With the Packers likely again without quarterback Aaron Rodgers, numerous Nevada sports books have posted the Lions as anywhere from 5.5-to-6.5-point favorites over Green Bay on Thursday, via multiple line-tracking websites.
If the line holds — and it most likely will — the Lions will be favored at kickoff on Thanksgiving Day for the first time since 2000, according to Marc Lawrence’s 2013 College and Pro Football Stat and Log Book and Jim Feist point spread records.
On November 23, 2000, the Lions, who were six-point favorites, defeated the visiting Patriots 34-9 in the Pontiac Silverdome on Thanksgiving.
The game is most notable for this reason: it was the regular-season debut of Tom Brady, who completed 1-of-3 passes for six yards in New England’s loss.
Two Thanksgivings later, the Patriots once again visited the Lions. This time, the game was at Ford Field, and Brady had become the Pats’ starter. And this time, the Patriots were six-point favorites. New England defeated Detroit, 20-12.
It was the second of 12 consecutive Thanksgivings in which Detroit was an underdog, a streak in which Detroit won just once.
Now, the 12-game underdog streak is just about over. And now, the Lions hope to do something about that winless streak that dates back to 2003, when they upset the Packers.