The Lions pulled off their seventh fourth-quarter comeback to move one game ahead of the second-place Vikings in the NFC North.
Matt Prater drilled a 40-yard field goal as time expired to give them a 16-13 comeback win over Minnesota. Prater also tied the game by hitting a 48-yard field goal with 1:45 remaining before Darius Slay returned an interception 13 yards to set up the winning kick.
Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for 232 yards and a TD as the Lions won for the sixth time in seven games.
Sam Bradford was 31 of 37 but finished with just 224 yards, no touchdowns and one costly interception for the 6-5 Vikings.
Also on Thursday, the Dallas Cowboys have extended their team-record winning streak, and the Detroit Lions have taken over first place in their division.
The Cowboys picked up their 10th straight win as Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 97 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-26 triumph over Washington. Elliott ran for a one-yard TD that put Dallas ahead 31-19 with 6:29 left.
The NFL's final Thanksgiving Day game had the Pittsburgh Steelers winning a battle of 5-5 teams.
Ben Roethlisberger threw for three touchdowns to Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell ran for 120 yards and a TD as the Steelers whipped the Colts, 28-7 at Indianapolis.
The Colts showed little offence while Andrew Luck sat out with a concussion. Scott Tolzien threw for 205 yards and a touchdown but was picked off twice as Indianapolis dropped to 5-6.