The Detroit Lions had endured a long drought without a Thanksgiving Day win since 2016. Lions fans found themselves on the edge of their seats, nervously awaiting the breaking of this streak. And it was a game-management fiasco by the Chicago Bears that ultimately led to the Lions' victory.

The Lions' Thanksgiving Drama and the Bears' Game-Ending Blunder

Detroit Lions' Dominance in the First Half

In the first quarter, the Lions outshined the Bears with an astonishing 214 yards to the Bears' mere 11. They amassed an incredible 15 first downs in just one quarter, while the Bears had zero. Jared Goff connected with tight end Sam LaPorta on the first play of the second quarter for a touchdown, giving the Lions a 10-0 lead. The Lions' offense has been in top form all season, and their defense has made significant strides to match it. The Bears' first three possessions ended in three-and-outs, and they didn't get a first down until 51 seconds remained in the first half. With 53 yards in the first half compared to the Lions' 279, it seemed the Lions would dominate the game. But the Bears showed some fight in the second half.

Bears' Second-Half Resurgence and the Tense Finish

In the first half, the Lions were clearly superior, but red-zone issues and a Jahmyr Gibbs fumble deep in Bears territory kept the score at 16-0 at halftime. After the break, Caleb Williams found Keenan Allen for a touchdown, cutting the deficit to 16-7. The Lions responded quickly, with LaPorta getting his second touchdown aided by a questionable horse-collar penalty call. However, the Bears kept hanging around. Williams calmed down and made plays. The Lions' offense faced more challenges, and a missed field goal kept the door open for a Bears comeback. Williams connected with DJ Moore for a 31-yard touchdown with 5:36 left, bringing the Bears within three points. The Bears forced a punt and had good coverage, but a series of penalties and sacks pushed them back. With 30 seconds left, Williams was sacked and couldn't get the play in and run it in time. It was a heart-wrenching end for the Bears.

The Lions' Imperfect Win and the Bears' Final-Second Mishap

The Detroit Lions managed to secure a 23-20 victory, but it was an imperfect win. The Bears' second-half surge ended with a golden opportunity to tie the game and send it to overtime, but they mishandled the final seconds. Despite having a full timeout left, they didn't use it, and the clock slipped away as Williams' final pass fell incomplete. It was a wild finish to the midwestern Turkey Day matchup.

Lions' Celebration and the Bears' Disappointment

With the win, the Lions moved to 11-1, having won 10 straight. Jared Goff, who went 21-of-34 and threw for two touchdowns, won a special Thanksgiving MVP award in honor of John Madden. The Bears, on the other hand, had a tough day. Their final drive was further hampered by flags, and they couldn't convert crucial plays. It was a day of highs and lows for both teams.