The NFL will never miss an opportunity to stir the pot for nationally televised games, and the Detroit Lions' ongoing rivalry with the Chicago Bears is no exception to that rule.
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Lions will be hosting the Bears on Thanksgiving day, although the league has not confirmed this as a holiday game as of the publication of this article.
After it was announced that the Green Bay Packers would be playing on "Thanksgiving Eve" as part of Netflix's NFL holiday slate, there were pretty slim odds that anyone other than the Bears would be traveling to Ford Field for this holiday classic.
This could add yet another chapter to the newest saga between Bears head coach Ben Johnson and the Lions, as Chicago won the NFC North in 2025 but lost both regular season matches against Detroit. Johnson will be seeking his first win against his former team in 2026.
Thanksgiving leak offers Lions a perfect opportunity to gain NFC North control
The Lions are going to be seeking to gain control back of the division following a disappointing 2025 season, and the Bears will be looking to control the steering wheel after winning it last year. The Packers and Minnesota Vikings are both set for strong seasons, as well, so this Thanksgiving day matchup could be crucial to the Lions' chances of winning the division outright.
Detroit's remaining home games against the Vikings and Packers have yet to be announced or leaked, but we do know that they'll be starting their primetime schedule off with a game on the road against the Buffalo Bills in Week 2. They'll also be flying to Munich this season to "host" the New England Patriots.
A huge advantage for the Lions over the Bears, and the rest of the division, remains their strength of schedule.
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They have one of the easiest in the league for 2026 thanks to a 4th-place finish in 2025, while the Bears have the hardest for next year following their huge 2025 season. A win against Chicago at home would help towards making Johnson's road towards a back-to-back divisional win even harder.
Keys to this matchup, assuming 100% health on both sides, will be testing Chicago's offensive line as well as their new-look secondary. It'll also be Kalif Raymond's first shot at making the Lions pay for not paying him, as he left in free agency for a new role under Johnson. As for Detroit, it'll be a big test of their defensive front against a very mobile Caleb Williams.
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