The Detroit Lions secured a hard-fought 23-20 Thanksgiving Day victory against their NFC North rivals, the Chicago Bears, achieving a franchise-best 11-1 record. This historic win also marked the first time this season the Lions' defense held an opponent scoreless in the first half.
Detroit's offense, led by quarterback Jared Goff, put up 16 first-half points, including three field goals from kicker Jake Bates and a touchdown pass to tight end Sam LaPorta. The Bears, now 4-8, rallied in the second half with quarterback Caleb Williams connecting with Keenan Allen and D.J. Moore for touchdowns. Despite a late surge and a questionable clock management decision by Bears coach Matt Eberflus, the Lions held on for the win.
The Lions' running back duo of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, nicknamed the "Sonic & Knuckles" backfield, delivered strong performances. Gibbs amassed 87 rushing yards on just nine attempts, while Montgomery contributed 88 yards on 21 carries. Goff completed 21 of 34 passes for 221 yards, with Amon-Ra St. Brown leading the receiving corps with 73 yards. Williams, despite the loss, threw for 256 yards and three touchdowns in the second half, connecting with Allen for 73 yards and Moore for 97.
