The Packers and Lions could not have had more different experiences last Sunday. The Lions had a 17 point lead over the Chicago Bears and Mitchell Trubisky, and they proceeded to allow 21 unanswered points while allowing Jimmy Graham to find the fountain of youth in Detroit.
Green Bay, on the other hand, scored 43 points and looked better than they have offensively since Aaron Rodgers’s last MVP season. Jaire Alexander led the Green Bay defense that gave Rodgers continuous opportunities to rebound from a rough first two drives and the Packers won what really was not a close game.
The Packers and Lions have split the last ten matchups, five wins and five losses each. Under new head coach Matt LaFleur, the Packers swept the season series last season and look poised to do so again. Rodgers and Davante Adams will take advantage of once again having a rookie corner lined up against Adams. Although Jeff Okudah was the number two pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Rodgers and Adams were firing on all cylinders from the first snap last Sunday.
The Detroit Lions blew seven fourth-quarter leads last season. With Matthew Stafford injured during most of 2019, there was little offensive continuity and the entire team struggled. Although Stafford looked good in Week 1, they still could not close out the game. If the Lions want to be more consistent moving forward, they need better production out of Kerryon Johnson and D’Andre Swift and will need young tight end T.J. Hockenson to step up.
Both teams have key players on injury watch. For Detroit, Kenny Golladay and Desmond Trufant are questionable for Sunday’s game and the Packers will be without guard Lane Taylor for the rest of 2020. Defensive lineman Kenny Clark also has not practiced yet this week, which would be a big hit to the Packers run defense.
Game Info
Date: September 20, 2020
Start Time: 12 PM CT
Location: Green Bay, WI
Stadium: Lambeau Field
TV Info: Fox
Betting Odds Sponsored by Jazz Sportsbook
Points Spread: GB -6.5 (-110) | DET +6.5 (-110)
Moneyline: GB 300 | DET +225
Over/Under: O 49.5 (-110) | U 49.5 (-110)
After watching both of the games for Detroit and Green Bay in Week 1, the over for this game seems like an easy bet. Matthew Stafford and Aaron Rodgers are both gunslinging quarterbacks and the Packers almost put up 49 on Minnesota by themselves last Sunday. With the Lions struggles in staying healthy, be wary of betting anything on the Lions to win this week.
Prediction
Even with injury concerns on the Packers offense and defense, Green Bay is still clearly the better team. Even if the Lions get off to a hot start, Aaron Rodgers is no stranger to fourth-quarter comebacks against the Lions. Green Bay should handle Detroit easily and maintain possession of 1st place in the NFC North.
Final Score: Detroit Lions 13, Green Bay Packers 31
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Main Image Credit: Embed from Getty Images
