Lions vs. Packers: Preview, score prediction for Week 9
Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers
This has been a rough season for both the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions. Green Bay without the head of the pack, Aaron Rodgers, and Detroit has been off over the last few weeks. Both teams need this win, and the outcome could predict what the future holds for their division.
Right now, the Minnesota Vikings lead the NFC North. If the Pack can hold home-field on Monday Night Football and notch a victory, they will only be one game behind the Vikings. However, if the Lions take the win, it will leave both teams at a 4-4 record, two games behind the Vikings.
Detroit lost their last three games, and have only been a favorite once this season, until now. Ironically, the Lions enter as this week’s favorite although they have only won once on the road in their last 26 matchups with these NFC North foes.
Keys To Victory
The Lions need to score touchdowns. Last week in a losing effort where they truly played well, they kicked five field goals. This would be a fantastic week for Detroit to focus on the run game, as the team said that would be a prime focus this season for the team, and yet it has been minimal.
Meanwhile, the defense of Detroit will need to focus on stuffing the run. With a risky quarterback in Brett Hundley and Aaron Jones’ emergence, we can assume the Packers will have a heavy run game. But it won’t be a walk in the park for Jones, as the Lions have the seventh best run defense in the NFL.
The Packers are in a sticky situation. The Lions rank 25th in the league against the pass, which offers their receivers an opportunity to find the end zone. However, with Hundley looking terrible these past two weeks, it doesn’t look likely. He’s had less than 60 pass attempts in the last weeks. Not even half of those attempts were completed, and four were intercepted.
Next: NFL Power Rankings, Week 10: Eagles stay hot, Chiefs cool
Prediction
The Packers will rely on Ty Montgomery and a heavy run game for the first half of the game. The Lions will pick it up in the second half, forcing the Packers to throw the ball downfield. The Lions will finally have another victory at Lambeau Field.
Final Score: Detroit Lions: 24, Green Bay Packers: 20