To get you ready for week 12, FanHouse is previewing all 16 NFL games. Here is the Detroit Lions/Green Bay Packers preview.2007 Records:
Green Bay Packers: 9-1 (1st in NFC North)
Detroit Lions: 6-4 (2nd in NFC North)
Last Week:
Packers 31, Panthers 17
Giants 16, Lions 10
Why We Care: Two of the biggest surprises in the league this year are going at it in a game that could have playoff ramifications. It's Detroit's first meaningful Thanksgiving game since Barry Sanders. Oh, and it'll give everyone a chance to play "What'll Make You Puke First" between what will be unending heights of Brett Favre love and an abundance of lame Thanksgiving wordplay (2-to-1 odds on a defensive line "stuffing" a running back at some point).
When the Packers have the ball: The Lions are in for a fight. The Packers are on a roll, and their offense is becoming a pretty complete unit. Their league-best passing offense has gone for over 300 yards in three of the last four, and Ryan Grant is proving to be the at least somewhat-capable runner the offense needs. The Lions' secondary lets up a lot of yards but also produces big plays, meaning Favre's style (refusing to use the "G" word here) might lead to a couple of interceptions. But overall the Pack should do fine on offense, they've got more weapons at receiver than the Lions can keep up with.
When the Lions have the ball: I think it's pretty obvious that in order for the Lions to win, they need to get Kevin Jones going. I say I think it's pretty obvious, yet the Lions are letting a great start of the season go to waste with two straight losses because the running game has been ignored or utilized poorly. That's going to be tough to rectify against the Packers' ninth-ranked rush defense, especially on only three days of rest. A cheesehead friend of mine told me before the season that the Packers' defense would be a top-five unit. That hasn't proven to be true, but the Packers are fifth where it matters -- points allowed. The Lions need to get out to a lead to help compensate for a suspect offensive line and defense.
The Edge: The Lions have lost five of their last six Thanksgiving games, and I don't expect that trend to stop. The Packers are just clicking right now -- this is a team that is much better than they were even three, four weeks ago. Favre has a pair or receivers in James Jones and Greg Jennings that he can just unload deep to, and reliable ole Donald Driver takes care of the rest against a Lions secondary that is hemorrhaging yards.
