Discover the latest odds and expert picks for Thursday Night Football featuring the Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions. Get ready for an exciting matchup!
The Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions both had a great Thanksgiving. Detroit bested Chicago to move to 11-1, while Green Bay knocked off Miami on Thursday Night Football to move to 9-3. Now, the Packers and Lions will both play on Thursday once more with even higher stakes. A Detroit victory will lock up a playoff spot for the Lions, and it will move them very close to a second straight division title. However, a Green Bay win would make the NFC North race wide open as the Packers, Lions, and Minnesota Vikings would all have 10 wins and would be within a game of one another.
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Week 13 Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers +3.5
Detroit Lions -3.5
Total 51
We have seen the NFL betting line for this division game vacillate between Detroit -3 and Detroit -5.5 over the last few days. There has been some movement on the Under too, with the opening NFL odds setting the total at 51.5 points.
Green Bay Packers Overview
Jordan Love has been more efficient than he was last season. Love is averaging 8.2 YPA after throwing for 4,159 yards and averaging 7.2 YPA in 2023. Unfortunately, he has already thrown just as many interceptions as he did last year while only throwing about half as many passes. Love hasn’t been nearly as effective as a runner too, averaging just 2.7 YPC after picking up 4.9 YPC with his legs last season.
Green Bay might be without quite a few offensive starters on Thursday night though. Romeo Doubs has already been ruled out, and most of the offensive line is considered questionable. Rasheed Walker, Elgton Jenkins, and Josh Myers are all banged up and may not be able to suit up on Thursday night. Star running back Josh Jacobs is dealing with a calf injury, and his absence would really be missed as he is 13 yards shy of the 1,000-yard mark and is averaging 4.5 YPC with eight rushing touchdowns.
The Packers are allowing 20.0 PPG and 323.9 YPG, ranking in the top 12 in both scoring defense and total defense. They have done a better job against the run than they have against opposing quarterbacks, but they might be without top cornerback Jaire Alexander once more. Additionally, linebackers Edgerrin Cooper and Isaiah McDuffie are considered questionable.
Detroit Lions Overview
Jared Goff’s five interception game against Houston probably scuttled his chances of being named NFL MVP. Nonetheless, Goff has been very good for the Lions under center this season. He is completing 71.8% of his passes for 2,982 yards (8.8 YPA) with 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Amon-Ra St. Brown is the top receiver on Detroit, but Jameson Williams and tight end Sam LaPorta have been effective targets too.
The Lions might end the season with two 1,000-yard rushers. Jahmyr Gibbs has been the more prolific runner, and he has run for 973 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging a whopping 6.0 YPC. Meanwhile, David Montgomery has picked up 720 rushing yards while averaging 4.3 YPC with 11 rushing touchdowns. Star left tackle Taylor Decker may not be available though after he missed last week’s game with a knee injury.
Detroit ranks second in the league in scoring defense. The Lions are allowing just 16.9 PPG and are outscoring opponents by an average of 15 PPG. They also rank first in third down conversion defense, second in fourth down conversion defense, and second in red zone defense. This unit has not been able to get to the quarterback as much with Aidan Hutchinson out, but Za’Darius Smith was acquired to help in that department. The defensive line is extremely banged up though with six players on injured reserve and another three questionable to play here.
Thursday Night Football Prediction
This line is a little fishy. Detroit should be more like a five-point favorite per the NFL betting odds, but the injuries to the defensive line are worrisome. I believe that will enable the Packers to pull off a somewhat surprising upset as the Lions are on a 10-game winning streak.
Final Score: Green Bay 24, Detroit 20
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