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Detroit Lions predictions vs. Green Bay Packers: Expect a close one at Lambeau Field

dave birkett, carlos monarrez, jeff seidel and shawn windsor, detroit free press
·2 min read
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Free Press sports writers share their predictions for the Detroit Lions' game Thursday against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field (8:15 p.m., Amazon Prime, Channel 2 in Detroit):

Dave Birkett

These are the two best teams in the NFC North, and frankly I don’t think the Packers are as good as the Lions. Jordan Love has been so-so in his first season as starter, and the Packers aren’t in a great spot when it comes to injuries. But Green Bay does have a talented defense, and playing a revenge game, at home, on Thursday night football, the intangibles seem to be in the Packers’ favor. The Lions won’t be intimidated by the environment, but they need to take better care of the football and they need their offense to play well on the road, which it hasn’t always done in recent years. Division games tend to be low-scoring, and I don’t think this will be any different. In a game that I think comes down to the final possession, I’m leaning Packers. The pick: Packers 21, Lions 20.

DAVE'S SCOUTING REPORT: Lions vs. Packers

Carlos Monarrez

Even though Love is drawing comparisons to Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers after the Packers’ dramatic comeback Sunday, both defenses are playing well and will determine the winner of this week’s game more than the offenses. If Brian Branch has another big game in prime time, he’s going to start garnering a lot more interest for league awards. The pick: Lions 17, Packers 13.

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Jeff Seidel

This isn’t going to be easy. The Packers have a top-eight scoring offense (the Lions are 12th) and a top-14 scoring defense (Lions are 15th). But the Lions should have no fear of playing at Lambeau Field after beating them last year in a critical game. Besides, it’s September. Not the frozen tundra. How good is Love? This game will give us a clear indication. The pick: Lions 27, Packers 24.

Shawn Windsor

Why not, eh? The Lions are a bit healthier and have confidence playing in Green Bay and have shown resilience in the road in tight games already. The Packers are respectable on. It’s sides of the ball but not dominant, kinda like the Lions. The difference will be Jared Goff. The pick: Lions 23, Packers 20.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions predictions vs. Green Bay Packers: Expect a close one