You know the feeling. The turkey is in the oven, the smell of stuffing is wafting through the house, and the Detroit Lions are on the TV. For a lot of us, it’s a tradition as fixed as gravity. But lately, it’s been a bit of a rough watch. If you feel like it's been an eternity since we actually saw a "W" on the holiday, you're not imagining things. Honestly, it’s been a minute.
The last time the Lions won on Thanksgiving was all the way back in 2016.
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Think about that for a second. In 2016, "Stranger Things" had just premiered its first season. People were still obsessed with Pokemon GO. It feels like a different lifetime, especially in football years. That day, Detroit squeaked out a 16-13 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, and it was the kind of heart-attack finish that defined the Jim Caldwell era.
The Cardiac Cats Strike Again
That 2016 game wasn't exactly a high-flying offensive clinic. It was gritty. Kinda ugly, if we’re being real. But at the time, it felt massive. Both teams came into the game at 6-4, fighting for the top spot in the NFC North.
Matthew Stafford was under center, and this was peak "Fourth Quarter Comeback" Stafford. The Lions scored early with a touchdown pass to Anquan Boldin, but then the offense sort of went into a shell. The Vikings, led by Sam Bradford, clawed back. By the fourth quarter, Detroit was trailing 13-10.
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Then, Matt Prater happened.
Prater nailed a 48-yarder to tie it up with less than two minutes left. But the real hero was Darius "Big Play" Slay. With about 30 seconds on the clock, Slay jumped a route and picked off Bradford, returning it deep into Vikings territory. It was electric. Prater stepped up again and drilled a 40-yarder as time expired.
16-13. Lions win. Everyone eats their pumpkin pie in a good mood.
Why the Drought Has Felt So Long
Since that afternoon at Ford Field, Thanksgiving has been... let's just say "less than ideal" for Detroit fans. The losses haven't just been losses; they’ve been a mix of heartbreaking collapses and "why am I watching this?" blowouts.
Take the 2025 game, for instance. The Lions played the Green Bay Packers and lost 31-24. Jordan Love looked like he was playing catch in the backyard, throwing four touchdowns. Even with Jared Goff putting up over 250 yards and Jameson Williams looking like a superstar, Detroit just couldn't get off the field on fourth down. Micah Parsons, who had joined the Packers in a move that still makes some people do a double-take, was a nightmare, racking up 2.5 sacks.
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Basically, the Lions are currently sitting on a Thanksgiving record of 38-46-2. They’ve lost nine of their last ten holiday games. It’s a stat that makes you want to reach for the gravy boat and just keep pouring.
Breaking Down the "Curse"
Is there a Thanksgiving curse? Probably not. But the pressure of the national spotlight has definitely played a role. For years, the Lions were the team the rest of the country "had" to watch while waiting for the "real" games later in the day.
- The 2004-2012 Slide: There was a brutal nine-game losing streak during this stretch. This included the infamous 0-16 season where they got hammered 47-10 by the Titans.
- The Schwartz Challenge: Who could forget 2012? Jim Schwartz challenged a touchdown run by Justin Forsett that was clearly illegal (he was down), but because he threw the flag on a play that was already automatically reviewed, the penalty meant the play couldn't be overturned. Pure Lions.
- The Silver Lining: Between 2013 and 2016, the Lions actually won four in a row on Thanksgiving. That's the stretch that included the 40-10 demolition of the Packers.
What This Means for the Future
The narrative is changing, though. Under Dan Campbell, the Lions aren't just a "tradition" anymore; they're a contender. Even if the Thanksgiving wins haven't caught up to the regular-season success yet, the energy at Ford Field is different.
The last time the Lions won on Thanksgiving, the team relied on a kicker and a last-second interception. Today’s Lions are built differently—focused on the run game with Gibbs and Montgomery and a defense that’s much more aggressive.
If you're looking to track when this streak finally snaps, keep an eye on the defensive turnover margins. In almost every Thanksgiving loss since 2016, Detroit has either lost the turnover battle or failed to convert in the red zone. Fixing those two specific areas is the only way to ensure the post-game turkey tastes like victory instead of another "what if."
Actionable Next Steps:
- Audit the Roster: Look at the current Lions' defensive secondary depth. The 2016 win was sealed by a ball-hawking corner (Slay); check if the current roster has a playmaker capable of that specific late-game heroics.
- Watch the Red Zone Stats: Before the next holiday game, compare the Lions' red zone touchdown percentage against their opponent. Thanksgiving games are historically tight, and settling for field goals (like they did in 2016 and 2025) is a dangerous game.
- Historical Context: If you're a bettor or a die-hard fan, note that the Lions are 12-10-1 all-time against the Packers on Thanksgiving, despite the recent 2025 loss. They tend to play division rivals closer on the holiday than out-of-conference opponents.