For nearly 90 years, the Detroit Lions have played on Thanksgiving, and this year, they’re hoping to add a winning chapter to their historic tradition.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell is especially eager for a victory, as his team prepares to face the Chicago Bears on Thursday at Ford Field.

This year marks the fourth consecutive Thanksgiving where Campbell hopes to finally enjoy a win after three straight losses, which have taken a toll on his mood and family gatherings.

Campbell, who has lost all three of his previous Thanksgiving matchups as Detroit’s head coach, admits that losing impacts his family’s celebrations.

“Ask my wife, she’ll tell you. She’s praying for a win because she knows that I’m a bear when we don’t win,” Campbell shared.

He expressed that everyone in his household, including his wife, is hoping for a victory. “It’s long overdue,” he added. “But we have to win to win.”

This season, the Lions (10-1) are the NFC’s top team, and they’re favored to defeat the struggling Bears (4-7), who have lost five straight games, including three by a single point in dramatic finishes.

According to BetMGM, Detroit enters the game as double-digit favorites. However, Lions quarterback Jared Goff isn’t taking the Bears lightly.

After the past few years of Thanksgiving losses, he knows all too well how a defeat can sour the mood.

“I don’t like being grumpy around family,” Goff admitted. “No one does. You want to win this game and be able to enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner with your family.

This is my first time experiencing Thanksgiving here, and I want it to be a good one.”

Meanwhile, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, who was selected first overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, has shown improvement in recent weeks under offensive coordinator Thomas Brown.

After a rocky start and the firing of former coordinator Shane Waldron, Williams has looked more comfortable, leading the Bears to competitive performances, including a thrilling near-comeback against Minnesota.

Williams passed for 340 yards and two touchdowns in that game, though Chicago ultimately lost in overtime.

The rookie has now gone four consecutive games without turning the ball over, an impressive streak for a first-year player.

Brown has praised Williams’ growth, noting that he has only begun to tap into his potential.

“That’s a rookie quarterback who, in my opinion, has not even scratched the surface of how good he can be,” Brown said.

“It’s my job to continue to find ways to make him the best he can be.”

The Lions, meanwhile, are having one of their best seasons in decades.

At 10-1, Detroit is off to its best start in 90 years and is on the verge of achieving a franchise-first: winning 11 of their first 12 games.

Their nine-game winning streak is the longest since the team’s 10-0 start in 1934. With such a strong record, the Lions are now considered legitimate Super Bowl contenders for the first time in years.

The Lions have also made history by securing double-digit win seasons in consecutive years for the first time in franchise history, setting a two-season record with 22 total wins.

While Detroit’s offense has been firing on all cylinders, the defense has also played a key role in the team’s success, contributing to the team’s impressive record.

For Goff, facing the Bears presents an opportunity for redemption.

In their two meetings last season, the Bears defense stymied him, leading to one of his worst performances of 2023.

Goff threw three interceptions in their November meeting and had a season-low passer rating in their December matchup.

“They got the better of us twice,” Goff acknowledged.

This season, however, the Bears’ defense has been less formidable.

Once ranked in the league’s top five, the Bears’ defense has seen a significant decline, now sitting at No. 17 overall.

Chicago has struggled mightily during its five-game losing streak, with several critical mistakes contributing to their downfall.

In a loss to Washington, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson was caught off guard on a Hail Mary, and in a one-point loss to Green Bay, star cornerback Jaylon Johnson slipped, allowing a game-changing 60-yard completion.

Last week, the Bears’ defense was shredded by the Minnesota Vikings, who accumulated 452 yards and scored 30 points in the victory.

Defensive coordinator Eric Washington acknowledged that changes are needed for the Bears to turn things around.

“Sometimes you have to reset things under the best of circumstances,” he said.

As the Lions look to secure their first Thanksgiving win in four years, they are hoping to continue their remarkable season and finally achieve a victory that will give Campbell and his family something to celebrate.

For Goff, it’s a chance to enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner without the weight of a loss hanging over him.

Both teams will have plenty to play for as they face off on the holiday, with Detroit hoping to keep its Super Bowl dreams alive while Chicago looks for a much-needed turnaround.