Not even a career game from Jameson Williams could save the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving.
Never once leading in the game, the Lions (7-5, 3rd in NFC North) lost 31-24 to the Green Bay Packers (8-3-1, 1st in NFC North) on Thursday, Nov. 27 at Ford Field in Detroit. With the loss, Detroit’s path to the NFC playoffs has gotten much more difficult.
With top receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown leaving the game in the first quarter with an ankle injury, the Lions turned to Williams as their top target, and Williams delivered with a career-high 144 receiving yards.
However, big pressure from the Packers pass rush and a poor showing from Detroit’s secondary had the Lions leaving empty handed on Thanksgiving.
This is the second of three games at Ford Field over a 12-day span; after the Packers, the Lions host the Dallas Cowboys next Thursday night before hitting the road in three of their final four games this season. (Ford Field will be busy itself this weekend, with the MHSAA football finals on Friday and Sunday, and Michigan State football playing its finale against Maryland on Saturday night.)
Here’s how it all went down.
Packers beat Lions 31-24
On a 4th-and-3, Packers quarterback Jordan Love completed a 16-yard pass to Dontayvion Wicks, essentially finishing the game.
The Lions fall to 7-5 following the loss. They will play the Dallas Cowboys at home on Thursday, Dec. 4.
Two-minute warning
Consecutive handoffs to Green Bay running back Josh Jacobs netted five yards, setting up a crucial 3rd-and-5 on the Green Bat 40-yard line. Packers quarterback Jordan Love then found receiver Christian Watson for an 8-yard gain, giving them a 1st-and-10 on the 48-yard line.
Two more running plays from Jacobs brought the Packers seven more yards as the two-minute warning hit. The Lions need a stop here on third down to have a chance at winning this game.
Jake Bates hits 31-yard FG
4Q, 2:59: Packers 31, Lions 24
On the second play of the drive, Lions quarterback Jared Goff found receiver Isaac TeSlaa for another diving catch, gaining 18 yards to Detroit’s 38-yard line. A Micah Parsons sack on the next play, however, moved the Lions back eight yards, but an illegal contact penalty on Green Bay gave the Lions an automatic first down back at the 38.
Two plays later, Goff found receiver Jameson Williams for a 44-yard completion to bring Detroit down to the Green Bay 16-yard line. Short gains brought the Lions to a 1st-and-goal at the 4-yard line, but two incomplete passes (one from running back David Montgomery out of the wildcat formation) brought a 3rd-and-goal.
And then Parsons flew through for his third sack of the game (officially at 2½ sacks) on Goff, pushing the Lions back nine yards and bringing up a 4th-and-goal on the Green Bay 13 yard line. Lions kicker Jake Bates nailed the 31-yard field goal to bring the Lions to within a touchdown, though the drive may have taken too much time off the clock to allow that to happen.
The defense needs a quick stop.
Packers go three-and-out
The Lions needed a quick stop from their defense, and they got one.
The Packers gained six yards on three plays before punting. The Lions will start with the ball on their own 20-yard line down by 10 points with just over nine minutes left to play.
Jameson Williams drops 4th-down pass
Lions quarterback Jared Goff found receiver Jameson Williams three times on the drive, on a 15-yard, 9-yard and 7-yard completion, that last of which converting on a 3rd-and-3 to give the Lions a first down at Green Bay’s 28-yard line.
That catch was Williams’ sixth of the day, as he now has at least 100 receiving yards for the third time this season.
Three plays later, the Lions couldn’t get any yards on a 3rd-and-3 handoff to running back Jahmyr Gibbs. On 4th-and-3, Williams dropped a sure first-down reception, meaning the Lions are turning the ball over on downs once again.
The Packers will start at their own 21-yard line.
Jahmyr Gibbs and Jameson Williams have Lions threatening
End 3Q: Packers 31, Lions 21
A 15-yard pass from quarterback Jared Goff to wide receiver Jameson Williams brought the Lions to their own 41-yard line. Nine of those yards were lost on a fumbled flea-flicker attempt, while running back Jahmyr Gibbs got another 14 yards back on a handoff, setting up a 3rd-and-5 on Detroit’s 46-yard line.
Gibbs converted the third down with a 12-yard run to end the quarter. The Lions are down by 10 points and driving.
Jordan Love throws 4th TD pass
3Q, 1:44: Packers 31, Lions 21
The Packers got a lucky break recovering a fumble by wide receiver Romeo Dobbs at the Detroit 6-yard line, setting up a 3rd-and-1. Packers quarterback Jordan Love threw an incomplete pass on the next play, but a facemask penalty on Lions linebacker Jack Campbell gave the Packers a new set of downs on the 3-yard line.
Two plays later, Love completed his fourth touchdown of the game on a 2-yard pass to receiver Dontayvion Wicks. The Packers, once again have a two-score lead.
Thomas Harper appears hurt
Lions safety Thomas Harper appeared to hurt himself while tackling wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks on a 30-yard completion in the third quarter. We await an update on his injury status.
Isaac TeSlaa scores his 2nd TD of the season
3Q, 7:25: Packers 24, Lions 21
Lions quarterback Jared Goff began the drive with a 24-yard scramble, finding plenty of open field down the left side of the field, bringing the Lions to the Packers’ 47-yard line. Two plays later, he found running back David Montgomery for a 13-yard completion down to the 31-yard line.
Montgomery got the handoff on the next play and hit a hole up the middle for a 14-yard gain. One play later, with plenty of time to make a throw, Goff found receiver Isaac TeSlaa for a 17-yard touchdown. It’s TeSlaa’s second touchdown of the season.
Amon-Ra St. Brown downgraded to out
The Lions have downgraded receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown to out following his ankle injury in the first quarter.
Jordan Love 51-yd TD pass to Christian Watson
3Q, 10:31: Packers 24, Lions 14
It took only two plays for the Packers to get back on the board after halftime.
Packers quarterback Jordan Love found receiver Christian Watson down the right sideline for a 51-yard touchdown after Detroit’s turnover on downs. The Packers re-take a two-score lead.
Lions turnover on downs
A 7-yard third-down completion from quarterback Jared Goff to receiver Tom Kennedy brought the Lions to their own 46-yard line on the opening drive of the half. Three running plays to running back Jahmyr Gibbs netted seven yards, and the Lions decided to go for it on 4th-and-3 in Packers territory.
The play call was a fourth-straight handoff to Gibbs, which the Packers quickly stuffed. The Packers take over on their own 49-yard line.
Jack White performs ‘Seven Nation Army’
Jack White’s finale at the halftime show was the White Stripes’ classic single “Seven Nation Army.” Naturally, the crowd sung along (at least with the bassline).
Eminem appears during halftime show
Joining Detroit native Jack White on stage, legendary rapper Eminem came out to rap a verse over an old White Stripes song.
Jared Goff halftime stats
After not completing a single pass in the first quarter, Lions quarterback Jared Goff recovered in the second, going 7-for-7 on pass attempts in the quarter.
Here are the halftime stats for some key Lions players.
Lions keeping pace with Packers at halftime
HALFTIME: Packers 17, Lions 14
A questionable timeout that negated a fourth-down false start deep in Lions territory may have allowed the Packers an easier time to score late in the second quarter.
But the Lions responded with a quick touchdown drive to keep pace with Green Bay and will get the ball back to start the second half.
Jameson Williams scores 22-yard touchdown pass
2Q, 0:25: Packers 17, Lions 14
After a first-down conversion from running back David Montgomery, Lions quarterback Jared Goff found receiver Jameson Williams up the middle for a 25-yard gain to the Green Bay 29-yard line with 52 seconds left in the half. Consecutive short completions to running back Jahmyr Gibbs and receiver Tom Kennedy netted seven yards, setting up a 3rd-and-3.
Goff’s screen pass to Williams initially looked busted up by Packers cornerback Carrington Valentine, but Williams shook off the tackle, followed his blockers and high-stepped into the end zone for a 22-yard touchdown catch. Lions are down by three points.
Packers convert another 4th-down touchdown
2Q, 2:12: Packers 17, Lions 7
The Lions defense forced the Packers into a 3rd-and-5 on the Packers 46-yard line, but an 18-yard completion to receiver Dontayvion Wicks gave the Packers a 1st-and-10 on Detroit’s 36-yard line. Two plays later, Packers quarterback Jordan Love found tight end Luke Musgrave for a 23-yard completion to get to the 11.
Two plays and a Detroit penalty later, the Packers faced a 3rd-and-3 on the 4-yard line. Love scrambled out of pressure but fell one yard short.
The Packers lined up showing a 4th-and-1 attempt, with an apparent false start on Green Bay nullified by a timeout called before the snap (though the video replay shows that the timeout may have come late). Following the timeout, Love found receiver Romeo Doubs for a 2-yard touchdown. The Packers are back up by two scores.
David Montgomery takes direct snap, scores 3-yd TD
2Q, 7:54: Packers 10, Lions 7
Lions quarterback Jared Goff finally completed a pass.
After going 0-for-3 in the first quarter, Goff found receiver Jameson Williams for a 24-yard gain that put the Lions on Green Bay’s 42-yard line. An end-around for Williams on the next play lost five yards, however, bringing Detroit closer to midfield.
Running back Jahmyr Gibbs picked up an 18-yard run on the next play, giving the Lions a 1st-and-10 on the 29. Two handoffs to Gibbs then netted three lost yards, but Goff converted the first down on a 23-yard completion to receiver Tom Kennedy for the journeyman’s first catch of the season (and his first reception since 2022).
Running back David Montgomery then got 11 combined yards on the next two carries, giving the Lions a 3rd-and-goal from the 3-yard line. With Goff lined up out wide, Montgomery took the direct snap and punched it in, giving him his sixth touchdown of the season.
We’re back to a one-score game.
Jordan Love throws 22-yard TD pass
2Q, 14:19: Packers 10, Lions 0
The Lions defense forced a 4th-and-3 on their own 22-yard line following a pass-break-up from safety Brian Branch on a Jordan Love attempt. Love then attempted a fade route with wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks that led to a 22-yard touchdown, giving the Packers a two-score lead.
The play was initially called a touchdown and upheld on review. Packers are up 10-0.
Lions offense taking big hits
End 1Q: Packers 3, Lions 0
The Lions defense forced another 3rd-and-1 against the Packers, but Green Bay converted on a 29-yard run from running back Josh Jacobs to bring Green bay to the Detroit 40-yard line.
A pass break up by cornerback D.J. Reed on third down looked to bring the Packers to another field-goal situation, but an offsides penalty on Lions defensive lineman D.J. Reader gave the Packers a new set of downs on Detroit’s 29-yard line. The Packers are driving.
Meanwhile, the Lions offense was only able to gain 10 total yards in the first quarter, with quarterback Jared Goff going 0-for-3. It might also be without star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, who went to the locker room following an apparent ankle injury and has been ruled as questionable to return.
Amon-Ra St. Brown ruled questionable
Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown was ruled as questionable with an ankle injury suffered in the first quarter.
Micah Parsons sack forces another Lions punt
The Lions got the ball into Packers’ territory with back-to-back 7-yard gains from running back Jahmyr Gibbs, but the ball moved back to the Detroit 45-yard line after an illegal formation penalty. A toss to running back David Montgomery got no gain, while Green Bay’s pass rush forced quarterback Jared Goff into another incompletion.
Defensive linemen Micah Parsons and Kingsley Enagbare then sacked Goff to force another punt. Goff has yet to complete a pass through two possessions, going 0-for-3 on pass attempts while the Lions have gained 10 total yards.
Amon-Ra St. Brown appears hurt
Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown went to the ground after the first play of the Lions’ second possession in the first quarter. He eventually got up and limped off the field, favoring his right foot, eventually heading to the locker room.
We await updates on his condition.
Packers offense goes three-and-out
Detroit’s defense decided to mirror its offense by forcing its own three-and-out on the Packers offense, leading to a Green Bay a punt. Cornerback Terrion Arnold, back from injury, made a big hit on running back Chris Brooks on the third-down play that fell short of the line-to-gain.
The Lions will start on their own 37-yard line.
Packers bring heavy pass rush, Lions punt
It was an inauspicious start for the Lions on their first drive of the game, with quarterback Jared Goff tripping on center Trystan Colon while handing the ball off to running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who gained two yards on the opening rush.
Goff then tried to find receiver Jameson Williams on a play-action play, but edge rusher Micah Parsons got heavy pressure and forced an incompletion. The Packers pass rush forced another incompletion and quarterback hit a play later, forcing a Detroit punt.
The Packers will start at their own 17-yard line.
Packers kick field goal on opening drive
1Q, 9:12: Packers 3, Lions 0
Typically, it’s the Lions who run a slow, methodical opening drive, but the Packers took that routine out of Detroit’s plans.
A 10-yard holding penalty on the kickoff put the Packers on their own 17-yard line to start the game. Two plays later, Packers quarterback Jordan Love found receiver Christian Watson for a 17-yard game, bringing Green Bay to their own 38-yard line.
The Lions defense forced Green Bay’s offense into a 3rd-and-1 on the Green Bay 40-yard line, but the Packers picked it up with a 13-yard gain from running back Josh Jacobs, brining them into Lions’ territory. The Packers picked up another 3rd-and-1 with a 4-yard run from backup Emanuel Wilson, giving them a 1st-and-10 on Detroit’s 27-yard line.
Three consecutive incompletions from Love then forced a 4th-and-10. Green Bay kicker Brandon McManus then nailed the 45-yard field goal attempt, putting the Packers on the scoreboard first.
Lions win toss, choose to defer
Detroit will kick off to start the game.
Lions halftime show performer
Detroit native and 12-time Grammy Award-winner Jack White will be performing at the Thanksgiving Day halftime show at Ford Field.
Trystan Colon warming up with Jared Goff
With starting center Graham Glasgow out with a knee injury, Lions’ backup center Trystan Colon was seen working out with Lions quarterback Jared Goff during pregame warmups.
The six-year veteran Colon has appeared in nine games this season but has made only one start, during the team’s Week 6 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Colon has only taken more than 10 offensive snaps in a game once this season, during Detroit’s Week 10 win over Washington.
First look at the classic uniforms
You’ve seen them before if you’ve seen a Lions’ Thanksgiving Day game before, but just in case you needed a reminder of how the classic uniforms look like …
Calvin Johnson in the house
Legendary Lions receiver Calvin Johnson has been spotted on the sidelines ahead of Detroit’s game against Green Bay.
Johnson also shared his favorite Thanksgiving Day memory with the Lions’ social media team.
Kickoff is at 1 p.m. ET, not 12:30
Traditionally, the Lions Thanksgiving Day game has kicked off at 12:30 p.m. ET, but this year’s game will kick off at 1 p.m.
There are a couple of reasons for the change this year, most notably that the NFL wants their Thanksgiving Day slate to look like their traditional Sunday schedule.
Lions inactives
The Lions have listed seven players as inactive ahead of their Thursday game.
Offensive tackles Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker, who were listed on Wednesday’s injury report as questionable, are active and expected to play. The Lions will also return cornerback Terrion Arnold and edge rusher Marcus Davenport, who are active.
Lions Thanksgiving Day record
How have the Lions done on Thanksgiving? Unsurprisingly, not so well.
The Lions are 38-45-2 overall on Thanksgiving, though their 23-20 win over the Chicago Bears in 2024 snapped a seven-year losing streak on Turkey Day for Detroit.
Lions vs Packers referee
The referee on assignment for today’s Lions-Packers game is Ron Torbert.
Why are we pointing this out? Because Torbert is a Michigan State alumnus, of course!
Torbert is also an attorney and has a law degree from Harvard Law School, which makes him good at litigating disputes on the football field (probably).
Lions uniform combo
The Lions will be “keeping it classic” for their Thanksgiving matchup with the Green Bay Packers.
Lions vs Packers channel, TV schedule
Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET.
Channel: Fox.
Streaming: Fox One, Fubo.
Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1).
Additionally, the Lions-Packers game can be streamed on Fubo, which carries Fox and CBS channels, and offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
Stream Lions vs Packers on Fubo
Lions vs Packers announcers
Play-by-play: Kevin Burkhardt.
Color: Tom Brady.
Sideline: Erin Andrews, Tom Rinaldi.
Lions vs Packers odds
The Lions are slight home favorites against the Packers ahead of their Week 13 matchup.
Spread: Lions by 3 points.
Over/under: 48½ points.
Moneyline: Packers(+135), Lions (-160).
Odds are provided by BetMGM as of Wednesday night.
Lions vs Packers prediction
Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press: The Packers had their way with the Lions in the season opener. The Lions haven’t totally fixed their offensive line since, but I don’t think Week 1 repeats itself. There’s too much at stake for a Lions team that won’t be able to win the NFC North with a loss. I think Jahmyr Gibbs has another big day and the Lions make life tough on quarterback Jordan Love in a game that comes down to who has the ball last. The pick: Lions 23, Packers 20.
Lions schedule 2025
Week 1: L, 27-13 at Green Bay Packers.Week 2: W, 52-21 vs Chicago Bears.Week 3: W, 38-30 at Baltimore Ravens.Week 4: W, 34-10 vs Cleveland Browns.Week 5: W, 37-24 at Cincinnati Bengals.Week 6: L, 30-17 at Kansas City Chiefs.Week 7: W, 24-9 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Week 8: Bye week.Week 9: L, 27-24 vs Minnesota Vikings.Week 10: W, 44-22 at Washington Commanders.Week 11: L, 16-9 at Philadelphia Eagles.Week 12: W, 31-24 (OT) vs. New York GiantsWeek 13, Thursday, Nov. 27: vs Green Bay Packers, 1 p.m., Fox.Week 14, Thursday, Dec. 4: vs Dallas Cowboys, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video.Week 15, Sunday, Dec. 14: at Los Angeles Rams, 4:25 p.m., Fox.Week 16, Sunday, Dec. 21: vs Pittsburgh Steelers, 4:25 p.m., CBS.Week 17, Thursday, Dec. 25: at Minnesota Vikings, 4:30 p.m., Netflix.Week 18, Saturday/Sunday, Jan. 3-4: at Chicago Bears, TBD.
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lions score as they lose crucial Thanksgiving game to Packers, 31-24
Reporting by Christian Romo, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
