The 2026 NFL schedule release is upon us, and it's a big one for the Detroit Lions. The Lions will host the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving Day, marking their 86th meeting on the holiday and the fourth straight season they've faced off against a division rival. This game is a tradition in itself, kicking off the league's annual Thanksgiving Tripleheader, which is a five-game Thanksgiving Week slate. The Bears, led by the 2024 NFL Draft No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams, will be looking to continue their success against the Lions, who have a strong offense with Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Aidan Hutchinson. However, the Bears have a history of struggling against the Lions, with head coach Ben Johnson and the Bears going 0-2 against the Lions in his first year with the team. The Lions, on the other hand, are coming off a 9-8 playoff-less season, but they've shown improvement since head coach Dan Campbell took over in 2021. The Lions' last Thanksgiving win was in 2016, and they're looking to continue their winning streak against the Bears. The Bears have a slight edge in the Thanksgiving rivalry, with an 11-9 record, but the Lions have a strong home field advantage and a talented roster. The 2026 schedule release will be a significant event, with the entire release taking place on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, and all the coverage will be available on NFL.com and NFL+.
