Nov

22

Detroit Lions vs GreenBay Packers NFL Week 12 - Preview and Predictions

Posted by Kevin Mack

November 22, 2007 |

Green Bay Packers LogoDetroit Lions logoDetroit Lions 6-4 vs Green Bay Packers 9-1

Thanksgiving November 22, 2007 @ 12:30 Ford Field, Detroit Michigan 

TV: FoxNetwork with Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver

Detroit, after 2 straight losses gets right back on the horse to play the Green Bay Packers in the annual Thanksgiving Day Game at Ford Field.

  • Detroit Lions Offense vs Green Bay Packer Defense

Detroit’s offense has gone back to all passing all the time in the last 2 outings. The Lions passing attack has moved up to be ranked 7th in the NFL and will go against the Packers 19th rated passing defense. QB Jon Kitna will be throwing early and often to receivers Roy Williams, Calvin Johnson who still is having issues with his back, Mike Furrey and Shaun McDonald. Green Bay has two Pro Bowl Cornerbacks Al Harris and Charles Woodson that will make it difficult on the outside routes. Detroit, last in the NFL rushing the ball, will hope to have RB Kevin Jones available to get some sort of a running game going. Green Bay will count on Linebackers Nick Barnett and A.J. Hawk to stop the Lions. The Pack will try and pressure Kitna, who has been sacked more than any QB in the league. Defensive Ends Aaron Kampman and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila will hope to pad their sack totals against the Lions Tackles Jonathon Scott and Jeff Backus. Defensive line pressure has so far this season has led opponents to wins over the Lions. With Jones playing two games in 4 days, while still suffering after effects from his Lisfranc fracture last season, expect the Lions to rely on the passing game for any success against the Packers.

  • Green Bay Packer Offense vs Detroit Lions Defense

QB Brett Favre will take the Packers 2nd ranked passing offense up against the Lions NFL’s 30th best pass defense. Favre will be looking for Wideouts Donald Driver and 2nd year star Greg Jennings. Brett will also spread the ball to James Jones and TE Donald Lee. Green Bay’s running game has moved up to 30th might be limited with RB Ryan Grant ankle injury. Detroit is very successful at stopping the run, 8th in the NFL, with Linebackers Ernie Sims and Paris Lenon. The Lions will benefit from the return of DE Dewayne White who leads the teams in sacks and will be trying to pressure Favre. Green Bay is near the bottom of the league in giving up sacks and throwing interceptions so it could be a long day for the Lions pass defenders. Detroit has been adept at creating fumbles by always tackling and stripping the ball. Turnovers seem to be the only hope for the Lions to stop the Packers offense. Expect the Packers to stick to passing the ball to control the game.

  • Your ‘Lion Eyes’ Blogger’s Thoughts

This will be a very difficult game for the Lions to win. Detroit will have to get great play from their defensive backs to contain Hall of Famer QB Brett Favre. I have posted many times in the past about ‘Desperate’ teams playing the Lions and how that seems to give them an advantage. Well this Lion team currently fits the Desperate label and the Packers could be guilty of looking ahead to the game they have next week in Dallas. Green Bay faces the Dallas Cowboys for NFC supremacy next Thursday. Detroit fans also seem to think that the Lions always do well on Thanksgiving, but Detroit has lost 5 of the last 6 Thanksgiving Day games. Also overall Detroit holds a 33-32-2 overall record for the Thanksgiving games. I think the Packers will figure out a way to overcome all of that and will win easy and cover the spread before enjoying the Thanksgiving spread. 

I again hope I am wrong and Detroit wins to get their record to a Playoff Contention 7 wins and 4 losses. Detroit will come back to work next Monday to start preparing for a trip to Minnesota to take on the Vikings. December will be here soon and believe it or not the Lions are still in Playoff contention in the NFC.

  • Predictions

Local Detroit Media Selections:

Source: Detroit News
Mike O’Hara: Green Bay
Rob Parker: Green Bay
Terry Foster: Green Bay
Bob Wojnowski: Detroit 

Source: Detroit Freep Press
Mitch Albom: Detroit
Nicholas J. Cotsonika: Green Bay
Drew Sharp: Green Bay

Here are the Picks from ESPN and MSNBC.

Source: ESPN Week 12 Picks
Only Chris Mortensen picked the Lions the remaining 7 Experts all took Brett Favre and the Packers.

Source: Jay Novacek MSNBC

Jay goes out on a limb and picks the Lions. I can only say I am surprised and that Jay has a good track record with his picks on the Lions games. I hope he is right. Here is what he had to say:

The Lions always have an advantage of playing at home on Thanksgiving – they’re with their families, and it’s such a great scene.

Plus, the Packers and Cowboys will be competing knowing they have a showdown coming.

Green Bay will have a tough time stopping Detroit’s offense. The Lions will be fired up and ready to get after it. They’ll get ahead and hang onto the lead.
 

Your ‘Lion Eyes’ blogger predicts an easy win by the Packers. The Pack just has too much of a passing attack for the Lions to control. Green Bay will give up some yards to the Lions through the air but Detroit will not be able to run the ball effectively. The game will turn into a shootout and the Lions don’t have the defensive weapons to stay with Brett Favre and the Pack. Make it 38-24 Packers. Detroit will still be 6-5 and no worse than tied for the last NFC Wildcard spot and hope is still alive in the Motor City.

Cast your Vote in This Week’s Poll, Please

    Who do you pick to win the Thanksgiving matchup?

    • Green Bay Packers 9-1 (54%, 7 Votes)
    • Detroit Lions 6-4 (46%, 6 Votes)

    Total Voters: 13

    Loading ... Loading …

Injury Report Source: Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions Week 12 IR Logo

Pos. Player Injury Monday Tuesday Wednesday
T Jonathon Scott - Probable Hand Full Practice Full Practice Full Practice
DE Dewayne White - Probable Triceps Full Practice Full Practice Full Practice
LB Teddy Lehman - Quest Ankle No Practice Limited Practice Full Practice
DE Ikaika Alama-Francis - Doubtful Hamstring No Practice No Practice No Practice

Green Bay Packers Week 12 IR Logo

Pos. Player Injury Monday Tuesday Wednesday
CB Will Blackmon - Out Foot No Practice No Practice No Practice
S Nick Collins - Out Knee No Practice No Practice No Practice
TE Bubba Franks - Out Knee No Practice No Practice No Practice
DT Johnny Jolly - Out Shoulder No Practice No Practice No Practice
T Chad Clifton - Probable Knee Limited Practice Limited Practice Full Practice
RB Ryan Grant - Prob Ankle Limited Practice Limited Practice Full Practice
WR Koren Robinson - Prob Knee Limited Practice Limited Practice Full Practice
T Mark Tauscher - Prob Ankle Limited Practice Limited Practice Full Practice
LB Tracey White - Prob Ankle Limited Practice Limited Practice Full Practice
CB Charles Woodson - Prob Hip No Practice Limited Practice Full Practice

NFL Injury Report Logo

Reported Status Percent Chance to Play
Probable 75% Chance Player will Play in Game
Questionable 50% Chance Player will Play in Game
Doubtful 25% Chance Player will Play in Game
Out Player will not Play in Game


Comments

3 Comments so far

  1. Detroit Lions now 6-5 after thrashing by Green Bay Packers 37-26 : Detroit Lions on November 23, 2007 12:36 pm

    [...] Traditional Thanksgiving Day game. Your ‘Lion Eyes’ blogger made this prediction in the post on Thursday morning: Your ‘Lion Eyes’ blogger predicts an easy win by the Packers. The [...]

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