The Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions were both playoff teams in 2016, but they are playing out the string Sunday when they face off in the Motor City.
The Lions haven’t swept a season series from the Packers since 1991 but can here thanks to a 30-17 victory in Green Bay in Week 9.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 26 Dec 9:53am | GB | -7.5 -110 | O +42.5 -115 |
| Closing 30 Dec 5:48pm | GB | -7 -110 | O +44 -110 |
Not quite the drama in this game as when Green Bay visited Detroit in Week 17 last year. That was a winner-take-all for the NFC North title and the loser landing a wild-card spot (thanks to the Washington Redskins losing earlier in the day). The Packers won that Sunday night 31-24 behind 300 yards passing and four TDs from Aaron Rodgers. His 2017 season is over, however.
Detroit’s chances of a wild-card spot this year went up in smoke in a Week 16 loss in Cincinnati, and the Packers were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 15.
Rodgers was out the last time these two teams played with his broken collarbone and Green Bay had only three points entering the fourth behind backup Brett Hundley. Matthew Stafford passed for 361 yards and two touchdowns to Marvin Jones.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers (7-8 SU, 7-8 ATS) had the NFC’s active longest run of making the postseason as they had every year since 2009, which was Rodgers’ second season as the starting quarterback. Green Bay actually broke an odd NFL rule when it put Rodgers back on injured reserve last week. League rules stipulate that a player must have suffered a new injury that would sideline him at least six weeks to be placed on IR. If that’s not the case, the team must release said player. Rodgers didn’t suffer a new injury when he returned from a broken collarbone in a Week 15 loss, but then the Packers were then eliminated from the playoffs with an Atlanta win that Monday night and opted to rule out Rodgers for the season.
Other teams have complained to the league office saying that Rodgers should be put on waivers, but needless to say that’s not going to happen. Behind Hundley, the Packers were shut out Saturday night, 16-0 by Minnesota. It was the second time the team was blanked at home this season; no team in the NFL had suffered such a fate since 2006.
Detroit Lions
Detroit (8-7 SU, 7-7-1 ATS) was favoured Sunday at a Cincinnati team that had clearly quit on the season and had been outscored 80-14 in its previous nine quarters, but the Bengals pulled off a 26-17 upset to eliminate the Lions from playoff contention and, many believe, seal the fate of Detroit coach Jim Caldwell. Lions owner Martha Ford and team president Rod Wood declined comment on Caldwell’s future following the loss, and that silence speaks volumes. Against what had been the NFL’s worst rushing defense, the Lions had just 87 yards on the ground. Stafford was 19 of 35 for 203 yards with a touchdown and interception. He’s a bit beaten up, so it’s possible Stafford sits this one out.
Weather
| condition | dome |
Injuries
Taysom Hill (QB)
Davon House (CB)
Ladarius Gunter (CB)
Mike Daniels (DT)
Geronimo Allison (WR)
Don Barclay (T)
Aaron Jones (RB)
Jordy Nelson (WR)
Damarious Randall (CB)
Jason Spriggs (T)
Nevin Lawson (CB)
Anthony Zettel (DE)
T.J. Lang (G)
Theo Riddick (RB)
TJ Jones (WR)
Matthew Stafford (QB)
Ezekiel Ansah (DE)
Taylor Decker (T)
Corey Robinson (T)
Travis Swanson (C)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taysom Hill (QB) | Ques Sun | Illness - 13 / 01 / 18 | 0-0 | 0-0 | + - |
|
Hill has come down with an illness and his status is uncertain for the NFC divisional round against the Vikings. |
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| Davon House (CB) | day-to-day | Shoulder - 31 / 12 / 17 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
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House exited Sunday's game with a shoulder injury and it is uncertain if he will return. |
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| Ladarius Gunter (CB) | Prob Sun | Illness - 30 / 12 / 17 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
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Gunter is nursing an illness but is expected to be available for the NFC wild-card round against the Saints. |
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| Mike Daniels (DT) | Ques Sun | Shoulder - 29 / 12 / 17 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Daniels is dealing with a shoulder injury and his status is uncertain for Sunday's game against the Lions. |
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| Geronimo Allison (WR) | Out Sun | Illness - 28 / 12 / 17 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Allison is dealing with an illness and will be inactive for Sunday's game against the Lions. |
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| Don Barclay (T) | I-R | Concussion - 26 / 12 / 17 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Barclay has been placed on injured reserve with a concussion. |
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| Aaron Jones (RB) | Out Sun | Knee - 23 / 12 / 17 | 0-2 | 1-1 | + - |
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Jones left the previous game with a knee injury and will not play Sunday against the Lions. |
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| Jordy Nelson (WR) | Out Sun | Shoulder - 23 / 12 / 17 | 0-2 | 1-1 | + - |
|
Nelson left the last game with a shoulder injury and will not play Sunday against the Lions. |
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| Damarious Randall (CB) | Ques Sun | Knee - 23 / 12 / 17 | 0-2 | 1-1 | + - |
|
Randall missed the last game with a knee injury and it is unclear if he will play Sunday against the Lions. |
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| Jason Spriggs (T) | I-R | Knee - 23 / 12 / 17 | 0-2 | 1-1 | + - |
|
Spriggs has been placed on injured reserve with a dislocated left knee cap. |
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| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevin Lawson (CB) | Out Sun | Concussion - 30 / 12 / 17 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Lawson is working his way through concussion protocol and will not be cleared in time for Sunday's contest against the Packers. |
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| Anthony Zettel (DE) | Out Sun | Groin - 30 / 12 / 17 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
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Zettel has a groin injury and will not be active for Sunday's game against the Packers. |
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| T.J. Lang (G) | Prob Sun | Foot - 20 / 12 / 17 | 1-1 | 0-2 | + - |
|
Lang missed the last game with a foot injury but is expected to be in the lineup Sunday against the Packers. |
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| Theo Riddick (RB) | Prob Sun | Wrist - 20 / 12 / 17 | 1-1 | 0-2 | + - |
|
Riddick is expected to play Sunday against the Bengals despite a wrist injury. |
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| TJ Jones (WR) | I-R | Shoulder - 19 / 12 / 17 | 1-1 | 0-2 | + - |
|
Jones has landed on injured reserve due to a shoulder injury. |
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| Matthew Stafford (QB) | Prob Sat | Hand - 13 / 12 / 17 | 2-1 | 0-3 | + - |
|
Stafford is expected to be available against the Bears on Saturday despite a hand injury. |
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| Ezekiel Ansah (DE) | Ques Sat | Ankle - 12 / 12 / 17 | 2-1 | 0-3 | + - |
|
Ansah is dealing with an ankle injury and it is uncertain if it will keep him out of Saturday's lineup against the Bears. |
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| Taylor Decker (T) | Prob Sat | Shoulder - 12 / 12 / 17 | 2-1 | 0-3 | + - |
|
Decker is nursing a shoulder injury but is expected to compete against the Bears on Saturday. |
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| Corey Robinson (T) | Prob Sat | Foot - 12 / 12 / 17 | 2-1 | 0-3 | + - |
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Robinson is battling a foot injury but is likely to participate in Saturday's matchup against the Bears. |
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| Travis Swanson (C) | I-R | Concussion - 12 / 12 / 17 | 2-1 | 0-3 | + - |
|
Swanson has landed on the injured reserve list due to a concussion. |
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Packers vs. Lions Prediction
-
GREEN BAY PACKERS
17 -
DETROIT LIONS
23
Score
Prediction
-
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 26 Dec 9:53am GB -7.5 -110 O +42.5 -115 Closing 30 Dec 5:48pm GB -7 -110 O +44 -110 -
Weather
condition dome -
Injuries
Taysom Hill (QB)
Ques Sun Illness - 13 / 01 / 18Davon House (CB)
day-to-day Shoulder - 31 / 12 / 17Ladarius Gunter (CB)
Prob Sun Illness - 30 / 12 / 17Mike Daniels (DT)
Ques Sun Shoulder - 29 / 12 / 17Geronimo Allison (WR)
Out Sun Illness - 28 / 12 / 17Don Barclay (T)
I-R Concussion - 26 / 12 / 17Aaron Jones (RB)
Out Sun Knee - 23 / 12 / 17Jordy Nelson (WR)
Out Sun Shoulder - 23 / 12 / 17Damarious Randall (CB)
Ques Sun Knee - 23 / 12 / 17Jason Spriggs (T)
I-R Knee - 23 / 12 / 17Nevin Lawson (CB)
Out Sun Concussion - 30 / 12 / 17Anthony Zettel (DE)
Out Sun Groin - 30 / 12 / 17T.J. Lang (G)
Prob Sun Foot - 20 / 12 / 17Theo Riddick (RB)
Prob Sun Wrist - 20 / 12 / 17TJ Jones (WR)
I-R Shoulder - 19 / 12 / 17Matthew Stafford (QB)
Prob Sat Hand - 13 / 12 / 17Ezekiel Ansah (DE)
Ques Sat Ankle - 12 / 12 / 17Taylor Decker (T)
Prob Sat Shoulder - 12 / 12 / 17Corey Robinson (T)
Prob Sat Foot - 12 / 12 / 17Travis Swanson (C)
I-R Concussion - 12 / 12 / 17Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Taysom Hill (QB) Ques Sun Illness - 13 / 01 / 18 0-0 0-0 + - Hill has come down with an illness and his status is uncertain for the NFC divisional round against the Vikings.
Davon House (CB) day-to-day Shoulder - 31 / 12 / 17 0-1 0-1 + - House exited Sunday's game with a shoulder injury and it is uncertain if he will return.
Ladarius Gunter (CB) Prob Sun Illness - 30 / 12 / 17 0-1 0-1 + - Gunter is nursing an illness but is expected to be available for the NFC wild-card round against the Saints.
Mike Daniels (DT) Ques Sun Shoulder - 29 / 12 / 17 0-1 0-1 + - Daniels is dealing with a shoulder injury and his status is uncertain for Sunday's game against the Lions.
Geronimo Allison (WR) Out Sun Illness - 28 / 12 / 17 0-1 0-1 + - Allison is dealing with an illness and will be inactive for Sunday's game against the Lions.
Don Barclay (T) I-R Concussion - 26 / 12 / 17 0-1 0-1 + - Barclay has been placed on injured reserve with a concussion.
Aaron Jones (RB) Out Sun Knee - 23 / 12 / 17 0-2 1-1 + - Jones left the previous game with a knee injury and will not play Sunday against the Lions.
Jordy Nelson (WR) Out Sun Shoulder - 23 / 12 / 17 0-2 1-1 + - Nelson left the last game with a shoulder injury and will not play Sunday against the Lions.
Damarious Randall (CB) Ques Sun Knee - 23 / 12 / 17 0-2 1-1 + - Randall missed the last game with a knee injury and it is unclear if he will play Sunday against the Lions.
Jason Spriggs (T) I-R Knee - 23 / 12 / 17 0-2 1-1 + - Spriggs has been placed on injured reserve with a dislocated left knee cap.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Nevin Lawson (CB) Out Sun Concussion - 30 / 12 / 17 0-1 0-1 + - Lawson is working his way through concussion protocol and will not be cleared in time for Sunday's contest against the Packers.
Anthony Zettel (DE) Out Sun Groin - 30 / 12 / 17 0-1 0-1 + - Zettel has a groin injury and will not be active for Sunday's game against the Packers.
T.J. Lang (G) Prob Sun Foot - 20 / 12 / 17 1-1 0-2 + - Lang missed the last game with a foot injury but is expected to be in the lineup Sunday against the Packers.
Theo Riddick (RB) Prob Sun Wrist - 20 / 12 / 17 1-1 0-2 + - Riddick is expected to play Sunday against the Bengals despite a wrist injury.
TJ Jones (WR) I-R Shoulder - 19 / 12 / 17 1-1 0-2 + - Jones has landed on injured reserve due to a shoulder injury.
Matthew Stafford (QB) Prob Sat Hand - 13 / 12 / 17 2-1 0-3 + - Stafford is expected to be available against the Bears on Saturday despite a hand injury.
Ezekiel Ansah (DE) Ques Sat Ankle - 12 / 12 / 17 2-1 0-3 + - Ansah is dealing with an ankle injury and it is uncertain if it will keep him out of Saturday's lineup against the Bears.
Taylor Decker (T) Prob Sat Shoulder - 12 / 12 / 17 2-1 0-3 + - Decker is nursing a shoulder injury but is expected to compete against the Bears on Saturday.
Corey Robinson (T) Prob Sat Foot - 12 / 12 / 17 2-1 0-3 + - Robinson is battling a foot injury but is likely to participate in Saturday's matchup against the Bears.
Travis Swanson (C) I-R Concussion - 12 / 12 / 17 2-1 0-3 + - Swanson has landed on the injured reserve list due to a concussion.