Packers (12-3) at Lions (3-11-1)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Ford Field, Detroit
TV: Fox
Danny Sheridan’s line: by 10
Packers’ keys to victory: Avoiding a letdown is the name of the game for the Packers. Green Bay should be able to run the ball effectively with RBs Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams, and attacking the underbelly of the Lions’ defense with running backs in the passing game should work splendidly. QB Aaron Rodgers can stretch the defense with deep shots to WR Geronimo Allison and TE Jimmy Graham. Defensively, pressure up front could overwhelm what’s left of the Lions’ injury-ravaged offensive line.
Lions’ keys to victory: If the Lions are to pull off a wildly improbable upset, it will come from the defense making big plays. CB Darius Slay is capable of doing that, but he needs help from the likes of youngsters CB Amani Oruwariye and S Tracy Walker. Up front, DE Trey Flowers needs to continue his recent dominant play to create pressure on QB Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ offense. A big play or two from special teams would help, something that KR Jamal Agnew has shown he can create. The offense around rookie QB David Blough is missing several key pieces, but WR Kenny Golladay remains one of the NFL’s premium red-zone weapons.
Matchup to watch: Packers OLB Preston Smith vs. Lions LT Taylor Decker. Smith is the type of power-to-speed rusher who typically gives Decker trouble. With the right tackle position in flux, Decker must hold the line.
Who wins? What’s left of the injury-ravaged Lions looks like an expansion team, while the Packers are vying for playoff seeding.
Packers, 37-13
Packers
Packers schedule
W ....... at Chicago ....... 10-3 W ...... Minnesota ...... 21-16 W ......... Denver ......... 27-16 L ..... Philadelphia ..... 34-27 W ........ at Dallas ........ 34-24 W ......... Detroit ......... 23-22 W ........ Oakland ........ 43-24 W .. at Kansas City .. 31-24 L . at L.A. Chargers . 26-11 W ........ Carolina ........ 24-16
BYE
L ....... at San Fran . ....... 37-8 W ... at N.Y. Giants ... 31-13 W .... Washington .... 20-15 W ........ Chicago ........ 21-13 W ...atMinnesota ...23-10 Dec. 29 ..... at Detroit ...... 1
Lions schedule
T ....... at Arizona ....... 27-27 W ... L.A. Chargers ... 13-10 W .. at Philadelphia .. 27-24 L ...... Kansas City ...... 34-30
BYE
L .... atGreenBay .... 23-22 L ....... Minnesota ....... 42-30 W ...... N.Y. Giants ...... 31-26 L ...... atOakland ...... 31-24 L ...... atChicago ...... 20-13 L ........... Dallas ........... 35-27 L ... at Washington ... 19-16 L ......... Chicago ......... 24-20 L ..... atMinnesota ..... 20-7 L ...... TampaBay ...... 38-17 L ....... atDenver ....... 27-17 Dec. 29 ..... Green Bay ..... 1