NFL Thanksgiving is always a thrill every year and among the three matchups of the day is an intriguing clash between the high-flying Detroit Lions (8-2) and their divisional rivals, the Green Bay Packers (4-6). This game will take place at Ford Field, with kick-off scheduled for 12:30 PM EST. Detroit is fresh off a comeback win over the Chicago Bears where they didn’t play their best football but managed to get it done in the end. This is their best start since the early 1960s. As for Green Bay, they just beat the Los Angeles Chargers 23-20 at home, moving a step closer to .500 ball. Continue reading for the Packers vs Lions picks.
Before we get into the odds, preview, and prediction, check out our NFL betting odds and Super Bowl odds for 2024.
By no surprise, the Lions are a pretty big favorite. They sit at -380 on the moneyline while laying just over a touchdown on the spread. The Packers come back at +280. The total in points is set at 47. When it comes to recent meetings, Detroit has actually managed to win four in a row against Green Bay. That includes a 34-20 victory earlier in the year.
Let’s be honest for a second. No one expected the Packers to suddenly be a playoff contender after trading away Aaron Rodgers. And while Jordan Love has been pretty average, 4-6 isn’t an awful record. Green Bay is currently third in the NFC North and probably won’t make the playoffs. But, beating the Chargers was definitely a step in the right direction. Love played well in this one, completing 27 of 40 passes for 322 yards and two touchdowns. He threw a late TD pass to Romeo Doubs with only 2:33 left in the fourth quarter to help the Cheesheads secure their fourth win.
Love also found Christian Watson for a score, one of the targets he’s been encouraged to find more chemistry with. The QB surpassed the 300-yard mark in a game for the first time in his career. Green Bay only had three more yards than the Chargers and was frankly lucky to come out of this one with a victory. Quentin Johnston dropped what would’ve been a game-winning TD or at the very least, a field goal that could’ve tied the game for the Chargers. The Packers were fortunate he made a mess of the perfect Justin Herbert throw.
Matt LaFleur’s team clearly has a brutal record against the Lions in recent memory and to make matters worse, they’re just 1-4 on the road in 2023. Given the hostile atmosphere at Ford Field and just how well Detroit is playing, this won’t be an easy one for the visitors. Offensively, the Packers are starting to figure things out but they were dealt a crushing blow in Week 11 with running back Aaron Jones going down with a serious knee injury. It’s likely he won’t play on Thursday.
The Lions are a contender. It’s hard to even believe that sentence after so many years of misery in Motown. And while Sunday’s win wasn’t pretty, it showed the heart and resilience of this team. Detroit was trailing by 12 points late in the fourth before Jared Goff led them down the field and found Jameson Williams for a touchdown to cut the deficit to 26-21. The defense got a stop and the Goff led another impressive drive, with ex-bear David Montgomery marching into the end zone for the game-winning score.
Goff really had a rough one here, which isn’t what we’re used to nowadays. The QB threw a season-high three interceptions. That being said, he produced when it mattered most and that’s the definition of an elite quarterback. The Lions are now six games above .500 and have every shot at winning the NFC North. This group hasn’t been fantastic defensively but the offense possesses countless weapons. Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs form one of the best backfield duos in the entire league, Amon-Ra St. Brown is a top NFL wide receiver, and Goff is proving to be the QB he once was in LA.
Detroit is now riding a three-game winning streak and has gone 4-1 both at home and away, showing that no matter where they play, the Lions can get it done. This offense ranks top five in numerous categories, including total yards, passing yards, and rushing yards. Dan Campbell’s squad is the real deal and will be feeling confident about grabbing yet another win against the Packers.
I cannot bet against the Lions right now. The moneyline doesn’t offer a ton of value but Detroit did cover in their last meeting with Green Bay. Take the spread here.
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