Within the first of three Thanksgiving day video games, the Detroit Lions play host to the division rival Inexperienced Bay Packers on Thursday afternoon to kick off a triple-header.
Detroit is coming off an exciting, too-close-for-comfort extra time win over the Giants, which improved its document to 7-4 on the season. The Lions stay one recreation again of the Bears (sure, actually) for first place within the NFC North, they usually’ll even have revenge on their minds for this recreation, because the Packers destroyed them again in Week 1. The sport is a part of a troublesome three-week stretch for the Lions, who play the Cowboys and Rams within the two video games following this one.
Inexperienced Bay additionally captured a win final week, bettering to 7-3-1 with a snug victory over the Vikings. Inexperienced Bay has gained back-to-back video games since being considerably embarrassed in video games in opposition to the Panthers and Eagles a couple of weeks in the past, and can certainly be seeking to lay the hammer down on the Lions right here and knock them even additional again within the division race. The Packers have their very own likelihood to stake declare to the division down the stretch, with video games in opposition to Detroit and Minnesota and two in opposition to Chicago.
Will the Packers make it three wins in a row, or will the Lions lastly stack back-to-back victories for the primary time since early October? We’ll discover out quickly sufficient. However earlier than we break down the matchup, this is a take a look at how one can watch the sport.
The place to look at Lions vs. Packers stay
- Date: Thursday, Nov. 27 | Time: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: Ford Area (Detroit)
- TV: Fox | Stream: Fubo (strive totally free)
- Observe: CBS Sports activities App
- Odds: Lions -2.5, O/U 48.5 through DraftKings Sportsbook
Wager Packers vs. Lions and different NFL Week 13 video games at DraftKings, the place new customers who win a $5 wager get $300 in bonus bets and three free months of NBA League Go.
Why the NFL made a Thanksgiving scheduling change that broke 42 years of custom for the Lions
John Breech
Key storylines
- Revenge recreation. The Packers completely destroyed the Lions again in Week 1. Their defensive entrance completely dominated the sport to the purpose that the Lions had been primarily unable to perform offensively. Micah Parsons performed a restricted function after sitting out for a lot of the offseason program previous to his commerce to Inexperienced Bay, however he was phenomenal in his restricted snaps. Gamers like Lukas Van Ness, Devonte Wyatt and extra confirmed out, and the secondary was extraordinarily sticky in protection all through the sport. The Lions will certainly wish to show that the sport was an aberration, they usually have proven all through this season that they will nonetheless be as explosive as any crew within the league when they’re on their recreation.
- NFC North standings. Chicago has surged into first place within the division on the power of a four-game profitable streak, however each Inexperienced Bay and Detroit are proper behind the Bears. Chicago sits at 8-3, however the Packers are 7-3-1 and the Lions are 7-4. The Packers at present personal the tiebreaker over the Lions because of their head-to-head victory, however Detroit may even that up with a win. The Lions additionally personal the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Bears, and do not play them once more till the ultimate week of the season. The Packers have but to play in opposition to Chicago, and have two video games developing in opposition to the Bears in Weeks 14 and 16. This spherical robin of video games will go a great distance towards figuring out the NFC North champion.
- Accidents galore. Each groups are extremely banged up coming into this recreation, with a spate of accidents affecting every crew. Each groups might be with out their star tight finish, as Tucker Kraft and Sam LaPorta stay on injured reserve. After which on Monday’s harm report, an unimaginable 31 gamers had been listed. That features Packers No. 1 cornerback Keisean Nixon, pass-rusher Lukas Van Ness and inside defensive lineman Karl Brooks, together with Lions heart Graham Glasgow and security Kerby Joseph, none of whom practiced in any capability. (Joseph shouldn’t be anticipated to play, per Dan Campbell.) The Packers might get again one or each of Josh Jacobs and Jayden Reed, who every received in restricted periods on Monday, as did Matthew Golden. Marcus Davenport, in the meantime, might return for Detroit, however the Lions restricted an entire bunch of different gamers (together with most of their offensive line, together with Brian Department and Terrion Arnold) on Monday as properly.
- Thanksgiving historical past. This would be the twenty third all-time assembly between the Lions and Packers on Thanksgiving, essentially the most such matchups in NFL historical past. (They performed yearly from 1951 by 1963.) The Lions are 12-9-1 within the Thanksgiving day collection in opposition to Inexperienced Bay regardless of being simply 38-45-2 all time. This might be Inexperienced Bay’s thirty ninth time enjoying on Thanksgiving general, and the Packers are 16-20-2 in these contests. The final time these two groups performed on Thanksgiving was really two years in the past, with the Packers profitable 29-22.
Prediction
Detroit is a special crew on the quick monitor at Ford Area than it’s outside. That recreation again in Week 1 was a very long time in the past, and it was performed at Lambeau Area. The Lions merely have extra explosive playmakers on offense than do the Packers, and I due to this fact belief them to place up extra factors — even in opposition to this Inexperienced Bay protection.
Prediction: Lions 27, Packers 20
