Sunday Night Football Odds, Picks & Predictions: Lions vs. Packers (Week 18)
This season, there were many weeks when neither the Detroit Lions nor the Green Bay Packers had strong reasons to think that their teams would be playing in the postseason when the regular season came to an end.
Six of the Lions’ first seven games ended in losses, while the Packers had a 4-8 record at the beginning of December. Both clubs are currently 8-8, tied with Seattle for the final wildcard spot going into Sunday night’s matchup in Green Bay.
Let’s look at how things might pan out on Sunday night in Lambeau in an NFC North matchup with postseason implications.
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
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Sunday Night Football Odds, Picks & Predictions: Lions vs. Packers (Week 18)
Details
- Opening Line: Packers -5.5 | O/U 48
- Current Line: Packers -4.5 | O/U 49
- Last meeting: Nov. 6, 2022 - Packers 9, Lions 15
Overview
Coming into the week, only the Packers are in charge of their own fate in this matchup. Green Bay is in a “win and you’re in†scenario, while the Lions must defeat their NFC North foe and hope that the Seahawks lose in order to advance. Four hours earlier, Seattle plays the Los Angeles Rams.
Even if his team might be eliminated prior to the game, Lions’ coach Dan Campbell sees it as a taste of the postseason, as his miraculous turnaround of this franchise is in its strongest form yet.
With an overwhelming 41-10 victory over Chicago in its home finale, Detroit maintained its playoff chances for one more week. After losing to Carolina the previous weekend, the Lions gained 265 yards on the ground and Jared Goff fired three touchdown passes.
On November 6th, the Lions defeated the Packers 15-9 to start their turnaround, as Aaron Rodgers threw a season-high three interceptions, including two in the end zone. The defense has also significantly impacted the Packers’ recent success. In their last two games, victories against Miami and Minnesota, they caused four turnovers in both.
Only two passes by Rodgers have been intercepted during the winning streak and for the 12th time in 14 seasons, he will try to lead the Packers into the postseason with one more stellar performance. Rodgers has had a worse season statistically than Goff, who has thrown for 4,214 yards, 29 touchdowns and four fewer interceptions (seven). In the previous eight games, Goff hasn’t thrown an interception.
Bottom Line
Whatever happens on Sunday, Campbell’s Lions have made significant progress since their 3-13-1 record in his first season in charge, and many (except himself) will consider this season a win. While this line will move wildly if Seattle wins earlier in the day (eliminating the Lions), I’m taking the Packers at this lower spread while it exists.
Pick: Packers -4.5
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