Bears-Lions: Chicago Has Played Thanksgiving Turkeys In Detroit

DETROIT — Since before Mike Ditka revolutionized sideline — and aging dad — fashion by pairing aviators with a sweater vest, the NFL has played football on Thanksgiving Day. For almost as long, the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions have hosted those holiday games, consistently playing the role of your divorced dad who ignores the protests and pleadings from you and your sister and insists on having Thanksgiving dinner at his cramped — he calls it cozy — railroad apartment below that sketchy "massage" parlor because the 22-year-old guidance counselor from Glen Ellyn he's been seeing off and on for about a month has been dying to meet the two of you and cook her Memaw's famous baked potato and tuna hotdish.

This year, Chicago gets to horn in on that monopoly as they play Detroit in the first of a trio of games Thursday. The Bears haven't played on Thanksgiving since 2015, and the last time they played on the holiday against the Lions was in 2014.

Unlike those two seasons, which ended in losing records for Chicago, the Bears are sitting atop the NFC North at 7-3 and have a good shot at making the playoffs for the first time since. But that optimism has been tempered this week after the team and fans discovered that quarterback Mitch Trubisky suffered an AC sprain in Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings, and he's listed as doubtful for Thursday's matchup, according to ESPN.

Chase Daniel will likely be the starter against the Lions, and Trubisky, 24, might not even dress for the game. He is likely to play in the Dec. 2 contest against the New York Giants.

Trubisky's injury, though, is indicative of Chicago's less-than-stellar luck on Thanksgiving, especially against Detroit, their most frequent opponent on Turkey Day. Although the Bears have a winning record on the holiday, some of those games were played in the 1920s.

In the 21st century, the Bears are 1-2, with their only victory coming against the Green Bay Packers in 2015. Since 1977, Chicago is 3-5 against Detroit on Thanksgiving, including a 55-20 turkey in 1997.

The Bears Vs. Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Record (includes games as the Decatur Staleys in 1920 and the Chicago Staleys in 1921): 17-15-2 (.529)

2010s

Nov. 26, 2015: CHICAGO BEARS 17, Green Bay Packers 13

Nov. 27, 2014: CHICAGO BEARS 17, Detroit Lions 34

2000s

Nov. 25, 2004: CHICAGO BEARS 7, Dallas Cowboys 21

1990s

Nov. 25, 1999: CHICAGO BEARS 17, Detroit Lions 21

Nov. 27, 1997: CHICAGO BEARS 20, Detroit Lions 55

Nov. 25, 1993: CHICAGO BEARS 10, Detroit Lions 6

Nov. 28, 1991: CHICAGO BEARS 6, Detroit Lions 16

1980s

Nov. 26, 1981: CHICAGO BEARS 9, Dallas Cowboys 10

Nov. 27, 1980: CHICAGO BEARS 23, Detroit Lions 17 (OT)

1970s

Nov. 22, 1979: CHICAGO BEARS 0, Detroit Lions 20

Nov. 24, 1977: CHICAGO BEARS 31, Detroit Lions 14

Chicago Bears (7-3) at Detroit Lions (4-6): The Basics

Kickoff: 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 22

Where: Ford Field, Detroit

TV | Radio | Satellite Radio | Streaming: CBS | WBBM Newsradio 780 AM and 105.9 FM | XM 88 (national feed) and XM 226 (Bears feed) | fuboTV

Weather: It's a dome.

Other Thanksgiving Games

Who: Washington Redskins (6-4) at Dallas Cowboys (6-5)

Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 22

TV | Radio | Satellite Radio | Streaming: Fox | 670 The Score (WSCR-AM) | XM 88 (national feed) | fuboTV

Who: Atlanta Falcons (4-6) at New Orleans Saints (9-1)

Kickoff: 7:20 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 22

TV | Radio | Satellite Radio | Streaming: NBC | 670 The Score (WSCR-AM) | XM 88 (national feed) | fuboTV

A young fan with a turkey hat watches the Detroit Lions beat the Chicago Bears, 34-17 on Thanksgiving in 2014. (Photo by Gregory Shamus | Getty Images)