2024 NFL Week 14: Packers vs. Lions Preview & Prediction

Happy football Thursday once again, Packer fans! Yes, a bit of an oddity to be doing back-to-back Thursday game previews and predictions (last time was 2015). But here we are. Last week was the Thanksgiving evening game, of course, at Lambeau Field vs. the Miami Dolphins. Seems so long ago now, doesn't it? It was a great way to cap off our Turkey Day (plus whomping the Sunday before our heretofore kryptonite by the largest margin ever in the long-standing series against the Niners: 28 points! Holy California roll, Batman!) The post-game six-legged turducken feast, prepared by none other than Packers and NFL Hall of Famer, LeRoy Butler, was presented to QB Jordan Love, RB Josh Jacobs, and LB Isaiah McDuffie. Love received 2 of the legs as Butler reminded the viewing audience that Love was inexplicably stiffed on that front after last year's win at Detroit. It was a beautiful moment, indeed.

Anyway, and not coincidentally, the Packers find themselves back in Detroit tonight to play the Lions at Ford Field. Which leads us to our preview. Let's begin ...

The 2024 Packers will need to replicate the power and passion of the 1964 Green Bay team, epitomized by FB Jim Taylor (airborne!) and QB Bart Starr shown here against the Lions, in order to bring a win over the Lions back to Green Bay tonight.

(Photo via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel archive)

The Preview

In terms of a broad overview, the 9-3 Packers are ascending, the 11-1 Lions — despite the record — seem to be descending a bit. That's a qualified "descending", by the way, in case anyone misunderstands. As the saying goes, sometimes it's not who you play, it's when you play them. For the Packers, they are catching the Lions at the best possible time from their perspective: Detroit is banged up and missing starters, particularly on defense. That's the "descending" part right now. 

Detroit's offense — the highest scoring offense in the league — is mostly in tact ... and must be accounted for, particularly their running backs and receivers. If the Packers defense allow Detroit's running game to take charge, it will likely be a long night. QB Jared Goff is having another great season, and he has great receivers to throw to. When given protection, he is one of the best pocket-passers in the league today. But rattle him and get him out of the pocket, advantage Packers ... that has to be part of the Pack's defensive objectives for this game. Summing up: contain Detroit's running game, cover the receivers (especially over the middle, a-hem), and get pressure on Goff.

The Packers come in probably as healthy as they have been all season, albeit with CB Jaire Alexander (knee), WR Romeo Doubs (concussion), LB Edgerrin Cooper (hamstring), and CB Corey Ballentine (knee) all ruled out for tonight's game. The Packers have seemingly been playing more games without Alexander this season than with him, so the defense has been able to adapt. Better with him than without him, but availability is what it is. And no doubt head coach Matt LaFleur would prefer to be able to game plan with Doubs available in the passing game, but ... not. Thankfully, the Pack's corps of wide receivers is not only deep but good.

The key for the Pack's offense, as it has been increasingly as the season has progressed, is the success of the running game, particularly having RB Josh Jacobs dominate. If he's able to do what he's done over several weeks — say, carrying the ball 20-25 times and rushing for 100 yards or more — that will go a long way to seeing the Pack come away on top tonight. QB Jordan Love will also need time to find his receivers or make quick decisions and take off with the ball if pressured; better the latter than trying to force a throw and generate a turnover. Having no turnovers tonight, and getting a takeaway or two by the defense or special teams, can help secure the win.

The question for the Packers, as it has been most of the season, is what defense will show up tonight. The D has been playing really well, of late, and that trend has to continue tonight. Now, it's well known that Detroit is a physical team. The Packers will need to match that physicality on both sides of the ball. Let Detroit get rolling and it's then probably going to be a shootout type game ... perhaps even one of those last possession type games.

The Prediction

The Lions are 3-1/2 point favorites at the time of this writing with the over-under currently sitting at 51-1/2 points; so the oddsmakers are looking for a lot of offense tonight. The Packers lost the first outing at Lambeau Field, but they are now a more complete team than they were then. The game is indoors, so weather is not a factor. The Lions are wounded, the Packers relatively healthy. The Packers need this win to stay in the hunt for the NFC North title and are looking for revenge for that earlier loss.

It's not who you play, it's when you play them. Yup.

We're calling this game Packers 34 - Lions 30.

Go Pack Go!!!

2018 NFL Week 6: Packers vs. 49ers Preview & Prediction

A few words about the Detroit game...

Doesn't it always seem as if something goofy happens when the Packers play at Detroit? Whether for or against the Pack, something odd always seems to occur. In last week's disappointment, the Packers racked up all sorts of offensive stats, but still wound up losing. While the loss can't all be pinned on K Mason Crosby's five missed kicks (that is not a typo -- 4 field goals and a missed extra point)...yes, even just a few of those would have been the difference in the game...what about the play calling? QB Aaron Rodgers' two fumbles? Dropped passes? No pass rush? The blame is across the board. OK, good, now that we've got that out of our systems, let's move on to tonight's game at Lambeau Field against San Francisco, shall we?

Mason Crosby (right) walks off with Hunter Bradly
after missing one of his five field goals at Detroit.
(Photo by Paul Sancya, AP)

The Preview

The Packers are favored by 9-1/2 points going into this game. Pundits are universally picking the Pack to win and win big. That's if the offense can get off to a faster start (they have been outscored 42-13 in the first quarter this season), play without penalties (averaging 8 for more than 80 yards per game) and turnovers, and score TDs when they get into the red zone, all of which have been a challenge so far in this 2-2-1 season.

Otherwise, it could be another game where the Packers clean up statistically and somehow still lose the game. Certainly, the Niners are not the calibre of Detroit, and have had 17 players on the injury report this week. But the Packers are missing key players, too, including wide receivers Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison. If they fall behind early as has been the case this season, the game plan goes out the window and you're trying to play catch up. There's no need for that. Especially this evening.

The Prediction

This is a game, coming off last Sunday's debacle and heading into the bye week, that the Packers should win and -- yes -- need to win.

We're calling it Packers 31 - 49ers 13.

Go Pack Go!!!

Also, Go Brewers!!!

RIP Jim Taylor

We were saddened to learn over the weekend of the passing of legendary Packers fullback, Jim Taylor. He was always one of my favorite Lombardi-era Packers. He was one of the toughest running backs to ever play the game, rushing for more than 8,000 yards in far fewer games than go into a season these days. He was also the first of those Lombardi Packers to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Thanks for the memories, Jim. They are many.

Packers legendary FB Jim Taylor
(Photo by Ernest W. Anheuser, Milwaukee Sentinel)

Packers outlast Ravens 19-17

It wasn't pretty, that's for sure. But the Green Bay Packers had just enough to beat the Ravens in Baltimore today. It was the first win for the Pack in Baltimore since MacArthur Lane was the running back and, coincidentally, the first time they had a 100-yard rusher in a game versus a Baltimore team since Jim Taylor against the Colts in 1963.

Those historical markers aside, the game was memorable on a few other counts...as well as forgettable on still others.

The nod to the memorable part of the game has to go to the defense which, for most of the game, held the Ravens in check with smash-mouth play. LB A.J. Hawk was a man possessed, seemingly everywhere on the field, responsible for three sacks on Ravens QB Joe Flacco. The defensive front on two separate occasions stopped Baltimore deep in the red zone, once with 1st and goal from about the 2-yard line. On the offensive side of things, Aaron Rodgers threw for more than 300 yards and Eddie Lacy rushed for his first 100-yard game as a professional.

(Karl Merton Ferron, Baltimore Sun, October 13, 2013)

One of the forgettable parts was the almost similar 4th quarter collapse (but not this time) as occurred against the Bengals, including a 63-yard pass completion on 4th-and-21 which brought the Ravens to within 2 points of the Packers late in the game. John Kuhn touching and muffing a blocked punt, which instead of giving the Packers the ball deep in Ravens' territory gave the Birds a first down, was another forgettable play.

Perhaps the most forgettable, however, were the injuries. Actually, we probably won't be able to forget these injures anytime soon. First, WR James Jones went down with a knee injury. He was out of uniform and walking stiffly on the sideline in the second half. Then, WR Randall Cobb went down after being hit low on the right knee after making a catch. He was taken to the locker room on a cart and was on crutches on the Packers sideline late in the game. In his post-game interview, head coach Mike McCarthy said he didn't know the severity of the injuries yet but should know more tomorrow.

So the Packers were down to two wide receivers for the second half of the game: Jordy Nelson and Jarrett Boykin.

The Packers now have a couple of starting linebackers sidelined and a couple starting receivers, as well. The injury bug has hit the Pack big early this season. And with the bye week already behind them, there's no time to "get healthy." GM Ted Thompson will have to figure out what to do to bolster the roster. Some pundits are already saying the Packers might have to become a serious contender in the trade market because of today's hits to the receiving corps.

It's not going to be easy. But the Packers have perhaps gone through the gauntlet of the toughest part of their schedule. Sure, there are 11 games left, no more byes and and it's all tough. But the Pack has already played three championship-caliber teams in their first five games and have come out with a 3-2 record. They have -- or had -- the talent to make a deep playoff run. In their last Super Bowl season, they also were plagued with injuries and found a way to win it all. Will that be possible this season? It remains to be seen.

All we can say right now is ... Go Pack Go!!!

Let's play already!

So, this is it. The NFC Championship Game. A replay (of sorts) of the last time the Packers and Giants faced off for the championship back in 1962. Except that was played in New York (when the Giants actually played in New York and not a neighborhing state). And the players were different. And it wasn't anywhere near as cold. But other than that...

Anyway, game day has finally arrived. Although judging by all the sports coverage -- particularly if you reside in the great state of Wisconsin -- game day has been happening since the Pack beat the Seahawks last Saturday...and then it cranked up exponentially once the Giants sent the Cowgirls home earlier than many expected.

Are there any story lines that haven't already been discussed, aired, debated, or even complained about? Probably somewhere. But they are getting harder to come by. Which means that if the Packers do as most expect and go to the Super Bowl, we may be digging even deeper into sports minutiae than previously thought possible.

Still, some of these stories have been pretty good ones: Ryan Grant, obviously; Tauscher and Seubert; Brett as always; the guy from Australia who moved his whole family to Green Bay for this season; folks from around the country and around the world being Packers fans; churches re-arranging services to not interfere with kickoff time; superstitions that fans have while watching the game (for the record, I am once again wearing exactly the same combination of Packers gear as last week and will again be imbibing my preferred libation from my PackerFansUnited.com mug -- yes, a shameless commercial plug, but what the heck); the list could go on.

One new story that is worth checking out, though, concerns how the "old" Packers are rooting for these "new" Packers. "Glory Years" players such as Jerry Kramer, Jim Taylor, and Herb Adderly have some interesting insights, as well as advice for the youngsters on how to play in perhaps the coldest game they will ever play in. And Jerry Kramer admits to getting so excited about this game today that "I'm starting to throw a forearm shiver at the door jam." This from a 71-year-old...who would probably still throw on a jersey and execute a key block if asked to.

Kramer would also offer this pregame advice to the team: "Shut out the noise. Get by yourself and think about things a little bit. Think about where you are and what your opportunity is and what it represents. There's no need to get overly excited. Stay cool. Keep your temperature down. Keep your pulse rate normal. But here's an opportunity to step on a world stage and perform. The only reason you're here is because you're very good, so you don't need to worry about being very good. But you can worry about being perfect. So just try to play the best game you've ever played and if you leave everything on the field, and you give it your best shot, Mondays aren't so hard to deal with. Go get them."

Go get them, indeed! Chances are, he might have used some different verbiage outside of a family newspaper, but you get the idea. You can read that story in its entirety here.

The Prediction

The spread for the game is still 7 points. And judging from the poll here at PackerFansUnited.com (open until kickoff time today), more than 80% of those voting believe the Pack will win by at least that much.

This is one of those games where, if the weather were not a factor, it would be an easy call. Maybe it should still be. But as the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's Packers reporter, Bob McGinn, points out in his Packers Insider article (online subscription only, unless you can find a print copy) the weather may well negate some of the Packers' inherent advantages, especially in the passing game. Running the ball will be a key for the Packers today. If Ryan Grant can have even half the game he had last weekend that will go a long way toward helping the Packers control the clock and the game. That means the "O" line has to control the Giants excellent front four. It also means when the Giants come with their myriad blitz schemes, the line picks them up, protects Brett, and makes creases for Grant to squeeze through. It means hanging on to the ball. And on the defensive side of things, it means getting pressure -- lots of it -- on Eli, as well as bottling up the Giants' two good running backs. If Atari Bigby can put the fear of God into the Giants' receivers as he did last week against Seattle, all the better. We want them looking for where the big hit is coming from, not for the ball. And special teams? Please, be special... whether kicking or receiving or covering...don't blow it. And if you can contribute a big play, all the better.

The Pack is the better team playing at home. The only way they lose is if they self-destruct. They learned that lesson well in Chicago a few weeks ago. It will be colder. But it won't be as windy. The team learned a valuable lesson there: for 60 minutes, you have to shut out the conditions and play as if you want it more than the other guys. Don't believe the hype about "a team of destiny"; that and a dollar will buy you tomorrow's paper outlining how you got beat. This is a chance to make a statement. It doesn't come around very often. And you have to make the most of every play because you don't know which play can make the difference between a win and a loss.

So, having said all that -- oh yeah, there could be more, but why bother? -- here's my call: Packers 27 - Giants 17.

Go Pack Go!!!