Lions Will Reportedly Play 2016 Thanksgiving Game Against Vikings
By Ashley Scoby
@AshleyScoby
It looks like Lions fans will have to start planning their Thanksgiving activities far away from Minnesota. According to Sports Business Daily, the Lions are likely to host the Vikings for their annual Thanksgiving Day game.
Detroit lost to the Vikings in Week 2 last year, 26-16 (in Minnesota), then again in Week 7, 28-19 (at home). The division opponents will likely be the most appealing matchup for a Thanksgiving game.
The other holiday game is likely to be another divisional rivalry, between the Redskins and Cowboys.
Full NFL schedules are usually released in mid to late April. Although exact dates haven't been decided yet, the league already announced each team's home and away opponents for 2016.
Next season at home, the Lions will play the Bears, Packers, Vikings, Eagles, Redskins, Rams, Jaguars and Titans. And on the road, Detroit will take on the Bears, Packers, Vikings, Cowboys, Giants, Saints, Texans and Colts.
Last year on Thanksgiving, the Lions put together one of their best performances all season, albeit against a floundering Eagles team. Detroit won on Thanksgiving Day this season, 45-14 against Philadelphia.
The Lions will head into 2016 boasting a new look in at least part of the organization. Bob Quinn was hired as general manager, Rod Wood is the new team president, and the franchise has hired new employees in several departments, including marketing, strength and conditioning, and scouting.
What will be the same this year will be the coaching staff, for the most part, with head coach Jim Caldwell, offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin all set to return. Star receiver Calvin Johnson is still mulling retirement, although ESPN reported that he had already told Caldwell he was done in Detroit.