by Chuck Sommers
Thursday, Jan 06, 2022
Game time: 1 p.m. ET
Venue: Ford Field, Detroit, MI
Where to watch: FOX
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Packers -3.5; O/U 45
BetMGM: Packers -4; O/U 44.5
Caesars: Packers -4; O/U 44.5
Season record
Packers: 13-3 (Clinched NFC North, No. 1 seed in NFC Playoffs)
Lions: 2-13-1 (Last place, NFC North)
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Packers - Lions preview and analysis
Last week
Packers: won 37-10 vs. Vikings
Lions: lost 51-29 at Seahawks
The Green Bay Packers will have the road to the Super Bowl put in front of them once again. If they can get a different outcome than last season when they lost in the NFC Title game to the eventual champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, "Title Town" will be more enjoyable this time around.
The Packers have the No. 1 seed in the NFC wrapped up and have nothing to play for in this regular season finale against the Detroit Lions, who are still very much in play for the No. 1 pick in this upcoming NFL Draft if the Jacksonville Jaguars have anything to say about it.
But the story is more about the Packers and how despite all this tumultuous drama surrounding Aaron Rodgers between nearly leaving the team and the whole COVID situation, the Packers are back on top and have to be considered the proverbial favorites to bringing back the Lombardi Trophy back home.
The Packers are coming off a 27-point win over the Minnesota Vikings that essentially wrapped up everything for Green Bay. They were facing a Kirk Cousins-less Vikings team, so the blowout isn't all that surprising.
Rodgers continued his MVP-caliber season with 288 yards through the air and two touchdowns, putting him 23 away from 4,000 and an unreal 35-4 touchdown-interception ratio. He has thrown at least two touchdowns and no interceptions in six straight games, tied for the second-longest run in league history.
The former Super Bowl MVP can also become the sixth player with 10 4,000-yard seasons in his career should he even play in Week 18. That all depends if it means that much to him, much like it would mean to his top target Davante Adams to reach 1,500 yards this season. Adams just needs two for that milestone mark. He also needs three catches to meet 120 on the season, which broke the team record he set last season.
"It means that I'm continuing to push," Adams said. "I said at the end of last year when I did my farewell post on Instagram at end of the season. At the end of that post, I said don't be surprised if I come back better, when I come back better. I hope people aren't surprised because I said it ahead of time."
The Green Bay Packers will have the road to the Super Bowl put in front of them once again. If they can get a different outcome than last season when they lost in the NFC Title game to the eventual champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, "Title Town" will be more enjoyable this time around.
The Packers have the No. 1 seed in the NFC wrapped up and have nothing to play for in this regular season finale against the Detroit Lions, who are still very much in play for the No. 1 pick in this upcoming NFL Draft if the Jacksonville Jaguars have anything to say about it.
But the story is more about the Packers and how despite all this tumultuous drama surrounding Aaron Rodgers between nearly leaving the team and the whole COVID situation, the Packers are back on top and have to be considered the proverbial favorites to bringing back the Lombardi Trophy back home.
The Packers are coming off a 27-point win over the Minnesota Vikings that essentially wrapped up everything for Green Bay. They were facing a Kirk Cousins-less Vikings team, so the blowout isn't all that surprising.
Rodgers continued his MVP-caliber season with 288 yards through the air and two touchdowns, putting him 23 away from 4,000 and an unreal 35-4 touchdown-interception ratio. He has thrown at least two touchdowns and no interceptions in six straight games, tied for the second-longest run in league history.
The former Super Bowl MVP can also become the sixth player with 10 4,000-yard seasons in his career should he even play in Week 18. That all depends if it means that much to him, much like it would mean to his top target Davante Adams to reach 1,500 yards this season. Adams just needs two for that milestone mark. He also needs three catches to meet 120 on the season, which broke the team record he set last season.
"It means that I'm continuing to push," Adams said. "I said at the end of last year when I did my farewell post on Instagram at end of the season. At the end of that post, I said don't be surprised if I come back better, when I come back better. I hope people aren't surprised because I said it ahead of time."
If the Lions are bracing for a heavy dose of Jordan Love, this could be an opportunity for the Lions to keep this game close. They're coming off a disappointing 22-point loss at the Seattle Seahawks, who suddenly remembered how to play offense. This author certainly isn't mad that D.K. Metcalf suddenly remembered how to score touchdowns, either.
This up-and-down season for the Lions will finally come to an end, but there's some to like in Dan Campbell's first season. Tim Boyle threw for 262 yards and two touchdowns, but also tossed three interceptions in the snowy Seattle field.
Rookie receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown continued his strong end to the season with 111 yards and a touchdown on eight receptions. He became the fifth rookie receiver since 1970 with 100 receiving yards, a receiving touchdown and a rushing touchdown in the same game; he had a 26-yard score in the second quarter.
"When we pulled it back within two scores, I thought this is a chance to get this thing back in our our favor. We'll get a stop or turnover and and now we make this a one-possession game, and we just couldn't do it," Campbell said. "That really disappointed me more than the other stuff."
Much like the Lions' season as a whole. Just couldn't do it.
This up-and-down season for the Lions will finally come to an end, but there's some to like in Dan Campbell's first season. Tim Boyle threw for 262 yards and two touchdowns, but also tossed three interceptions in the snowy Seattle field.
Rookie receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown continued his strong end to the season with 111 yards and a touchdown on eight receptions. He became the fifth rookie receiver since 1970 with 100 receiving yards, a receiving touchdown and a rushing touchdown in the same game; he had a 26-yard score in the second quarter.
"When we pulled it back within two scores, I thought this is a chance to get this thing back in our our favor. We'll get a stop or turnover and and now we make this a one-possession game, and we just couldn't do it," Campbell said. "That really disappointed me more than the other stuff."
Much like the Lions' season as a whole. Just couldn't do it.
Prediction
I don't want to discount the Lions in this one if the Packers are playing the reserves, but it would be just the perfect cap if Detroit blew this game. Whether it's Jared Goff or Boyle under center, the Packers will play hard. Given how this line looks with the thought of Rodgers sitting out, it might be safe enough to take the Packers by a narrow margin. Packers by 6
Betting trends
The over is 11-1 in the Packers' last 12 January games.
The Packers are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 conference games.
The under is 5-0 in the Lions' last five following an ATS loss.
The home team is 4-0 ATS in the last four; the Packers are 0-4 ATS in their last four in Detroit.
Statistical leaders
Packers:
Passing: Aaron Rodgers -- 3,977 yards, 35 TD, 4 INT
Rushing: Aaron Jones -- 799 yards, 4 TD
Receiving: Davante Adams -- 1,498 yards, 11 TD
Defense: Rashan Gary -- 9.5 sacks
Lions:
Passing: Jared Goff -- 3,007 yards, 17 TD, 8 INT
Rushing: D'Andre Swift -- 587 yards, 4 TD
Receiving: Amon-Ra St. Brown -- 803 yards, 4 TD
Defense: Amani Oruwariye -- 6 INT
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
