With another NFL schedule leak, the Detroit Lions’ possible opponents on Thanksgiving is down to six teams.
The Detroit Lions will host their 86th Thanksgiving Day classic, hoping to improve their overall record on the holiday of 38-45-2.
But before we can start predicting wins and losses, we need to know who their opponent will be on Thanksgiving. This year, the Lions host eight different teams at Ford Field for the 2025 NFL season: the Bears, Packers, Vikings, Cowboys, Giants, Browns, Steelers, and Buccaneers.
We already know it won’t be the Cowboys, as they host the second game on Thanksgiving every year. Thanks to another schedule leak on Monday night, we can eliminate a second team from the Thanksgiving Day classic.
Amazon’s Prime Video announced that the Chicago Bears will be playing in this year’s Black Friday game—the NFL matchup that happens literally the day after Thanksgiving.
That leaves the following teams as potential Thanksgiving Day opponents for the Lions: Packers, Vikings, Giants, Browns, Steelers, and Buccaneers.
As of late, the NFL has really leaned on divisional matchups for the Lions’ traditional game. Here’s a look at their opponents over the last 10 years:
2024: Bears
2023: Packers
2022: Bills
2021: Bears
2020: Texans
2019: Bears
2018: Bears
2017: Vikings
2016: Vikings
2015: Eagles
That’s seven out of their last 10 Thanksgiving Day opponents coming from the division.
Here’s the last time the Lions played the other opponents on Thanksgiving:
Will the Lions be paired with the Vikings or Packers again, or will the NFL spice up the holiday game with an unusual matchup? We’ll find out by Wednesday 8 p.m. ET, when the full schedule will be released.
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