Lions vs. Bears live updates: Score, highlights from Thanksgiving game

Admin November 28, 2024

Lions and Bears and turkeys, oh my.

A tradition as old as your grandma’s stuffing recipe, the Detroit Lions are once again back on your television screen on Thanksgiving Day, this time taking on 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 been making minced meet of opposing defenses. 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 the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Bears haven’t had quite the success this year on offense despite the at-times promising play of No. 1 pick, quarterback Caleb Williams. That’s 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 his touchdown pass drought in Week 12 vs. the Minnesota Vikings, tossing two TDs after going the previous four games without a passing touchdown.

Williams is going to have his hands full – unfortunately, with the Lions defense, not with Thanksgiving food – come 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 the passing defense like a turkey may be half-baked – hopefully unlike the green bean casserole on your dinner tables.

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

The Lions are without star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson for the remainder of the season, but his presence is still felt.

On Thursday, Hutchinson was taking in the game from a luxury box, and he, along with the rest of the visitors in the suite, were all wearing very festive turkey hats.

The turkey isn’t the only thing cooking at the moment.

The Lions notched their eighth play of 10-plus yards vs. the Bears with 11:21 left in the second quarter. Meanwhile, the Bears have run just six plays total and are still looking for their first, first down of the afternoon.

Through a quarter and some change, it’s been all Lions.

Sam LaPorta put snagged a touchdown pass from Jared Goff at 14:55 in the second quarter, giving the Lions a 10-point lead early on. It’s LaPorta’s fourth TD reception of the season.

A very early Hail Mary from the sidelines came up short.

Jameson Williams caught, and subsequently dropped, a pass over the middle of the field. On the field, it was ruled incomplete, but Bears coach Matt Eberflus wasn’t convinced. Eberflus challenged the play and the call on the field was upheld.

Eberflus has just a 20% successful challenge rate.

The Bears couldn’t pick up a first down on their first drive, but the highlight of the drive was wideout D.J. Moore taking a big hit and taking a few seconds to get up off the turf.

He would enter the blue medical tent.

A methodical first drive for the Lions that had plenty of promise ended in a 30-yard Jake Bates field goal.

The Lions didn’t have much issue moving the ball on the first drive, potentially signaling some level of danger for the Bears. Lions 3, Bears 0

Yes, you read that right.

Offensive tackle Penei Sewell lined up at slot receiver, took an end-around handoff and looked to pass downfield. Again, you read that right. Instead, Sewell didn’t like his options, and would be sacked. No easy task for the Bears defense to bring down the big man.

Lions vs. Bears Thanksgiving game start time

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

The Lions and Bears will kick off at 12:30 p.m. 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

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

Lions vs. Bears Thanksgiving game TV channel

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

Jim Nantz and Tony Romo will be on the call, with Tracy Wolfson adding reports from the sideline.

Lions vs. Bears picks, predictions

Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels the Lions vs. Bears divisional matchup 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 live stream for the matchup, you can turn to Fubo. Fubo carries NBC, as well as CBS, FOX, NFL Network and the ESPN family of networks, meaning you can catch NFL action through the remainder of the season.

Digital: 21 | Virtual: 62

CBS in Detroit can be found on channel 62.

How apropos.

Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery – nicknamed “Sonic and Knuckles” after the famed video game characters – got to meet with the “real” Sonic and Knuckles ahead of Detroit’s showdown with the Bears on Thanksgiving Day.

It looks like Amon-Ra St. Brown is set to play after his name was listed on the injury report earlier this week. The same is said true of running back David Montgomery, who is dealing with a shoulder issue. Here’s the list of inactives for the Lions-Bears Thanksgiving matchup:

After being listed on the injury report earlier this week with a knee injury, the Lions wide receiver is set to play vs. the Bears on Thanksgiving.

No real surprises on the Bears inactives list, outside of offensive lineman Ryan Bates, who was dealing with a concussion entering this matchup.

The Lions are favorites to defeat the Bears, according to the 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

While the season hasn’t gone how Bears fans had hoped, maybe Thanksgiving can offer something of a turning point, if their Thanksgiving record is any indication. The Bears are 20-15-2 all-time on Thanksgiving, a solid Turkey Day mark.

The NFC North has been fairly competitive in 2024, but the Lions are the cream of the crop in the division – and all of the NFC, as well. Here’s how the division stacks up entering the Thanksgiving game:

Lions (10-1)
Vikings (9-2)
Packers (8-3)
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:

Jacksonville Jaguars: 2-9 record; .495 strength of schedule
New York Giants: 2-9; .529 SOS
Las Vegas Raiders: 2-9; .532 SOS
New England Patriots: 3-9; .466 SOS
Carolina Panthers: 3-8; .487 SOS
Tennessee Titans: 3-8; .503 SOS
New York Jets: 3-8; .505 SOS
Cleveland Browns: 3-8; .518 SOS
New Orleans Saints: 4-7; .487 SOS
Cincinnati Bengals: 4-7; .495 SOS
Dallas Cowboys: 4-7; .518 SOS
Chicago Bears: 4-7; .555 SOS
Indianapolis Colts: 5-7; .482 SOS
Miami Dolphins: 5-6; .429 SOS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5-6; .511 SOS
Los Angeles Rams: 5-6; .532 SOS
San Francisco 49ers: 5-6; .553 SOS
Arizona Cardinals: 6-5; .529 SOS
Atlanta Falcons: 6-5; .503 SOS
Seattle Seahawks: 6-5; .519 SOS
Washington Commanders: 7-5; .447 SOS
Houston Texans: 7-5; .487 SOS
Denver Broncos: 7-5; .492 SOS
Los Angeles Chargers: 7-4; .476 SOS
Baltimore Ravens: 8-4; .521 SOS
Pittsburgh Steelers: 8-3; .479 SOS
Green Bay Packers: 8-3; .545 SOS
Minnesota Vikings: 9-2; .497 SOS
Philadelphia Eagles: 9-2; .432 SOS
Buffalo Bills: 9-2; .464 SOS
Kansas City Chiefs: 10-1; .492 SOS
Detroit Lions: 10-1; .524 SOS

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