The Green Bay Packers travel to Ford Field to face the Detroit Lions on Thursday Night Football. The Packers took another divisional loss to the Chicago Bears last week on Thanksgiving and will look to bounce back against the Lions Thursday night. The Lions have won three straight games and are looking to get their first season sweep of the Packers since 1991.
The Lions offense has been rolling for the past couple weeks, and quarterback Matthew Stafford threw a season-high five touchdowns against the Philadelphia Eagles last week. The Lions have improved to 4-7 on the year under head coach Jim Caldwell, and a second win over the Packers could have an impact on whether the organization keeps him after this season.
Stafford will look to target star wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who is reportedly expected to play Thursday night. Johnson is coming off a huge game in which he caught eight passes for 93 yards and three touchdowns. With wide receiver Lance Moore out with an ankle injury, Johnson will have to make his presence felt on the field Thursday.
While the Lions have turned their season around with a three-game winning streak, the Packers are one of the most confusing teams to watch in the NFL. Green Bay regained control of the NFC North division with a win over the Minnesota Vikings two weeks ago, but they lost that lead after falling to the Bears on Thanksgiving evening.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is having another incredible season, having thrown 24 touchdowns to just four interceptions on the year. The NFL's 2014 MVP struggled against Chicago's defense, throwing for 202 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Rodgers threw over 300 yards and two touchdowns the last time he faced the Lions, but he was sacked three times. Head coach Mike McCarthy will need his offensive line to protect Rodgers, as the Lions have a formidable pass rush.
Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah has had a huge season for Detroit. The Lions star defensive end has 11.5 sacks on the season, and is coming off a season high 3.5 sacks against the Eagles last Thursday. McCarthy will need to establish a strong ground game, as that will alleviate pressure on Rodgers and open holes down field.
Packers running backs Eddie Lacy and James Starks will see plenty of opportunities Thursday night, as McCarthy will likely look to feed the hot hand. Lacy is coming off back-to-back 100 yard rushing performances and will look to make an impact against the Lions. Starks has rushed for 429 yards this season and can be strong change of pace running back with Lacy. The Packers offense runs through Rodgers, but for them to be successful Thursday, they will need their running game to be effective.
It's a crucial NFC North matchup, and the Packers are currently fighting to regain the division lead. The game starts at 8:25 p.m. Eastern time, and you can watch the live broadcast here. To listen to the Packers' radio broadcast, click here, and for the Lions' radio broadcast, go here.
