It’s the holiday season here in Chicagoland with Thanksgiving so close we can already smell the pumpkin pie. For many, Thanksgiving is the time to get together with loved ones and celebrate what we’re most thankful for. Some even choose to spend their time helping those in need and spreading holiday cheer. But, for millions of football fans across the country, Thanksgiving is time for one thing: NFL football!
This season, the Chicago Bears will find themselves playing in their 37th Thanksgiving matchup against the team who’s played the most on this holiday, the Detroit Lions. These teams kickoff at 11:30AM CST for the first of the NFL Thanksgiving games. But, before we can watch all the action go down, let’s revisit some of the best Chicago Bears Thanksgiving moments since they last one it all in 1985.
‘93 Battle of the Defenses
Out of all the Chicago Bears Thanksgiving games, their matchup against the Detroit Lions in 1993 was one of their lowest scoring affairs. With a final score of 10-6 in favor of our home team, this game would’ve been the perfect time for a pre-Thanksgiving meal nap. Almost like this year’s game will be.
What makes this Chicago Bears Thanksgiving game so special wasn’t just the defense holding Barry Sanders and the Lions to 6 points, but also that current University of Michigan head coach, Jim Harbaugh, was the guy under center for our Bears.
Alshon Jeffery’s Two TD Turkey Day
While the days of Matt Forte, Brandon Marshall, Martellus Bennett, and Alshon Jeffery are over, we can still reminisce on what we once had. Back in 2014, the Bears once again faced the Lions on Thanksgiving Day. While they didn’t come away with the victory, this game could be considered as a wide receiver showdown between a young Alshon Jeffery and Calvin Johnson. Both wideouts scored a pair of touchdowns that day, but Johnson would go on to win the yardage battle by doubling Jeffery’s 71 yards with 146 of his own. The Lions followed a similar pattern in the box score, winning 34-17.
Cutler’s First Lambeau Victory
On a rainy Thanksgiving night in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Jay Cutler led the Bears to his first victory against the Packers in Lambeau. This might be one of the best Chicago Bears Thanksgiving moments on this list, as the Bears spoiled Brett Favre’s number retirement that night. This game, in 2015, also happened to be John Fox’s first year as coach of the Bears. Despite his overall lackluster performance as Chicago’s head coach, he guided the Bears and Jay Cutler to a win on Thanksgiving night. Cutler made a statement by throwing zero picks too, which was very much needed after throwing 12 interceptions in four prior starts in Green Bay.
A Defensive Walk-Off
In 2018, the Chicago Bears’ defense gave every offense they played nightmares before, during, and after they took the field. And on Thanksgiving, not much changed for one of the best defenses of the decade. Going against their favorite Turkey Day opponent, the Detroit Lions, this Chicago Bears Thanksgiving matchup ended with a game winning defensive touchdown. Despite trailing 14-10 at the start of the 4th quarter, backup quarterback Chase Daniels, and the defense held strong to go on to win 23-16 and spoil the Lions day.
The Last Chicago Bears Thanksgiving Game
The Bears faced the Lions in back-to-back Thanksgiving day games in 2018 and 2019. This 2019 game was the last time Chicago took the field on the holiday, and for the second year in a row they walked away victorious. Mitchell Trubisky led the way for the Bears in this one, as he threw for 338 yards and three scores in the 24-20 win. We sure hope Andy Dalton can mimic him come Thursday.