Thursday, December 5, 2024

NFL 2024 Week 14 Thursday Night Football Preview: Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions

This is a huge showdown in the NFC North, which has proven to be the NFL's best division, and by far, so far this year. 

The Detroit Lions have won 10 games in a row, and are off to a franchise best 11-1 record. That is tied with the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs for best in the league.

Tonight, they host the 9-3 Green Bay Packers. Despite enjoying one of the best records in the league so far, the Packers are actually in third place in the NFC North. Again, this is the best division in the league so far, and arguably the best division that we have seen in the NFL in some years. 

The Packers themselves have won three straight, and also have one of the most explosive offenses in the league. One of the few teams to rank higher than them, however, are the Lions. Detroit also ranks slightly higher on defense than Green Bay so far, although they are both more middle of the pack on defense than they are on offense.

Early in November, these two teams met at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. The Lions dominated that one, 24-14, and it was not even as close as the score suggested. The Packers got a touchdown in the final minutes, scoring hollow points that ultimately did not bring them closer to pulling off a win, but made the final score appear a bit more respectable.

Now, this one will be played in Detroit. So it may seem like the Lions should win by a wider margin, right?

Perhaps. Except that the Lions have been better on the road so far this season than they have been at home. Detroit's only loss this season came at home in a playoff rematch against Tampa Bay. Also, they just barely escaped with a win on Thanksgiving against the Bears. 

So it is not a given that the Lions will beat the Packers more soundly. Given their struggles against Chicago, in fact, the Lions may even be vulnerable enough that they might not win.

However, I feel that they understand how huge this opportunity really is for them. Win this one, and they pretty much will knock out the Packers from any real chance of a division title. Plus, they will stay red hot with an 11th win in a row, and force the Vikings to have to try and keep pace with them and not fall even further behind.

Detroit is playing just so well at this point, that I am not going to go against them. Look for this one to be tough and close, but expect the Lions to come up with a win in the end.


My pick: Detroit


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