Game 13 : Packers @ Lions - Thursday, Dec 5th 7:15 PM

[OldHeidelberg]

One of those weird games that seems huge but has a good chance of ending up relatively meaningless. I was at that miserable rainy game a few weeks ago so would love for the Pack to stick it to them in Detroit again like last season. The line has moved from 5.5 to 3.5 with the Lions so banged up. Pound them with Jacobs and get TD's when in redzone and we should be fine.   

[OldSchoolSnapper]

14 minutes ago, OldHeidelberg said:

One of those weird games that seems huge but has a good chance of ending up relatively meaningless. I was at that miserable rainy game a few weeks ago so would love for the Pack to stick it to them in Detroit again like last season. The line has moved from 5.5 to 3.5 with the Lions so banged up. Pound them with Jacobs and get TD's when in redzone and we should be fine.   

Exactly. It is pretty meaningless. 

I usually don't say things like this but I don't see a major benefit to the Packers winning this game. It's not a game where I'd want to unleash my most creative designs even though I'm sure that's not how MLF feels. They need the Lions to lose 3 times to win the division - that's not going to happen. I don't think passing Minnesota matters at all, it could actually end up worse because the 4 seed could be a better team in a more hostile environment than the 3 seed. The Packers are kinda locked into the 6 already barring a total collapse. I am more interested in Love just playing well down the stretch. That's what I'm hoping to see tonight.

I'd be fine letting Detroit ride high into the playoffs. I am embracing our road warrior playoff path. I think the most likely outcome is the Packers are eliminated at the same stage they were last season, but the conference is just much better than it was. That likely would mean playing Detroit in the Divisional and if I were MLF I'd save the rabbits for then. It would be fun to avenge both Detroit and Philly en route to the Super Bowl - I can dream about it anyway.

[HarveysWBs]

Like I’ve said before, expecting this team to win is bad for my health, and I’m always much happier when I expect a loss and am pleasantly surprised. That being said, I’ve actually talked myself into expecting a win here, or at least a very narrow loss.

The Lions have looked very mortal of late, and have an absolutely ridiculous 7 preferred defensive starters out/on IR. They are still deep and well-coached, they have excellent (if at times reckless) safeties, and no doubt Za’Darius Smith is motivated to stick it to us again if he can, but we should have advantages on that side of the ball. Pound them with Jacobs, see if he stays hot in the red zone, and then burn them with play action, and I think the offense hums.

On the other side, I am a little worried this thing turns into a barn burner. I will say that I think our defense is playing well, and a repeat of last week’s strategy wouldn’t shock me. Ja is still out, so I could see Hafley building another shell to force the Lions to get all their yards underneath and over the middle. Goff, like Tagovailoa, gets the ball out quickly, but I heard on a podcast this week that Goff is throwing it about a quarter to a half second slower over the last month than the first part of the season. I think we’ll line Gary up over their backup left tackle and hope that split second makes a difference.

If the Packers play it clean, I think they’re a coin toss at minimum, and win or lose, I’m fine with just knowing they can beat the Lions in Detroit, should it be relevant in January. If Goff gets pressured and has a couple turnovers, though, I wonder if the Packers win this thing comfortably. And then come the Bills into Detroit next week, and my how different the narrative starts to look then…

But it has to start tonight.

[HarveysWBs]

19 minutes ago, OldSchoolSnapper said:

Exactly. It is pretty meaningless. 

I usually don't say things like this but I don't see a major benefit to the Packers winning this game. It's not a game where I'd want to unleash my most creative designs even though I'm sure that's not how MLF feels. They need the Lions to lose 3 times to win the division - that's not going to happen. I don't think passing Minnesota matters at all, it could actually end up worse because the 4 seed could be a better team in a more hostile environment than the 3 seed. The Packers are kinda locked into the 6 already barring a total collapse. I am more interested in Love just playing well down the stretch. That's what I'm hoping to see tonight.

I'd be fine letting Detroit ride high into the playoffs. I am embracing our road warrior playoff path. I think the most likely outcome is the Packers are eliminated at the same stage they were last season, but the conference is just much better than it was. That likely would mean playing Detroit in the Divisional and if I were MLF I'd save the rabbits for then. It would be fun to avenge both Detroit and Philly en route to the Super Bowl - I can dream about it anyway.

I think road warrior makes about as much sense as playing at home in the playoffs, based on recent history (though I have to wonder if Jacobs is the key to unlocking our cold weather offense after so many playoff letdowns). As long as we’re close tonight, I won’t be disappointed.

But I actually don’t think the Packers would need very many crazy wrinkles or tricks to win. No giveaways and limiting penalties should keep them right there the whole way. If the Lions make more mistakes, we can beat them by two scores. They can be had.

But I wouldn’t mind beating them later after a 16-1 regular season. That’s cool, too.

[CheezWizHed]

The game isn't important so much for standings, but it is important as a measuring stick.  We still need to show that we can play a good team toe-to-toe without making dumb mistakes.  

Play a clean game and lose by 3?  Not a terrible outcome. 

Win in Detroit for the second season in a row?  Nice setup for the playoffs (and helps my Pick'em league standings). 

[OldHeidelberg]

While it's obviously a long shot at this moment I think if we gave Detroit a wupping tonight our chances of passing them for division will seem a lot more realistic. Detroit has Buf, Chi, SF, and MN left, I could see a couple of losses in there. The Packers winning out is not very likely either but things have a way falling your way if you just keep winning down the stretch. 

I am sort of expecting to win tonight too, feels like the pressure is off a bit and Detroit is really overdue to slip. Even with Jaire and Doubs out we are a much healthier team right now, you would think that would be the difference.   

[OldSchoolSnapper]

15 minutes ago, OldHeidelberg said:

While it's obviously a long shot at this moment I think if we gave Detroit a wupping tonight our chances of passing them for division will seem a lot more realistic. Detroit has Buf, Chi, SF, and MN left, I could see a couple of losses in there. The Packers winning out is not very likely either but things have a way falling your way if you just keep winning down the stretch. 

I am sort of expecting to win tonight too, feels like the pressure is off a bit and Detroit is really overdue to slip. Even with Jaire and Doubs out we are a much healthier team right now, you would think that would be the difference.   

Idk, I feel like the Packers winning out isn't really unlikely, or rather not that far fetched, if they think there is a reason to do so. I don't think Detroit will lose 3 games. It would realistically mean 0-3 against all of BUF, GB, MN. The other two are white flagging.

[OldHeidelberg]

41 minutes ago, OldSchoolSnapper said:

Idk, I feel like the Packers winning out isn't really unlikely, or rather not that far fetched, if they think there is a reason to do so. I don't think Detroit will lose 3 games. It would realistically mean 0-3 against all of BUF, GB, MN. The other two are white flagging.

SF still might make a run in that crap division but I don't really disagree. I just think it will seem different if we win tonight, especially if Detroit looks bad for once.

[HarryDoyle]

4 hours ago, CheezWizHed said:

The game isn't important so much for standings, but it is important as a measuring stick.  We still need to show that we can play a good team toe-to-toe without making dumb mistakes.  

Play a clean game and lose by 3?  Not a terrible outcome. 

Win in Detroit for the second season in a row?  Nice setup for the playoffs (and helps my Pick'em league standings). 

Yeah, I'm almost hoping for a three point loss. I don't think being at home for the playoffs is all that important, especially given the fact that it has not worked out all that well in recent history. Maybe that's more of an indictment of Rodgers but whatever. TBH I'd rather finish in third place, be the sixth seed in the playoffs and play the third place schedule next season.

[yourout]

If we punt more than twice we will probably lose. 

Going to have to score a lot.

[yourout]

Woof. That was easy.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Basically a continuation of the first meeting with idiotic penalties extending a drive. 

[adambr2]

Zero resistance by the Packer D.

[HarryDoyle]

Goff just picked apart our defense.

[82brewcrew82]

What a great drive by Detroit.  No way the Packers win out.  This one alone is going to be a long night.

[ReverendBrewmeister]

2 minutes ago, yourout said:

If we punt more than twice we will probably lose. 

Going to have to score a lot.

Might have to be a shootout win. Would expect the offense potentially to put up points. But expectations aren’t always met. 

[HarryDoyle]

Smart move to defer the kickoff and give one of the best offenses if the NFL an early seven point lead so we can play from behind right away.

[SeaBass]

I like to call that "Bend and eventually break defense."

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Just now, HarryDoyle said:

Smart move to defer the kickoff and give one of the best offenses if the NFL an early seven point lead so we can play from behind right away.

I would have 100% deferred. 

[yourout]

3 minutes ago, 82brewcrew82 said:

What a great drive by Detroit.  No way the Packers win out.  This one alone is going to be a long night.

I'm still not convinced they get to the playoffs. 

Tough remaining schedule.

[SeaBass]

Gotta get the ball out Jordan.

[82brewcrew82]

LOL, I thought the Lions lost all their defensive line

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Just now, yourout said:

I'm still not convinced they get to the playoffs. 

Tough remaining schedule.

They are at like a 97% probability. Home wins against the Bears and Saints would guarantee 11-6. That will make the playoffs. 

[82brewcrew82]

All those injured players and their pass rush is still way better.

[82brewcrew82]

The difference between these two teams is undeniably glaring.