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

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.

"The early game on CBS between the Bears and Lions averaged 37.5 million viewers," the NFL wrote on its website, "the most-watched early Thanksgiving Day game on record and up +11% versus last year's Packers versus Lions game which was the previous record."

Week 14 begins on Thursday with a crucial divisional matchup between two of the best teams in the NFL. The Detroit Lions (11-1) will host the Green Bay Packers (9-3) in a battle that features two teams from the tightest division in the league.

NFL schedule-makers provide NFC North fans with exciting divisional finishes, but that also keeps tickets prices high

The Lions should be thankful Matt Eberflus forgot how timeouts work in their 23-20 win over Chicago, which reminded them they can't waste chances.

Frustration boiled over after the Bears' sixth straight loss, and that was the beginning of the end for Eberflus.

Eberflus spent just seven total weeks above .500 during that time and slowly, but surely, alienated his players following heartbreaking losses that kept piling up. General manager Ryan Poles and team president Kevin Warren had seen enough and decided they couldn't go on like this without a coaching change.