Packers vs Lions: Why This Is the Best Thanksgiving Game in Years

Year after year, the Detroit Lions' traditional Thanksgiving home game has been the butt of many a joke, much as the team has been. Last year's contest, in which the Lions found themselves up 17-10 at the half over the New England Patriots, only had Lions fans declaring that the team wouldn't hold the lead for long.

And indeed they didn't, scoring just one touchdown in the second half of the game while the Patriots rallied back, putting up 35 points and ultimately winning the contest 45-24.

This year, things are drastically different for the Lions. Through 11 weeks, they're boasting a 7-3 record, as they've managed brilliant play on both offense and defense.

Today, Detroit hosts another powerhouse team—the undefeated Green Bay Packers—marking what's certain to be not just one of the best games of Week 12, but one of the best of the year.

There's nothing better than watching two talented divisional rivals face off against each other, but when one is 10-0 and trying to reach its second Super Bowl in as many years and the other is 7-3 and hasn't even seen the postseason since 1999, it's even more of a big deal.

Even a bigger deal is the fact that the Lions have a chance to defeat the undefeated when they haven't even won a Thanksgiving game since 2003—curiously enough, over the Packers, 22-14.

Clearly the Lions could use this home win, not just as a leg up on their pursuit of the playoffs, but also as a boost to overall team morale as they head into the most difficult stretch of the season.

Think of the two teams involved here: the high-powered offensive juggernaut that is the Green Bay Packers taking on one of the most brutal defenses in the league, made even more brutal by the nature of the teams' rivalry and the opportunity for an undefeated team to finally fall. It's enough to make even the most casual of football fans to take notice.

Both this year's Lions and Packers squads are the highest-scoring teams each organization has ever fielded. A shootout is likely, especially with Green Bay's secondary the team's biggest weakness.

Exploiting this weakness isn't uncommon for the Packers' opponents this season, to be sure, but the Lions more than any of the teams Green Bay has or will face have the best chance to actually match the team pass-for-pass.

It's exciting, it's compelling and it's Thanksgiving Detroit Lions football. In a day packed start-to-finish with excellent football games, this most early of the three will set the bar high for the two games to follow and for every game played in Week 12.