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A late-afternoon Lambeau Field old-Black and Blue Division tilt finds the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions (6-1) visiting the second-place (6-2) Green Bay Packers. Something needs to give, as the Lions have won five games in a row while the Pack has won its last four. Green Bay hasn’t necessarily prevailed by the margins of Detroit (three of the victories by five or fewer points). That doesn’t matter in the standings.
It’s not all loveliness with the Lions. Wide receiver Jameson Williams (17 receptions, 361 yards, three touchdowns) was caught with a concealed firearm in his (or his brother’s) vehicle, though avoiding arrest (that’s another matter). Williams thus completed the trifecta of bad behavior, previously suspended over sports betting and performance-enhancing drugs in his career.
Detroit is a field-goal road favorite (total at 48) according to NFL odds.
It’s the 190th meeting (including postseason) between the teams, with the Packers leading the series, 106-76-7. Green Bay snapped a four-game series losing streak last November.
The Williams Saga
Before his PEDs arrest this past Oct. 8th, Detroit Lions’ wide receiver ameson Williams and his brother were pulled over (after midnight) with two handguns in the car. His brother registered the guns, and the police did not send Williams or his brother to jail.
Now that the media has become aware of this incident, and since the sergeant-on-scene is a Lions’ fan, the story has gained some traction.
Williams won’t play against the Packers, and this could be a further distraction down the road.
The authorities are revisiting Williams’ case.
Meanwhile, the Lions are scoring and scoring and scoring, 52 last week against the woebegone Tennessee Titans, 47 the previous game against the franchise formerly known as the Dallas Cowboys and 42 versus Seattle.
Leading the league at 33.4 points/game, Detroit is sixth in total offense (385.1 yards/game), right below the Packers.
Opponents can’t run on the Lions (101.9 yards.game, fifth in NFL), but they can throw over them. Detroit is bottom-quarter in pass defense, so no mystery what Green Bay prefers.
A Groin Concern
With last week's groin injury, Green Bay had more than a passing uncertainty regarding quarterback Jordan Love (1,547 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, [T-1st]] nine interceptions). However, Love had an MRI and appears to be fine.
Green Bay blew a 10-point final-quarter home lead against the Jacksonville Jaguars last Sunday, needing a ‘buzzer-beating’ field goal to beat a very mundane foe.
Running back Josh Jacobs had his second 100-yard game (127, to be exact) of the season.
Go Over Here
The Detroit Lions are prohibitive 5-7 (-140) favorites to win the NFC North, while the Packers are second choice at 13-4 (+325), as per NFL division odds.
Detroit is playing as well as any team in the league, only blemish being a bonehead, late-game performance (field and sidelines) against Tampa Bay.
Despite a combined 14-3 record entering this game, Detroit and Green Bay can be had defensively. Detroit no longer has the injured Aidan Hutchinson leading the line, while agaInst the pass, the Lions and Packers both rank in the league’s bottom half.
We’re not suggesting the last team with the ball wins, but no shortage of points.
Check the weather (it is Green Bay in November, after all), then go over here.
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