According to NFL Media, the Bears-Lions game averaged 37.5 million viewers on CBS, which makes it the most-watched early Thanksgiving Day game on record.

The Detroit Lions were able to set a new NFL record for viewership on Thanksgiving in their normal time slot.

Detroit Lions (11-1) hosted Chicago Bears (4-8) on Thanksgiving and snapped a 7-game holiday losing streak. Check out the recap from Ford Field.

After setting the all-time viewership record for the early Thanksgiving game last year, the Lions crushed that mark in their win over the Bears last week.

Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16), defensive tackle DJ Reader (98), wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14), running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) and linebacker Al-Quadin Muhammad (69) celebrate their win against the Bears with a turkey drumstick Thanksgiving Day in Detroit. / Kimberly P. Mitchell / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The early Thanksgiving window featuring the Lions always performed well not because of the Lions but because it was football, it was on TV, and there was nothing else on. Now that the Lions have transmogrified into a powerhouse,

DETROIT — Dan Campbell admittedly wanted this one for more than just the win-loss column. It’s Thanksgiving, a time when all eyes are on a Detroit Lions franchise that plays on this holiday each year. Campbell has never won this game as head coach. Most of his players haven’t, either. It had been eight years since the Lions last won on Turkey Day.

The Detroit Lions have never been this good heading into Thanksgiving in the Super Bowl era. They only have sported a 10-1 record just twice the the franchise's 95-year history, the last being in 1934 -- also the last time the Lions won 10 of their first 11 games heading into Thanksgiving.

Free Press sports writers break down and pick the Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears game Thursday at Ford Field in the annual Thanksgiving Day opener.

It's been a wild swing of emotions in Detroit. Cole Kmet's offensive pass interference wiped away a first-down pass on fourth down, but then the Lions were flagged for defensive pass interference when Caleb Williams' prayer fell to the turf. The Bears have it in field goal range.