Packers-Lions preview: Thanksgiving tradition continues in Detroit

Packers, Lions face off on Thanksgiving

FOX6's Tim Van Vooren is outside Lambeau Field with the latest ahead of the Thanksgiving game between the Packers and Lions.

MILWAUKEE - The Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions meet in the Motor City for a Week 1 rematch on Thanksgiving Day. Kickoff is set for noon Thursday, Nov. 27 – only on FOX6. Stick around for a special edition of FOX6 News after the game.

Big picture view:

Green Bay (7-3-1) is coming off a Week 12 drubbing of the Minnesota Vikings, while Detroit (7-4) took an overtime win over the New York Giants. The NFC North rivals sit second and third in the division, respectively.

The Packers beat the Lions 27-13 at Lambeau Field to open the season. It had been the last division game for the Packers until the Vikings contest set up the first of three straight against division opponents over 15 days.

The backstory:

In a rivalry that dates back to the 1930s, Green Bay's 105 regular-season wins over Detroit are its second most against any franchise. The Packers are 105-78-7 overall in those games but 43-48-3 on the road.

The series is knotted at 6-6 dating back to 6-6, and the teams have split the last 10 games played in Detroit. Head coach Matt LaFleur is 7-6 against the Lions – but 3-6 against Lions head coach Dan Campbell.

On Thanksgiving:

Thursday will mark the 23rd Thanksgiving Day game between the Packers and Lions – the most between any two teams in the NFL. It'll be the Packers' 39th time playing on Thanksgiving, all but three of which have been on the road.

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Overall, Green Bay is 16-20-1 on Thanksgiving and 9-12-1 against Detroit.

Local perspective:

The game will be a holiday homecoming of sorts for a number of Packers who have ties to Michigan. LaFleur, defensive lineman Karl Brooks and cornerback Kamal Hadden are all from Michigan. LaFleur also played college football at both Western Michigan and Saginaw Valley State.

John Dorsey, Detroit's senior personnel executive, spent 21 years in the Green Bay front office and also played linebacker for the Packers in the 1980s.

Lions quarterbacks coach Mark Brunell spent the first two seasons of his career in Green Bay. The Packers drafted him in 1993.

Detroit linebacker Ty Summers played three seasons for the Packers after Green Bay selected him in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

The Source: FOX6 News gathered information from the Green Bay Packers' website.

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The Brief