DETROIT – The Detroit Lions are heavy favorites in their Thanksgiving Day battle with the Chicago Bears, but that doesn’t mean the game isn’t important.
In fact, this is one of the most critical games left on the Lions’ schedule. Here’s why.
Slim lead in standings
Even though the Lions are 10-1 and haven’t lost in two and a half months, they only have a one-game lead over two teams in the NFC: the Vikings and Eagles.
The Lions are going to make the playoffs -- that much is clear. But they’ve got their eyes set on the No. 1 overall seed in the playoffs and a first-round bye.
There are some tough tests remaining, like the Packers, Bills, and Vikings. So the Lions can’t afford to drop a home game against the 4-7 Bears.
That would make them even with the Vikings and Eagles, and then the tiebreaker situation gets much less straightforward.
Vikings tiebreaker
This Bears game has even more meaning for the Lions in terms of the NFC North race.
The Lions currently own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Vikings, but the two teams will meet again in Week 18. If Minnesota wins that game and the two teams finish with identical records, then the first tiebreaker is division record.
Minnesota has already won in Green Bay and Chicago, so there’s a good chance the Vikings will finish with four or five NFC North wins (depending on that second Lions game). If the Lions lose to the Bears, that Week 18 matchup suddenly becomes must-win.
Eagles tiebreaker
If you don’t think there’s a big difference between the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, you are mistaken!
If the Lions get the No. 1 seed, they get a bye into the divisional round of the playoffs, and should they meet the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game, that game would be at Ford Field.
That’s much different than having to get past a team like, say, the 49ers, Commanders, or Packers in the first round and eventually playing the Eagles at their outdoor stadium.
Losing an NFC game against the Bears would rob the Lions of their slim advantage over the Eagles because of the conference record tiebreaker. Philadelphia lost to the Buccaneers and Falcons earlier this year, so the Lions have a slight edge.
But a loss to the Bears would make the two teams even.
Thanksgiving losing streak
The Lions are on a mission to end their losing streak on Thanksgiving Day. They haven’t won on Thanksgiving since 2016, which is surprising since they’ve actually had some pretty good seasons during that stretch.
But Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell have made a habit of vanquishing longtime demons. The Lions broke their division title drought, hosted the first playoff game at Ford Field, and came within one play of the Super Bowl last season.
So now, it’s time for them to put an end to the Thanksgiving Day “curse.”
