It isn’t a stretch to say that Thursday’s Thanksgiving showdown between the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions is a must-win for both teams.
In the hypercompetitive NFC, and with the Chicago Bears firing on all cylinders, each team needs a victory to keep pace in the NFC North, and head coach Matt LaFleur’s team can come pretty close to ending Deroit’s season by completing the sweep after making a statement with a blowout victory back in Week 1 at Lambeau.
Packers’ biggest key to beating the Lions comes on defense
Nov 10, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons (1) in action against Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata (68) in the second half at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
While Green Bay has done a solid job of adding talent around quarterback Jordan Love, investing significant resources via the NFL Draft and free agency, general manager Brian Gutekunst and the Packers began to match that commitment over the past two offseasons.
No move or trade has made a bigger impact than acquiring Micah Parsons in a blockbuster deal with the Dallas Cowboys.
Thursday afternoon, NFL Media’s Eric Edholm points out that Parsons and the Packers’ defense may need to be the driving force behind a potential win over the Lions.
“They have held each of their past four opponents (and eight on the season) to 20 points or fewer,” Edholm writes of the Packers. “The second-longest current streak in the NFL behind Baltimore. The Lions are 7-1 when they score 21-plus points in 2025, so Green Bay’s mission is clear: Keep this one under 20.”
Keeping the Lions under 21 points may be the benchmark for Green Bay, but it could be difficult to hit, given the Detroit’s explosiveness in an offense built around sparkplug running back Jahmyr Gibbs and explosive weapons like Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams around quarterback Jared Goff.
But, if the defense makes a statement, it will go a long way towards securing a pivotal victory.
Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander (23) celebrates with linebacker Isaiah McDuffie (58) after McDuffie breaks up a pass against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, September 15, 2024, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers won the game, 16-10.
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