NFL NationNov 27, 2025, 08:13 PM ETCloseNFL Nation is made up of 32 team-specific reporters who cover the NFL year-round across ESPN.com, ESPN television shows, ESPN Radio, ESPN+ and social media platforms. It was established ahead of the 2013 season.
Jordan Love heaves 51-yard TD pass to Christian Watson (0:28)Jordan Love throws a 51-yard touchdown pass to Christian Watson to extend the Packers’ lead. (0:28)
Week 13 of the 2025 NFL season began on Thanksgiving with an NFC North clash in which the Green Bay Packers leaned on quarterback Jordan Love and third-year wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks’ two touchdowns to beat the Detroit Lions.
Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answering lingering questions coming out of each game and detailing everything else you need to know for every team. Let’s get to it.
Are the Packers now the favorites to win the NFC North? Green Bay’s two games against Chicago — the first one will be on Dec. 7 at Lambeau Field — will go a long way toward deciding it, but Thursday’s win put it in an advantageous position. According to ESPN Analytics, the Packers had a 66% chance to win the division after beating the Lions on Thursday.
A loss would have dropped that number to 27%. Those numbers will change before the weekend is out in part based on the Bears-Eagles game on Friday. But the Packers (8-3-1) put the Lions (7-5) in their rearview mirror by sweeping the season series. After winning just one NFC North game last season, they’re 3-0 so far.
Best quote from the locker room: Micah Parsons, who had 2½ sacks and four quarterback hits on Jared Goff, reminded the Packers are focused on what’s ahead, saying, “This was a big win for where we want to go, win the division, playoffs. That was a playoff game. We just have to stack these up.” — Rob Demovsky
Most surprising performance: The short-handed Lions needed a much-needed boost with injuries to Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, Kalif Raymond and Graham Glasgow on offense. Enter Tom Kennedy, a practice squad veteran, who stepped up to make plays on offense and special teams in their absence Thursday. Kennedy was signed to Detroit’s active roster from the practice squad Wednesday evening and finished with four catches for 36 yards.
What to make of the QB performance: This was just the kind of game Jordan Love needed. After throwing just two touchdown passes in the previous four games combined, Love was dialed in against the Lions. He threw four touchdown passes, including two for 15-plus air yards. One of those was a 51-yard bomb to Christian Watson in the third quarter. It was just his third career game with multiple touchdowns on passes for 15-plus air yards. He also had two touchdowns on fourth downs, his first career game with multiple fourth-down touchdown passes. He finished 18-of-30 for 234 yards without an interception.
Jordan Love heaves 51-yard TD pass to Christian Watson (0:28)Jordan Love throws a 51-yard touchdown pass to Christian Watson to extend the Packers’ lead. (0:28)
CloseNFL Nation is made up of 32 team-specific reporters who cover the NFL year-round across ESPN.com, ESPN television shows, ESPN Radio, ESPN+ and social media platforms. It was established ahead of the 2013 season.
Jordan Love throws a 51-yard touchdown pass to Christian Watson to extend the Packers’ lead. (0:28)