Micah Parsons dismantled Detroit's offense Thursday, finishing with 2.5 sacks, four quarterback hits and six pressures as the Green Bay Packers defeated the Lions 31-24 on Thanksgiving Day.

The star edge rusher's performance earned him Tom Brady's LFG Player of the Game award—but the moment became memorable for the wrong reason when Brady posed a question Parsons couldn't answer.

"They trying to set me up right there," Parsons said while laughing when asked what a turducken was. "I was about to say something crazy. Just a big turkey leg that's juicy and delicious."

Season-High Trajectory

Parsons' impact extended beyond the stat sheet. His two sacks on Detroit's final drive forced the Lions to settle for a field goal in a 10-point game, a crucial sequence that helped seal Green Bay's victory.

The performance pushed Parsons to 12.5 sacks on the season, making him the first player in NFL history to record at least 12 sacks in each of his first five seasons.

Most of that production has come recently. He's logged 10 sacks in the Packers' last seven games since signing the contract that made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

On Thursday's pace, Parsons is tracking toward a career-high 17.5 sacks—a remarkable surge for a player sidelined much of August before the Dallas Cowboys traded him a week before the regular season started.

The Confidence

Parsons isn't surprised by his dominance.

"Going into Year 5, this was the year I thought I was going to make my big jump. I was going to be the best defensive player in the league. I feel like I'm doing that," he said. "I'm hitting on all facets in the run game, pass game and understanding situations. Just the full game."

His claim faces stiff competition. Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett leads the league with 18 sacks and is the betting favorite for Defensive Player of the Year.

Still, Parsons ranks third in sacks league-wide and anchors a Green Bay defense that entered Thursday ranked fourth in yards and points allowed.

Playoff Positioning

The victory improved the Packers to 8-3-1 on the season. While they remain behind the Chicago Bears in the NFC North, Green Bay has positioned itself to compete for the division title down the stretch.

For Parsons, the win meant more than standings points. Speaking to Brady after the game, he reflected on what mattered most.

"It's extremely special. You just wake up in the morning feeling thankful. I'm just a lucky person because I've got my kids at home. I've got the kids for the holidays. I'm going to sprint home to the kids. I just miss them so much. I can't wait to hug them. You realize how hard it is, Tom. I'm just thankful to be here. I'm just thankful to be in this game. I'm thankful to be representing the Green Bay Packers."