Packers face Lions on Thanksgiving

The Green Bay Packers travel to Detroit to take on the Lions, marking the third straight year that Green Bay has played on Thanksgiving, including the second time over that span in Detroit.

• It will be the 23rd meeting between the Packers and Lions on Thanksgiving, the most in the NFL.
• Thursday will be the Packers' 39th game on Thanksgiving, tied with the Chicago Bears for the third most in NFL history. Only the Detroit Lions (86) and Dallas Cowboys (58) have played more games on Thanksgiving.
• The Packers are 16-20-2 overall on Thanksgiving with a 9-12-1 record against the Lions.
• It is the first time the Packers have played on Thanksgiving in three straight years since they faced Detroit every year from 1951-63.
• Only three of the Packers' previous 38 Thanksgiving games have been at home.
• The Packers lead the regular-season series, 105-78-7 (.571), and have won both postseason contests the two clubs have played.
• Green Bay's 105 regular-season wins over the Lions are the second most it has against any team (107 vs. Chicago).
• The two teams have split the last 10 contests played in Detroit.
• The Packers won the first meeting this season, 27-13, in Week 1.
• Dating back to 2019, the series is even at 6-6.
• Eight of the last 13 meetings have been decided by seven points or less, including two of the last four.
• The Packers are 2-0 in division games this season and is one of two NFC teams and six teams in the league to be undefeated in division games this season.
• Green Bay is in the midst of three games against NFC North opponents over a span of 15 days. The run will conclude next week as the Packers begin December at home against the Chicago Bears.
• Since realignment in 2002, this is just the second time (2012) the Packers will play five of their last seven games against NFC North foes.
• The Packers enter this week having won three in a row on the road. The last time Green Bay won three in a row on the road in a single season while also not turning the ball over in any of the three games was 2019.

WITH THE CALL

FOX Sports, now in its 32nd season as an NFL network television partner, will broadcast the game.

• Play-by-play man Kevin Burkhardt joins analyst Tom Brady and sideline reporters Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi.
• All Packers games can be heard on the Packers Radio Network, which is made up of 54 stations in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois and North and South Dakota. 95.7 BIG F.M. – WRIT-Milwaukee begins its run as the flagship station of the Packers Radio Network. For a map and full listing of radio affiliates, go to packers.com/video/radio-network. Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play), two-time Packers Pro Bowler Larry McCarren (analyst), and three-time Packers Pro Bowler John Kuhn (sideline reporter) call the action. McCarren first joined the team's broadcasts in 1995 and enters his 31st season calling Packers games. After originally being paired together in 1999, McCarren and Larrivee enter their 27th season of broadcasts together. They surpassed Jim Irwin and Max McGee for the most regular-season and postseason games broadcast for the Packers with 313 at the 2018 season opener against Chicago.
• The broadcast is also available on Sirius Satellite Radio and through the app (Packers Radio Network feed).
• Westwood One will be broadcasting on radio to a national audience with Jason Benetti (play-by-play) and Ryan Leaf (analyst) on the call and Scott Graham hosting pregame and halftime shows.

This is an abbreviated version of the Dope Sheet. Read the full version here (PDF).

THE DOPE ON THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT:

Packers vs. Lions:

• All-time, regular season: 105-78-7
• All-time, postseason: 2-0
• All-time, regular season at Detroit: 43-48-3 (13-10 at Ford Field)
• Streaks: Green Bay and Detroit have split the last 10 matchups at Ford Field.
• Last meeting, regular season: Sept. 7, 2025, Lambeau Field, Packers won, 27-13

COACHES CAPSULES

• Matt LaFleur: 74-36-1, .671; (3-5 postseason); 7th NFL season
• Dan Campbell: 51-39-1, .566; (2-2 postseason); 6th NFL season
• Head to Head: LaFleur 3-6 vs. Campbell
• vs. Opponent: LaFleur 7-6 vs. Lions; Campbell 6-3 vs. Packers

MATT LaFLEUR…In his seventh season as the Packers' 15th head coach.

• Is in his 17th season in the NFL, having previously served as an offensive coordinator for two seasons (Los Angeles Rams, 2017; Tennessee Titans, 2018), a quarterbacks coach for six seasons (Washington Redskins, 2010-13; Atlanta Falcons, 2015-16), and an offensive assistant for two seasons (Houston Texans, 2008-09).
• In his first six seasons leading the Packers, has authored one of the greatest starts to a head-coaching career in NFL history. Per the Elias Sports Bureau, his 67 wins are the second most in league history by a head coach in his first six seasons in the NFL, trailing only George Seifert (75 in 1989-94). Green Bay's 74-36-1 regularseason record since 2019 is No. 3 in the NFL and ranks No. 1 in the NFC.
• Became the first coach in NFL history to post 13-plus wins in three straight seasons and his 39 wins from 2019-21 passed Seifert (38) for the most wins by an NFL head coach in his first three seasons in the league (Elias). His 39 wins are also tied for the second most by a coach over any three-season span in league history, trailing only Andy Reid's 40 wins with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2020-22 and Mike Ditka's 40 wins with the Chicago Bears from 1985-87 (Elias).
• Led Green Bay to the playoffs last season for the fifth time in six years (tied for No. 3 in the NFL over that span), guiding the two youngest playoff teams in the NFL over the past 45 seasons in 2023 (weighted age of 25.25) and 2024 (25.72).
• In his first season leading the Packers in 2019, became the first coach in club history to guide the team to the playoffs in his debut season. Also led the largest one-year win improvement in team history (plus-seven wins).

DAN CAMPBELL…In his fifth season as the Lions' 28th head coach.

• Has 27 years of NFL experience, including 16 years as a coach and 11 as a player. Prior to joining Detroit, most recently served as an assistant head coach/tight ends coach for the New Orleans Saints from 2016-2020.
• Helped the Lions set franchise records in 2024 with 15 wins, 70 touchdowns scored and 564 points scored.
• Helped guide the Lions to back-to-back NFC North titles for the first time in franchise history in 2023-24.
• Is the fifth former Lions player to be named a fulltime head coach for the team and the first since Joe Schmidt, who played for Detroit from 1953-65 and served as the head coach from 1967-72.

This is an abbreviated version of the Dope Sheet. Read the full version here (PDF).

THE PACKERS-LIONS SERIES

• This is the 94th consecutive season these two franchises have met, playing each other at least twice every season since 1932.
• Green Bay's 105 regular-season wins over Detroit are the team's second-most wins over a single opponent behind only the Packers' 107 wins over Chicago.
• The Packers won 29 of the first 38 matchups in the series (1930-49) before the Lions reeled off 11 straight wins over a six-year span (1949-54).

CONNECTIONS

Packers players and staff from Michigan: Head coach Matt LaFleur is from Mount Pleasant, Mich., and went to Mount Pleasant High School...DL Karl Brooks is from Lansing, Mich., and attended Lansing Sexton High School… CB Kamal Hadden was born in Ypsilanti, Mich., and attended River Rouge (Mich.) High School…Packers players and staff who played college football in Michigan: LaFleur played wide receiver at Western Michigan (1998- 99) and quarterback at Saginaw Valley State (2000-02)… DL Rashan Gary (2016-18) played at the University of Michigan…Offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich played at the University of Michigan (2002-05)…DBs coach Ryan Downard played at Eastern Michigan (2007-10)…Packers coaches who have coached in Michigan: LaFleur was an offensive assistant at Saginaw Valley State (2003), a graduate assistant at Central Michigan (2004-05) and a QBs/WRs coach at Northern Michigan (2006)…Stenavich was a strength and conditioning intern (2011) and a graduate assistant (2012-13) for the Wolverines…RBs coach Ben Sirmans coached at Michigan State for two seasons (2005-06)...Senior assistant Luke Getsy was a WRs coach at Western Michigan in 2013…Packers staff with connections to Michigan: Chief of staff Darryl Franklin spent three years as a graduate assistant at Central Michigan…Chief financial officer Maureen Smith is from Davisburg, Mich., and attended the University of Michigan...Lions with connections to Wisconsin: Regional scout Mark Olson is from Hudson, Wis., and attended the University of Wisconsin-River Falls...Former Lions: Franklin was a player personnel intern with the Lions in 2008...Former Packers: LB Ty Summers was selected by the Packers in the seventh round (No. 226 overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft and played for Green Bay for three seasons (2019-21)...QBs coach Mark Brunell was selected by the Packers in the fifth round (No. 118 overall) of the 1993 NFL Draft and spent the first two seasons of his career (1993-94) in Green Bay…Offensive coordinator John Morton spent time on Green Bay's practice squad in 1993...Senior personnel executive John Dorsey spent 21 years as an executive with the Packers (1991-98, 2000-12) and also played in 76 games for the Packers from 1984-88…Head equipment manager Tim O'Neil spent six seasons as an equipment assistant in Green Bay (1995-2000) and is the uncle of Packers LBs coach Sean Duggan…Assistant strength and conditioning coach Thadeus Jackson spent 14 seasons with the Packers as a strength and conditioning asssitant coach (2010-23)... Notable NFL connections: LaFleur was the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams in 2017 when Lions QB Jared Goff was on the roster, when Lions executive V.P. and general manager Brad Holmes served as the Rams' director of college scouting and assistant general manager Ray Agnew was the director of pro personnel, Goff also was teammates with Packers QBs coach Sean Mannion, special teams quality control coach Cory Harkey and offensive assistant Jeremiah Kolone in his time with the Rams…Holmes and Sirmans crossed paths with the Rams in 2012 when Sirmans was the RBs coach...LaFleur was the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans in 2018 when Lions WR Kalif Raymond played there…LaFleur was the QBs coach for the Washington Redskins when Lions RBs coach Tashard Choice played there in 2011… Lions defensive assistant Jim O'Neil served as the Raiders' DBs coach in 2019-20 when Packers CB Keisean Nixon played for the team…Nixon, Packers CB Nate Hobbs, RB Josh Jacobs, assistant head coach/special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia and assistant special teams coach Byron Storer were with the Raiders in 2021 when Morton and CB Amik Robertson were with the team…Storer, Bisaccia, passing game coordinator Derrick Ansley, Nixon and Jacobs also crossed paths with Jim O'Neil when he was with the Raiders from 2018-20…Storer played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Bisaccia was on Tampa Bay's coaching staff when Lions offensive assistant Bruce Gradkowski played there in 2007...Getsy was the offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears when Lions RB David Montgomery and EDGE Al-Quadin Muhammad played for the Bears in 2022…Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley and Downard were on the Cleveland Browns' defensive coaching staff when Jim O'Neil was the defensive coordinator there from 2014-15…Bisaccia was the assistant head coach/special teams coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys when Choice was a coaching intern there in 2016…Stenavich spent a portion of the 2008 offseason with the Cowboys during his playing career, where he was teammates with Choice...Choice played for the Buffalo Bills and Jim O'Neil was on the coaching staff when Packers passing game coordinator Jason Vrable was an offensive quality control coach there in 2013…Vrable was an offensive assistant for the N.Y. Jets in 2017 when Morton, Lions defensive line coach/run game coordinator Kacy Rodgers and Raymond were with the Jets in 2017… Packers K Brandon McManus crossed paths with Lions assistant special teams coach Jett Modkins, OL Graham Glasgow and Raymond when McManus played for the Denver Broncos from 2014-22…Hafley and Stenavich were on the San Francisco 49ers' coaching staff when Lions CB D.J. Reed and TE Ross Dwelley played there in 2018…Packers G Aaron Banks and Lions CB Rock Ya-Sin were teammates with the 49ers in 2024...Hafley and Packers assistant defensive line coach Vince Oghobaase worked with Jim O'Neil when he was the 49ers' defensive coordinator in 2016...Packers LB Kristian Welch was teammates with Lions C Trystan Colon, Ya-Sin and CB Arthur Maulet with the Baltimore Ravens...Welch played for the Denver Broncos in 2024 when Morton was on the coaching staff...Morton was on the New Orleans Saints' coaching staff in 2006 when Packers executive vice president/ director of football operations Russ Ball was the Saints' vice president of football administration...Packers TEs coach John Dunn was on the N.Y. Jets' coaching staff from 2019-20, where he crossed paths with Maulet...Notable college connections: Packers DL Lukas Van Ness and Welch were teammates with Lions LB Jack Campbell at Iowa…Jacobs was teammates with Lions DB Brian Branch and WR Jameson Williams at Alabama…Gary and Lions EDGE Aidan Hutchinson were teammates at Michigan in 2018…Glasgow crossed paths with Stenavich at Michigan from 2011-13…Lions OL Tate Ratledge was teammates with Packers' DL Devonte Wyatt, TE John FitzPatrick, LB Quay Walker, S Javon Bullard, DL Nazir Stackhouse and DL Warren Brinson at Georgia...Ratledge played at Georgia when Packers assistant OL coach Eddie Gordon was on the coaching staff…Brinson, Stackhouse and Bullard were also teammates with Lions WR Dominic Lovett at Georgia...Packers T/G Jordan Morgan and Lions DL Roy Lopez played together at Arizona in 2020...Hobbs and Lions S Kerby Joseph were teammates at Illinois for three seasons (2018-20).