NFL: Lions vs Packers - Odds, Prediction & Picks

It’s a battle for the top spot in the NFC North as the Detroit Lions travel to face the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football. Both teams are 2-1. Lions quarterback Jared Goff threw and ran for a touchdown in a 20-6 win over the Falcons, rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs finished with 80 yards and the Lions pass rush woke up in a big way with seven sacks. The Lions will need to keep that type of defensive performance going if they’re going to stop the Packers on the road.

Odds provided by FanDuel.

Lions

The Lions are 2-1 against the spread in 2023 and 1-1 as a moneyline favorite. They’ve hit the over once – it’s been an NFL trend this season that the under has paid out. Detroit entered the Falcons game missing several key starters, but the defense played outstanding. The short week won’t help the Lions heal up, and the injuries on the offensive line are a concern.

Injury Report: The Lions injury report remains one of the longest in the NFL: OT Matt Nelson, OL Halapoulivaati Vaital, RB Jason Cabinda, OT Taylor Decker, G Jonah Jackson, DB Kerby Joseph, RB David Montgomery, DB Emmanuel Moseley.

Packers

The Packers were down 17-0 to the Saints on Sunday, but never wavered, fighting back to score 18 points in the fourth quarter and steal a victory. New Packers quarterback Jordan Love has shown promise and athleticism. Love has thrown for 655 yards and run for 74. The Packers could also get star running back Aaron Jones back from an injury for Thursday night.

Injury Report: The Packers report Monday was a long one: DB Jaire Alexander, DB Zayne Anderson, OT David Bakhtiari, LB De’Vondre Campbell, LB Rashan Gary, OL Elgton Jenkins, RB Aaron Jones, OT Zach Tom, DB Carrington Valentine, WR Christian Watson.

• These two NFL franchises have been playing against one another since 1930. The Lions have won the last three meetings, but the Packers lead the all-time series 105-75 with seven ties.
• The six points the Lions gave up against the Falcons was the fewest points they’d allowed in a victory since beating the Arizona Cardinals 17-3 back in 2018.
• Lions rookie tight end Sam LaPorta now leads all tight ends in the NFL with 18 catches for 186 yards and a touchdown.

I know it’s only Week 4 in the regular season, but this is a big game for the NFC North. The Bears and Vikings are each winless and look to be in trouble, so the winner of this game takes a big early step toward winning the division. Both teams are banged up. The Packers pass rush could be a problem. Packers LB Rashan Gary had three sacks against the Saints and could have a feast against the Lions back-up offensive lineman. The last three games between these two teams have been settled by a touchdown or less.

The NFL is so wild. You think the Cowboys are good and they get whipped by the Cardinals. The Dolphins score 70 against the Broncos. Week to week teams are up and down. What the Lions did against the Falcons was encouraging, if that defense plays like that, they will be tough to beat, but this is a short week and a game on the road. The Packers have won three of their last four games with the Lions at Lambeau. I like the homefield advantage.

FanDuel Packers +1.5