For much of the 21st century, the early Thanksgiving Day NFL game has been about which team is going to Detroit to beat the Lions. In their traditional 12:30 p.m. ET kickoff slot, the Lions are 5-18 since 2000, and have lost their last seven games on Thanksgiving Day. This year feels a bit different, though, with 10-1 Detroit bringing the league’s best team — according to Yahoo Sports’ Frank Schwab’s NFL Power Rankings heading into Week 13 — to the table, hoping for a feast against the 4-7 Chicago Bears.
The Lions were last seen on Sunday making short work of the Colts in a 24-6 win — Detroit’s sixth victory by double-digits this season. Chicago, meanwhile, lost a 30-27 overtime thriller to the Vikings, a game in which Caleb Williams threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns in arguably his best outing of the season. The last time these two franchises met on Thanksgiving Day was back in 2021, a 16-14 Bears win. The Lions went on to finish 3-13-1 that season in Jared Goff’s first year in Detroit.
How to watch Bears vs. Lions on Thanksgiving Day
Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
Location: Ford Field | Detroit
TV channel: CBS
Streaming: Paramount+, Fubo
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DJ Reader gets his second sack of the game on Caleb Williams, resulting in a loss of 11 yards. Williams’ next pass is incomplete (and nearly intercepted), and the Bears will have to punt…again.
Keenan Allen is down after that last play, but it’s unclear if there’s a serious injury or not. Allen has both of Chicago’s touchdowns today, and would be a huge loss for the Bears offense if he’s ruled out.
Chicago is determined to make this a game worth watching, with Caleb Williams connecting with Keenan Allen for the second touchdown of the day.
But the Bears fail to get the two-point conversion, and the score stays at 23-13.
Jared Goff fakes the pitch to the backfield and finds an open Sam LaPorta for their second touchdown connection of the day. Detroit takes a 23-7 lead.
Caleb Williams’ touchdown pass is all the more impressive given that it came right after an awkward tackle from Jack Campbell. Williams’ legs were bent back at an awkward angle on his way down, but he seems to be doing just fine — and has gotten Chicago within nine points.
Caleb Williams hit Keenan Allen again with a massive 31-yard touchdown strike, cutting through Detroit’s deficit. Chicago is still in this thing.
It looked like things were off to a tough start for the Bears, with Caleb Williams getting sacked by Lions lineman DJ Reader and his next pass falling incomplete. But at third-and-15, Williams connected with Keenan Allen for an 18 yard gain, getting the first down and proving that the Bears have some life.
#Lions Injury Update:
DL Levi Onwuzurike, Hamstring, Out
DL Josh Paschal (Knee) has been downgraded to Out
— Detroit Lions PR (@LionsPR) November 28, 2024
It was all hands on deck for the Bears (and the Lions’ defense), but Caleb Williams’ last-second pass was incomplete. Chicago will get the ball first to start the second half.
Although Chicago got the turnover, the Bears were unable to get the ball down the field before the half expired. Detroit leads, 16-0, as the teams head into the locker room.
It’s been all Detroit in this first half, with the Lions holding the ball for 23 of the 30 minutes and converting on all but one of their drives.
Right after forcing the fumble, the Bears finally get their first first down of the game, with Caleb Williams throwing to Cole Kmet for a 14 yard gain.
Chicago gets their second first down shortly afterwards, off an illegal contact penalty on Detroit. We’ll take it!
With the turnover, the Bears will now get the ball back at their own six yard line. Is the tide finally turning for Chicago?
Chicago goes for it on fourth-and-three, but Caleb Williams’ pass to D’Andre Swift is incomplete and the Bears will turn over on downs at Chicago’s 37 yard line. Williams wants the the pass interference flag, but the refs let the play stand. Poor Chicago can’t get any wins today.
The Lions have taken a commanding 16-0 lead, but they’ve now had to settle for three field goals where they could have gotten touchdowns. The Bears defense is doing its job well, and Detroit might be a little annoyed that it can’t quite get into the end zone.
Chicago’s struggles continue, as Caleb Williams’ pocket collapses and his awkward pass towards Rome Odunze hits the ground. So far, the Bears have nine plays off of three drives.
At 3rd & goal, Goff is forced to slide under pressure with Bears lineman Gervon Dexter Sr. getting the sack.
Jake Bates kicks another field goal and the Lions are up 13-0.
Jared Goff finds Tim Patrick for a 30 yard gain, and then takes the contact for a roughing the passer penalty. Detroit then gets an additional 15 yards tacked on the end of the play as a result.