Picks, TV info for Thanksgiving games

On By Littum

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Lions and Bears and turkeys, oh my.

A tradition as old as your grandmother’s stuffing recipe, the Detroit Lions is back on your television screen again on Thanksgiving Day, this time against NFC North foe, the Chicago Bears. The teams are heading in opposite directions as the calendar is set to flip to December in the coming days.

The Lions are roaring through the NFC at 10-1, and their offense has caused opposing defenses to come together. The Ben Johnson-led offense has flirted with scoring 60 points twice this season, but instead has had to settle for just 52 points in wins against Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Bears haven’t had much success this year on offense, despite the sometimes promising play of No. 1 pick, quarterback Caleb Williams. That has resulted in the firing of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron after Week 10 and the installation of Thomas Brown as interim OC.

With that, Williams finally snapped his touchdown drought Week 12 against the Minnesota Vikingsand threw two TDs after going the previous four games without a passing touchdown.

Williams will have his hands full — unfortunately with the Lions defense, not Thanksgiving food — on Thursday against the Lions’ stellar defense. Detroit enters Week 13 as the No. 2-ranked scoring defense in the league and has allowed a combined 12 points in its past two games.

Any hope that Williams will carve up pass defenses like a turkey may be half-baked—hopefully unlike the pot of green beans on your dinner tables.

USA TODAY Sports will provide live updates, highlights and more from the Thanksgiving Day tilt between the Lions and Bears below. All times are Eastern.

Lions vs. Bears Thanksgiving game start time

  • Start time: 12:30 p.m. ET
  • Date: Thursday 28 Nov

The Lions and Bears kick off at 12:30 PM ET on Thanksgiving Day.

The Bears travel to Ford Field in Detroit to take on their division rival.

  • Start time: 12:30 p.m. ET

Lions are set for kickoff vs. Bears at 12:30 p.m. ET.

Lions vs. Bear’s Thanksgiving TV Channel

CBS is the home broadcast for Lions vs. The Bears Thanksgiving Day game.

Jim Nantz and Tony Romo will be on the call, and Tracy Wolfson will add reports from the sidelines.

Lions vs. Bear picks, predictions

Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels the Lions vs. Bears divisional game on Thanksgiving will shake out:

  • Lorenzo Reyes: Lions 28, Bears 13
  • Tyler Dragon: Lions 31, Bears 17
  • Richard Morin: Lions 38, Bears 29
  • Jordan Mendoza: Lions 29, Bears 17

For cord cutters looking for a matchup live stream, look no further Fubo. Fubo carries NBC, as well as CBS, FOX, NFL Network and the ESPN family of networks, meaning you can catch NFL action throughout the rest of the season.

The Lions are favorites to defeat the Bears according to BetMGM NFL odds. Not interested in this game? Check out expert picks and best bets for every NFL game this week.

  • Spread: Lions (-10)
  • Moneyline: Lions (-550); Bears (+400)
  • Over/under: 48.5

The NFC North has been pretty competitive in 2024, but the Lions are the cream of the crop in the division — and the entire NFC, too. Here’s how the division heads into the Thanksgiving game:

  1. Lions (10-1)
  2. Vikings (9-2)
  3. Packers (8-3)
  4. Bears (4-7)

Updated 2025 NFL Draft Order

Here’s how the 2025 NFL draft order shakes out after Week 12’s slate, according to Tankathon.com:

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars: 2-9 record; .495 strength of schedule
  2. New York Giants: 2-9; .529 SOS
  3. Las Vegas Raiders: 2-9; .532 SOS
  4. New England Patriots: 3-9; .466 SOS
  5. Carolina Panthers: 3-8; .487 SOS
  6. Tennessee Titans: 3-8; .503 SOS
  7. New York Jets: 3-8; .505 SOS
  8. Cleveland Browns: 3-8; .518 SOS
  9. New Orleans Saints: 4-7; .487 SOS
  10. Cincinnati Bengals: 4-7; .495 SOS
  11. Dallas Cowboys: 4-7; .518 SOS
  12. Chicago Bears: 4-7; .555 SOS
  13. Indianapolis Colts: 5-7; .482 SOS
  14. Miami Dolphins: 5-6; .429 SOS
  15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5-6; .511 SOS
  16. Los Angeles Rams: 5-6; .532 SOS
  17. San Francisco 49ers: 5-6; .553 SOS
  18. Arizona Cardinals: 6-5; .529 SOS
  19. Atlanta Falcons: 6-5; .503 SOS
  20. Seattle Seahawks: 6-5; .519 SOS
  21. Washington’s commanders: 7-5; .447 SOS
  22. Houston Texas: 7-5; .487 SOS
  23. Denver Broncos: 7-5; .492 SOS
  24. Los Angeles Chargers: 7-4; .476 SOS
  25. Baltimore Ravens: 8-4; .521 SOS
  26. Pittsburgh Steelers: 8-3; .479 SOS
  27. Green Bay Packers: 8-3; .545 SOS
  28. Minnesota Vikings: 9-2; .497 SOS
  29. Philadelphia Eagles: 9-2; .432 SOS
  30. Buffalo Bills: 9-2; .464 SOS
  31. Kansas City Chiefs: 10-1; .492 SOS
  32. Detroit Lions: 10-1; .524 SOS