The Thanksgiving rivalry heats up! Can the Green Bay Packers stop Jahmyr Gibbs and claim a crucial NFC North victory on the road against the Detroit Lions?
It's the biggest game of the season for the Green Bay Packers, without a doubt.
They're 7-3-1 and take on the 7-4 Detroit Lions from Ford Field in a marquee Thanksgiving Day matchup. The Packers have beaten the Lions once this season, and with a second win, and especially with a win on the road, they'll have vanquished a team that has gotten the best of them far too many times over the past few seasons.
Credit to Detroit head coach Dan Campbell for building this franchise up from the depths of the NFC North and turning the Lions into a team that the Packers have to beat to prove themselves. It wasn't many years ago when the shoe was on the other foot for what had to have seemed like an eternity for Lions fans.
There is no love lost in this rivalry, though, so let's not feel too good about Detroit. They're going to be playing to protect their home field in this one while also playing to prove that Green Bay's 27-13 Week 1 win was a fluke.
On the Packers' side of things, a win would prove that the team we saw in Week 1, which looked like a no-doubt Super Bowl contender, was real.
There's a ton on the line in this one. In fact, more than a win is on the line. Perspective in the NFC North as well as the NFC as a whole is at stake.
With that said, here's all the information you'll ever need for this huge Thanksgiving Day contest.
Game Time:
12:00 PM Lambeau Time
TV Channel:
FOX
Odds:
Packers +3 per ESPN BET, O/U 48.5
Key Matchup: Packers defensive line vs. Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs
Jahmyr Gibbs is a fantastic running back. The Packers slowed down Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles a few week ago and they got a ton of credit for that, but Gibbs may be even better than Barkley as it currently stands.
He's coming off a game against the New York Giants in which he rushed for 219 yards and two touchdowns while also tacking on a receiving touchdown.
He can do this, literally, every time he touches the ball:
If the Packers are going to beat the Lions, they're going to have to stop Gibbs to do it.
Micah Parsons needs to get after Lions quarterback Jared Goff, but his abilities as a run-stopper will be even more important on Thursday. The Pack will also need big games inside from Colby Wooden (6-foot-4, 273 pounds) and Devonte Wyatt (6-foot-3, 304 pounds).
Key Quote: Jeff Hafley on Micah Parsons being ready to play the Lions as soon as the win over the Vikings was over
“I’m glad he’s ready right now because we’re going to need him to be ready, especially with how physical he played in that game,” Hafley said, per Bill Huber. “He’s got so much energy. Whether he’s in the meeting room, whether he’s on the practice field, gameday, he’s a guy that bounces around and kind of lights up the room and just never seems to be stopped. We’ll see what he can do on Thursday.”
Best Thanksgiving Side Dish:
Stuffing and it's not even close
Prediction:
Packers 23, Lions 17