Green Bay Packers: 5 Most Important Games in 2015

Dec 28, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers cornerback Sam Shields (37) defends the pass intended for Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 30-20. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Weeks 10 and Week 13
Date: Sunday, Nov. 15 and Thursday, Dec. 3
Opponent: vs./at Detroit Lions
Time: 1 p.m. and 8:25 p.m. ET

Pick either one of these games, they are one and the same for both the Packers and Lions, because if one of these two teams sweeps the season series, they will most likely win the NFC North championship.

These two rivals split the season series in 2014 with Green Bay winning on Dec. 28, the regular-season finale to win the division by a 30-20 score at Lambeau Field, and the Lions won on Sept. 21 at Ford Field by a 19-7 score.

Since 2012, the Packers have won five of the seven meetings between the two teams, scoring no fewer than 22 points in their wins, but in the two losses combined for 17 points.

What I don’t like about their second meeting is that it will be a Thursday Night Football game for the NFL Network, but what will be nice is both teams will be on regular rest because they both play on Thanksgiving the week before, giving them seven days in between their games.

If these two teams are a game apart in the standings when they play for the second time in Week 13, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if the winner of that game will go on and be crowned the champions of the division when the regular season closes.

Remember in the season finale right before the new year, the Packers’ defense held Matthew Stafford to 217 yards passing on a 20-of-41 day that included three touchdowns and no interceptions. They did sack him twice, but he still had no turnovers in the air nonetheless.

Rodgers was 17-of-22 for 226 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. In this second meeting of the season, there is no way I see it resembling the type of game we saw one year ago.

With the way the Packers kept the Lions from winning the division, these two 2014 playoff teams will be at it for even more than bragging rights, because it is safe to say a home playoff game will be on the line come that Thursday night in early December, and the entire nation will have their eyes glued to their TV.

Next: Another big rematch for the Packers