Jason McIntyre
Co-host of THE HERD and FOX sports activities betting analyst
The Lions and Packers will face off in an enormous Thursday Night Football showdown to kick off Week 14 of the NFL.
The prediction line right here was Lions -6. Then, they almost collapsed within the second half on Thanksgiving towards the Bears and the accidents began piling up.
Defensively, Detroit’s entrance seven is decimated to the purpose that the Lions signed former security Jamal Adams to play linebacker. Three defensive linemen (two starters) is not going to follow this week.
The final assembly was in October and befell in a thunderstorm. It’s laborious to be taught a lot from a sport through which the Lions led 24-3 early within the third quarter, and the Packers saved piling up yards whereas in chase mode to make the rating seem like the sport was aggressive: Not it was T.
Who are the Packers? Well, they gained seven of eight video games, and have been favored in all however the sport towards Detroit. And they misplaced that. So the Packers beat who they have been imagined to beat.
However, these latest victories haven’t been spectacular.
The Dolphins cannot carry out in chilly climate, the 49ers have been lacking one million starters (together with Brock Purdy) and outlasted the Bears on a blocked discipline objective on the closing buzzer.
They let Jacksonville hold round and beat the Texans with a last-second discipline objective. You have to return to mid-October to discover a convincing win: an Arizona loss, which got here at dwelling after the Cardinals shocked the 49ers in a historic victory.
So I’m probably not certain who the Packers are.
The final time I attempted to guess towards the Lions was the Colts, and it ended badly. But in a divisional matchup, I’ve to take the factors right here.
Across the league this season, division rematches have been largely lower-scoring and sometimes very shut. The Lions’ third-down defensive fortunes (No. 1 in third-down protection at 31% in comparison with thirteenth final yr) are unlikely to proceed. And this sport appears to be like to be an ideal Josh Jacobs sport. The approach his prop totals line up, the market expects him to have 20-25 carries and a monster day towards the Lions’ banged-up protection.
How shut are the Packers to the Lions?
The Lions hadn’t given up a second-half level in three video games. Then the Bears moved the ball at will behind rookie Caleb Williams and scored 20 factors, almost successful the sport.
If you suppose the Packers can win outright, you also needs to guess that the Eagles will safe the No. 1 seed. 1, if you’ll find it at a bookmaker.
PICK: Packers (+3.5) will lose by lower than 3.5 factors or win outright
Jason McIntyre is a FOX Sports betting analyst who additionally writes concerning the NFL and NBA Draft. Before arriving at FOX, he created the web site The Big Lead. Follow him on Twitter @JasonRMcIntyre.
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