The Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers will kick off a busy Thanksgiving Day NFL schedule as the red-hot NFC North leaders look to extend their growing lead in the division.
Thanksgiving football and the Detroit Lions have become synonymous with the NFL’s slate for the popular American holiday. However, unlike so many years past, the Motor City’s favorite football franchise enters the day as one of the best teams in the NFL.
What Detroit started in 2022 has continued this season and the 8-2 squad is a lock to reach the playoffs this season and are starting to make some long-time analysts believe they should get consideration as a serious Super Bowl contender in 2023. The offense is top-five in our current NFL offense rankings but what has made this team different is their defense has finally caught up and elevated their place among the best teams in the league.
Things are much different for the Green Bay Packers in 2023. The team is making the transition away from Aaron Rodgers being the face of their franchise and trying to find out if Jordan Love can fill his massive shoes to be the organization’s next franchise QB. However, the 25-year-old hasn’t gotten much help from the rest of the offense and they unfortunately have a defense at the bottom of the top 20 in our latest NFL defense rankings.
Nevertheless, the Pack enters the game off a big win over the Los Angeles Chargers and one of the best performances yet in Love’s short career. They will have an added boost of confidence and know that they have little to lose in this divisional clash as they are sizable underdogs.
Related: Detroit Lions off to best start in 6 decades as Dan Campbell leads Super Bowl contender
With all of that in mind, let’s make some bold predictions for the Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers matchup at 12:30 PM ET on Thanksgiving.
4 bold predictions for Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving Day 2023
Jordan Love will three for 300 yards for the second straight week
Jordan Love has played well over the last three weeks as he continues to go through the learning curve of being a starting QB in the NFL. He hit a new peak with a career-best showing in Week 11 as he posted 322 passing yards and two touchdowns. While the Lions’ defense is much improved this season, they can still be beaten through the air.
Love is willing to spread the ball around to his receivers and that could end up being a problem at times for Detroit. Expect the game to be a showcase for Love as he throws for over 300 yards for the second straight week.
Lions defense will limit the Packers to less than 70 total rushing yards
Speaking of the Lions’ weakness in the passing game, they have actually been far better at stopping the run. Aaron Glenn’s unit only gives up 89.5 yards on the ground, which is fourth best in the league heading into Week 12. That matched with an already bad Green Bay run game is going to be trouble on Saturday.
With Aaron Jones not likely to play and the full load being on AJ Dillon, the Lions will make sure Love will have to rely completely on his arm as he gets close to nothing from the rushing attack on Thanksgiving.
Lions will run all over the Packers, posting 180 total rushing yards
While the Packers will have trouble tallying yards on the ground, the Lions will find it less difficult. Along with an improved defense the Detroit run game is a reliable unit and David Montgomery has had some very good games this season, including a season-high 121 yards against the Packers in September.
Green Bay has the fifth-worst rush defense in the league and with them having to respect the deadly passing attack of the Lions, it will open the door for another big game from Montgomery and a bunch of yards from rookie Jahmyr Gibbs.
Jared Goff will be held under 300 yards but still throw three TDs
Love will throw for over 300 on Thursday, but Goff will not. However, that doesn’t mean he won’t have a good game. The Packers have a solid pass defense which will try to slow the Lions down, but with the running game having a big day Goff will rely less on his arm and play off them.
Expect the running backs to get them down the field, and some play-action passes to set up at least three touchdowns in the red zone for the gifted QB.