Lions vs. Bears: Time, TV channel, how to watch Thanksgiving game

Shanna McCarriston

Lions vs. Bears: Time, TV channel, how to watch Thanksgiving game image

The Bears head to Detroit to face the Lions in a Thanksgiving Day battle between NFC North rivals.

Chicago (7-3) is coming off a major divisional win Sunday night over the Vikings to take over first place. With the Week 11 win, the Bears reached seven wins for the first time since 2013. But Detroit is riding high, too, after edging the Panthers to improve to 4-6 on the season.

MORE: Watch Lions vs. Bears live on fuboTV (7-day free trial)

Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky has 20 touchdowns with nine interceptions and a 97.7 quarterback rating. But Chicago's defense might be the biggest reason for the turnaround; it leads the league with 27 takeaways. 

The Lions got the win in Week 11, but lost lead rusher Kerryon Johnson, who was sidelined with a knee injury. Johnson leads the team in rushing with 641 yards and would be a huge loss to the offense if he can't play. Detroit is led by first-year head coach Matt Patricia, whose defense has managed to take down two of the best quarterbacks in the league, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, but has otherwise struggled to find enough consistency to keep the team in playoff position. 

This will be the 17th time the Bears have played the Lions on Thanksgiving, making them Detroit's most frequent opponent behind the Packers.

Of their 16 previous meeting, the Lions have won eight and the Bears have won eight. Detroit is 38-38-2 all time on Thanksgiving while Chicago is 17-15-2.

Here is everything to know about how to watch Lions vs. Bears on Thanksgiving, including the halftime show act and a history of past Lions games on the holiday.

MORE: Why do the Lions always play on Thanksgiving?

What time does the Lions-Bears game start?

The Thanksgiving game between the Lions and Bears is scheduled to kick off at 12:30 p.m. ET.

What channel is the Lions-Bears game on?

CBS will broadcast Lions vs. Bears this year. The network's top NFL team of Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson is on the call.

How to live stream Lions vs. Bears

You can watch the game live online with fuboTV by signing up for a seven-day free trial. CBS also has a live stream available to cable subscribers via its All Access platform.

Lions-Bears halftime show, national anthem performers

The NFL booked Mike Posner and the Legendary Mike Posner Band as the headlining act at halftime of the Lions vs. Bears game. Detroit’s Larry Callahan and Selected of God Choir will perform the national anthem.

Lions all-time record on Thanksgiving

YearOpponentResult
1934Chicago BearsL, 19-16
1935Chicago BearsW, 14-2
1936Chicago BearsW 13-7
1937Chicago BearsL, 13-0
1938Chicago BearsW, 14-7
1945Cleveland RamsL, 28-21
1946Boston PatriotsL, 34-10
1947Chicago BearsL, 34-14
1948Chicago CardsL, 28-14
1949Chicago BearsL, 28-7
1950New York YanksW, 49-14
1951Green Bay PackersW, 52-35
1952Green Bay PackersW, 48-24
1953Green Bay PackersW, 34-15
1954Green Bay PackersW, 28-24
1955Green Bay PackersW, 24-10
1956Green Bay PackersL, 24-20
1957Green Bay PackersW, 18-6
1958Green Bay PackersW, 24-14
1959Green Bay PackersL, 24-17
1960Green Bay PackersW, 23-10
1961Green Bay PackersL, 17-9
1962Green Bay PackersW, 26-14
1963Green Bay PackersT, 13-13
1964Chicago BearsL, 27-24
1965Baltimore RavensT, 24-24
1966San Francisco 49ersL, 41-14
1967Los Angeles RamsL, 31-7
1968Philadephia EaglesL, 12-0
1969Minnesota VikingsL, 27-0
1970Oakland RaidersW, 28-14
1971Kansas City ChiefsW, 32-21
1972New York JetsW, 37-20
1973Washington RedskinsL, 20-0
1974Denver BroncosL, 31-27
1975Los Angeles RamsL, 20-0
1976Buffalo BillsW, 27-14
1977Chicago BearsL, 31-14
1978Denver BroncosW, 17-14
1979Chicago BearsW, 20-0
1980Chicago BearsL (OT), 23-17
1981Kansas City ChiefsW, 27-10
1982New York GiantsW, 13-6
1983Pittsburgh SteelersW, 45-3
1984Green Bay PackersW, 31-28
1985New York JetsW, 31-20
1986Green Bay PackersL, 44-40
1987Kansas City ChiefsL, 27-20
1988Minnesota VikingsL, 23-0
1989Cleveland BrownsW, 13-10
1990Denver BroncosW, 40-27
1991Chicago BearsW, 16-6
1992Houston TexansL, 24-21
1993Chicago BearsL, 10-6
1994Buffalo BillsW, 35-21
1995Minnesota VikingsW, 44-38
1996Kansas City ChiefsL, 28-24
1997Chicago BearsW, 55-20
1998Pittsburgh SteelersW (OT), 19-16
1999Chicago BearsW, 21-17
2000New England PatriotsW, 34-9
2001Green Bay PackersL, 29-27
2002New England PatriotsL, 20-12
2003Green Bay PackersW, 22-14
2004Indianapolis ColtsL, 41-9
2005Atlanta FalconsL, 27-7
2006Miami DolphinsL, 27-10
2007Green Bay PackersL, 37-26
2008Tennessee TitansL, 47-10
2009Green Bay PackersL, 34-12
2010New England PatriotsL, 45-24
2011Green Bay PackersL, 27-15
2012Houston TexansL (OT), 34-31
2013Green Bay PackersW, 40-10
2014Chicago BearsW, 34-17
2015Philadelphia EaglesW, 45-14
2016Minnesota VikingsW, 16-13
2017Minnesota VikingsL, 30-23

No Thanksgiving games were played in the league from 1941-1944. 

Shanna McCarriston