The Detroit Lions ride a 10-game winning streak into Thursday night’s home game against division rival Green Bay, but the Lions don’t have the luxury of stepping off the gas even a little.
Detroit (11-1) is only a game ahead of Philadelphia and Minnesota in the NFC, with the Vikings (10-2) and Packers (9-3) still hot on the Lions’ tails in the NFC North. Detroit is also battling a slew of injuries as it kicks off Week 14 against a Packers team the Lions handled 24-14 on the road last month.
Detroit will play host to Minnesota, which has won five straight, in the regular-season finale next month.
ODDS AND TRENDS
The Lions are 3.0 to 3.5-point favorites at most sportsbooks. The line is 3.5 at BetRivers, where Detroit has been backed by 58 percent of the spread-line tickets. Meanwhile, the Lions’ -182 moneyline to win the game outright has drawn 75 percent of the money.
The public is expecting a high-scoring affair, with the 51.5 total points line seeing the Over backed by 84 percent of the money. Nine of Green Bay’s past 12 road games have gone over the total points line.
According to the book, the Packers have won the first quarter in eight consecutive games in which they entered as the underdog. By contrast, the Lions have covered the spread in seven of the past eight meetings in the series.
PROP PICK
–Packers RB Josh Jacobs Anytime TD (-159 at BetRivers): This has been the most popular player prop at the book, drawing 1.6 percent of all money wagered on. Jacobs didn’t reach the end zone in the first meeting, but he did rack up 95 yards on just 13 carries.
KEY STAT
The Packers have remained in contention by winning seven of their last eight, with the only loss coming at the hands of the Lions. Detroit opened up a 21-point lead early in the third quarter and held on for a 24-14 victory.
THE NEWS
Detroit is coming off a 23-20 win over Chicago on Thanksgiving Day in which it nearly blew a 16-point lead. The Bears’ poor clock management cost them an opportunity to send the game into overtime and led to coach Matt Eberflus’ firing.
The Lions have been hit with a wave of injuries, particularly on the defensive side. They signed four players over the past week to fortify their depth.
“I know the elephant in the room is all the injuries that have happened with us on the defensive side,” defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said. “Our personnel staff does a really good job of acquiring players that fit exactly who we are. I would say this, it’s not the playbook that’s the most important thing for these guys to come in and learn. It’s the style of play that we have and that’s easy to learn.”
Jared Goff has thrown for six touchdowns and zero interceptions in the past three games after tossing five picks against the Houston Texans on Nov. 10.
The Packers also played on Thanksgiving, defeating Miami 30-17. Green Bay opened up a 24-3 halftime lead as Jordan Love threw two touchdown passes to Jayden Reed.
Now the Packers face a Detroit team that has defeated them in five of the last six meetings.
“With most good teams, they play the game the right way,” Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur said. “Certainly, Detroit’s been doing that for a couple years now. That’s who they are and that’s who we are as well. It should be a great game on Thursday night.”
The Packers might have to win via a shootout, considering the Lions are averaging a league-best 31.9 points per game (Green Bay ranks eighth at 26.5). Stopping the running game will be key, according to LaFleur.
“They’re two very dynamic backs. (David) Montgomery, he’s going to beat you up physically and the other guy (Jahmyr Gibbs), you’ve got to try to corral because he can take it the distance,” he said. “Jared is playing at an MVP level, so they’ve got a really potent offense.”
INJURY REPORT
Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (knee) and three defensive linemen — DJ Reader (shoulder), Josh Paschal (knee) and Levi Onwuzurike (hamstring) — were ruled out Wednesday for Thursday’s game.
The Packers have ruled out cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee), wide receiver Romeo Doubs (concussion), linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (hamstring) and cornerback Corey Ballentine (knee). Alexander was limited at practice Monday and Tuesday and estimated as not participating in Wednesday’s walkthrough. Doubs had not cleared the concussion protocol as of Tuesday, according to LaFleur.
THEY SAID IT
Lions coach Dan Campbell says the fun really begins at this point of the season.
“The best part of all of this — we’re in playoff football right now, that’s where we’re at,” he said. “We’re in December, and our schedule says that. Man, we play tough opponent after tough opponent — we’ve got plenty coming up. So, man, this is the type of stuff that you live for and it’s also the type of stuff that gets you ready for the tournament.
“So, yeah, we’re a resilient bunch and nothing’s going to change that. We’ve just got to worry about the one in front of us.”
PREDICTION
The Lions are dealing with a litany of injuries, several at key spots, but just keep winning. Needing to put distance between themselves and the rest of the pack to secure what is shaping up as a critical first-round bye, the Lions will be highly motivated to complete the season series sweep. –Lions 30, Packers 27
