Week 17 Preview : Packers at Lions

Green Bay ~ The Green Bay Packers, already eliminated from the playoffs, clash with their division rivals, the Detroit Lions.  This match-up features two teams that have been eliminated.

The Packers,7-8, are fresh off a 16-0 loss to the NFC North Division Champion Minnesota Vikings. The Green Bay offense looked terrible and they couldn’t move the ball against the dominant Viking defense. And when the Packers did get the ball close to the end-zone, it resulted in an interception or a turnover on downs. The Packers are trying to void their first losing season since 2008.

Meanwhile, the 8-7 Lions were eliminated from postseason contention last week with a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Matthew Stafford threw for 203 yards, and threw a touchdown and interception each.  Detroit is trying to have back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1999 and 2000 seasons.

In last years Week 17 duel between these two teams at Ford Field there was a lot more on the line. The winner took the NFC North. The Packers ended up winning behind Aaron Rodgers, and got the No. 4 seed in the NFC Playoffs.

However, Rodgers has been injured most of the season due in part to Anthony Barr’s vicious hit on him in Week 6 at US Bank Stadium. Backup QB Brett Hundley won three games for the Packers but they were not enough to keep the Pack alive. One of his losses came against the Lions on Monday Night Football in October. Matthew Stafford threw for 360 yards and two touchdowns, both to receiver Marvin Jones.

The Packers had some trouble with the NFL office because of an IR issue with Aaron Rodgers. NFL rules state that a player has to have an injury that will keep him out for 6 or more weeks, or you have to cut him. Although Rodgers did not suffer an injury to keep him out that long he did get a little banged up and with Atlanta’s win over Tampa Bay the next day, the Packers were eliminated from the playoffs. Not wanting to risk another injury to their star QB the Packers placed him on the IR. Multiple other unnamed NFL teams demanded that the League office force Green Bay to cut Rodgers. Needless to say, Rodgers will not get cut.

Predictions

I made a bad decision last week hoping for an upset, but I won’t make a similar decision this week.

The way the Packers played last week at home was discouraging. Green Bay was not able to muster up one point. And with their defensive problems especially in the passing game, I’m picking Detroit.

Lions 35

Packers 13 

 

By Jacob Szczap