The Green Bay Packers could be seriously considering the possibility of the NFL scheduling them for next year’s Thanksgiving game, and the following one, and the one after that. Jordan Love and Micah Parsons shined in American football this holiday. The Packers’ quarterback and defensive star, along with others, were key in the 31-24 victory over the Detroit Lions on Thursday.
Love: Impeccable in Thanksgiving Action
Love maintained his perfect record on Thanksgiving. In the three years he has been the starting quarterback, the Packers have played on this date and have won each time. Love has improved his performance each time, and this time he threw four touchdown passes, including a pair on fourth down. Parsons, who has regularly participated on this day since his time with the Dallas Cowboys, added 2.5 sacks against the Lions, totaling 8.5 sacks in five Thanksgiving games. This was in addition to the outstanding performances of receivers Dontayvion Wicks (six receptions, 94 yards and two touchdowns) and Christian Watson (four receptions, 80 yards and a touchdown), as well as the strategy of coach Matt LaFleur, who outmaneuvered the Lions by dominating on fourth down. Practically everyone in the visiting locker room celebrated the victory.The Packers swept the Lions, after having been swept by them last season. In 2024, the Packers’ Thanksgiving game was a home victory against the Dolphins. They secured Thursday’s game thanks to an aggressive call by LaFleur on fourth down and three yards to go from the Lions’ 45-yard line, with 1:55 left to play, when Love connected with Wicks for a 16-yard gain. This meant the Packers finished 3-for-3 on fourth downs, compared to the Lions’ 0-for-2. A week after the Packers beat the Vikings with a conservative game plan, based on running the ball, they showed themselves to be ultra-aggressive against Detroit. Love became the first Packers player with multiple fourth-down touchdown passes in the same game since at least 1978, when the Elias Sports Bureau began tracking that statistic. Love completed 18 of 30 passes for 234 yards and four touchdowns, only the third time in his career he has thrown that many in a game, despite playing with a painful left (non-throwing) shoulder injury. In three Thanksgiving games as a starter, Love has completed 68% of his passes for 776 yards, with nine touchdowns and no interceptions.It definitely brings a different vibe, the energy there.
Christian Watson
A week after Parsons became the second player to record double-digit sacks in the first five seasons of his career, he reached 12.5 sacks on the season, becoming the first player in NFL history with at least 12 sacks in each of his first five seasons (since sacks were first tracked in 1982).That’s him. He’s going to show up. Injured, hurt, he’s going to fight for his teammates and play at the highest level. J-Love is the ultimate competitor. There aren’t many quarterbacks who fight like him, through everything he’s going through, all the injuries. He just comes and works. It’s starting to show. The leap he’s making this year is overnight.
Parsons
The Packers (8-3-1) placed themselves in the center of the NFC North race with the Bears (8-3), who will visit Green Bay on Sunday, December 7th.He had a hellish performance.
LaFleur
A negative aspect for the Packers on Thanksgiving was the loss of defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt. He suffered what is believed to be an ankle injury that will end his season in the second half.This was a great win for where we want to go, winning the division, playoffs. That was a playoff game. We just have to keep stacking these wins.
Parsons
It doesn’t look good, guys. I feel bad for him, I feel bad for us. I mean, that’s a critical loss for our football team, obviously for our defense.
LaFleur
