Sunday Night Football: Lions at Packers: After defeating one NFC North team to move into a first-place tie atop ... http://bit.ly/12d6A6v
12:57 PM - 8 Dec 12 · Details
Snow is in the forecast for Sunday night's clash between the Lions and Packers at Lambeau.
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Sunday Night Football: Lions at Packers
Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers (-7, 49)
After defeating one NFC North team to move into a first-place tie atop the division, the Green Bay Packers will look to strengthen their position with a victory over another on Sunday night. History suggests that Aaron Rodgers and company will likely head in that direction as Green Bay hasn't dropped a home game to the Detroit Lions since 1991. Rodgers was an efficient 27-for-35 for 286 yards and a touchdown as the Packers pulled into a tie with Chicago by posting a 23-14 win over Minnesota last week.
Four consecutive losses have derailed the once-high expectations of Detroit. Rookie Andrew Luck may have provided the final spike to the Lions' ever-slim postseason aspirations by tossing his fourth touchdown as time expired in Indianapolis' 35-33 victory last week. The last-second victory took away from another solid performance by Matthew Stafford, who leads the NFL with 3,742 passing yards.
TV: 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC.
LINE: Packers -7, O/U 49
WEATHER: Forecasts are calling for temperatures around the freezing mark with a 95 percent chance of snow. Winds will blow out of the north at 6 mph.
ABOUT THE LIONS (4-8): Stafford has regained his chemistry with Calvin Johnson, who reeled in a career-high 13 receptions for 171 yards and a score last week. The talented wideout joined former Lion Pat Studstill (1966) as the only players in NFL history to record five straight games of at least 125 yards receiving. On the other side of the ball, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh initially came under fire for what was perceived as celebrating the injury of Colts G Winston Justice. The league, however, reviewed the incident and dismissed the charge.
ABOUT THE PACKERS (8-4): Injuries are rearing their head for Green Bay, which is expected to be without wideout Jordy Nelson (hamstring), linebacker Clay Matthews (hamstring) and running back James Starks (knee) on Sunday. Wideout Randall Cobb matched a career high with nine receptions for 74 yards - including a 22-yard touchdown in the late stages of the Packers' 24-20 win over Detroit on Nov. 18.
TRENDS:
* Over is 4-1 in the last five meetings in Green Bay.
* Lions are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 meetings.
* Over is 5-1 in Lions’ last six games overall.
* Lions are 1-7 ATS in their last eight vs. NFC North opponents.
* Packers are 1-5 ATS in their last six vs. a team with a losing record.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Detroit coach Jim Schwartz came up with a solid one-liner after the team placed disgruntled WR Titus Young on injured reserve. When asked if Young will have surgery, "Most likely, yes," Schwartz said. "Unless he doesn't show up for it." Young had a propensity for failing to show for team meetings.
2. Green Bay WR Greg Jennings, who made headlines by questioning the Lions' composure in the summer, had four receptions for 46 yards last week in his return from an abdominal injury.
3. The Packers bolstered their beleaguered backfield by welcoming back Ryan Grant, who started 56 games with the club.
After defeating one NFC North team to move into a first-place tie atop the division, the Green Bay Packers will look to strengthen their position with a victory over another on Sunday night. History suggests that Aaron Rodgers and company will likely head in that direction as Green Bay hasn't dropped a home game to the Detroit Lions since 1991. Rodgers was an efficient 27-for-35 for 286 yards and a touchdown as the Packers pulled into a tie with Chicago by posting a 23-14 win over Minnesota last week.
Four consecutive losses have derailed the once-high expectations of Detroit. Rookie Andrew Luck may have provided the final spike to the Lions' ever-slim postseason aspirations by tossing his fourth touchdown as time expired in Indianapolis' 35-33 victory last week. The last-second victory took away from another solid performance by Matthew Stafford, who leads the NFL with 3,742 passing yards.
TV: 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC.
LINE: Packers -7, O/U 49
WEATHER: Forecasts are calling for temperatures around the freezing mark with a 95 percent chance of snow. Winds will blow out of the north at 6 mph.
ABOUT THE LIONS (4-8): Stafford has regained his chemistry with Calvin Johnson, who reeled in a career-high 13 receptions for 171 yards and a score last week. The talented wideout joined former Lion Pat Studstill (1966) as the only players in NFL history to record five straight games of at least 125 yards receiving. On the other side of the ball, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh initially came under fire for what was perceived as celebrating the injury of Colts G Winston Justice. The league, however, reviewed the incident and dismissed the charge.
ABOUT THE PACKERS (8-4): Injuries are rearing their head for Green Bay, which is expected to be without wideout Jordy Nelson (hamstring), linebacker Clay Matthews (hamstring) and running back James Starks (knee) on Sunday. Wideout Randall Cobb matched a career high with nine receptions for 74 yards - including a 22-yard touchdown in the late stages of the Packers' 24-20 win over Detroit on Nov. 18.
TRENDS:
* Over is 4-1 in the last five meetings in Green Bay.
* Lions are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 meetings.
* Over is 5-1 in Lions’ last six games overall.
* Lions are 1-7 ATS in their last eight vs. NFC North opponents.
* Packers are 1-5 ATS in their last six vs. a team with a losing record.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Detroit coach Jim Schwartz came up with a solid one-liner after the team placed disgruntled WR Titus Young on injured reserve. When asked if Young will have surgery, "Most likely, yes," Schwartz said. "Unless he doesn't show up for it." Young had a propensity for failing to show for team meetings.
2. Green Bay WR Greg Jennings, who made headlines by questioning the Lions' composure in the summer, had four receptions for 46 yards last week in his return from an abdominal injury.
3. The Packers bolstered their beleaguered backfield by welcoming back Ryan Grant, who started 56 games with the club.
