recent seasons. Their latest loss came last year, with a 29-22 defeat to the Green Bay Packers, but it was far from an isolated incident. Detroit’s seven-game Thanksgiving losing streak began with a heartbreaking 16-14 loss to Chicago in 2021, and the Bears have seemed to have their number on the holiday. The Lions also fell to Chicago in 2019 by a score of 24-20 and 23-16 in 2018, adding fuel to the narrative that the Bears are a particularly difficult opponent on Thanksgiving for Detroit.
While these losses to Chicago are especially painful, the Lions have also suffered setbacks against other teams, including a lopsided 41-25 defeat to the Texans in 2020 and a tough 28-25 loss to the Buffalo Bills in 2022. The Vikings also claimed a 30-23 victory in 2017.
Despite the Lions’ promise in recent years, these disappointing results highlight an unsettling trend: when it comes to Thanksgiving, Detroit’s fortunes seem to take a dive.
The Bears’ Thanksgiving Success
While the Lions have struggled, the Chicago Bears boast a stronger Thanksgiving legacy, with an all-time record of 20-15-2 on the holiday. Their ability to perform when it matters most on Thanksgiving has added another layer of pressure on the Lions. Detroit’s 37-45-2 all-time record on the holiday stands in stark contrast to the Bears’ relative success on this stage, and fans can’t help but wonder if the Lions are cursed when it comes to their Thanksgiving Day appearances.
The stakes have never been higher for the Lions, as they seek to end their seven-game losing streak and prove that they can rise to the occasion, especially against a team they’ve struggled with in recent seasons. However, with the pressure mounting, one can’t help but ask: Are the Lions doomed on Thanksgiving?
In what is set to be the 85th Thanksgiving Day game in Detroit, the Lions will be looking to reverse their fortunes, but the weight of history, combined with the Bears’ success, means nothing is guaranteed.
Looking Forward: Can the Lions Break the Curse?
With their recent struggles on Thanksgiving and their difficult history against Chicago, the Lions will need a focused and determined effort to come out victorious this year. With a strong roster and home-field advantage, Detroit has the tools to end the losing streak, but they must overcome the mental hurdle of past disappointments.
Will the Lions finally break their Thanksgiving curse and secure a much-needed win, or will their history of failures continue to haunt them? One thing is certain—on this Thanksgiving Day, all eyes will be on Detroit as they look to rewrite their narrative.
