The Detroit Lions shed their laughingstock label over the previous two seasons. They just missed the playoffs in the 2022 season and then nearly reached the first Super Bowl in franchise history last season, winning the NFC North and reaching the conference championship game before squandering a 17-point lead to lose to the San Francisco 49ers.

Thanksgiving Day holds a special significance in the NFL calendar. On a day defined by family, friendship and food, The Shield has carved out a sizable place for itself, taking over television stations from Jackson,

Detroit is the best team in the NFL, a covering machine, and it has a +177 point differential, which is 71 higher than the next team (Eagles). Of its last eight games (8-0), only two of them have come by single digits. The Bears and Lions are tied for third in the NFL in turnover margin (+9) and weirdly, Chicago is 4-7.