Following a 23-20 victory over the Chicago Bears, which snapped their seven-game losing streak on Thanksgiving, the Detroit Lions (11-1) are back in primetime on Thursday Night Football, hosting the Green Bay Packers (9-3) in the teams' second matchup of the season.
Detroit enters Thursday's game on a 10-game win streak while Green Bay has won seven of their last eight games, with the lone loss to the Lions in Week 9.
Packers report: Similar to Minnesota, Green Bay has kept pace with the Detroit in the race for the NFC North lead, sitting just two games back of Detroit and riding a three-game win streak. The Packers also enter with a full week to prepare, defeating the Dolphins 30-17 on Thanksgiving.
Since falling to the Lions where they only scored 14 points, Green Bay has picked it up offensively, scoring at least 20 points in their past three games including 38 against San Francisco. Quarterback Jordan Love ranks sixth in touchdown passes, with two each in his past two games. On the ground, running back Josh Jacobs is third with 987 rushing yards, just 14 yards ahead of Detroit's Jahmyr Gibbs. Tight end Tucker Kraft ranks third among tight ends with six touchdown receptions.
Defensively, the Packers limit opponents to just 20 points per game and they've held opponents to under 20 points in each of their past three games. Safety Xavier McKinney is tied with Lions safety Kerby Joseph with seven interceptions, accounting for 30 percent of the team's takeaways. Linebacker Quay Walker has a team-high 89 tackles and recorded 12 in the teams' first matchup in November.
Last meeting: Just over a month ago, Detroit made their annual trip to Lambeau Field, leaving with a 24-14 win in rainy and windy conditions. Following a Green Bay field goal, quarterback Jared Goff connected with wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown on 4th & goal for a 3-yard touchdown.
Shortly after Jake Bates kicked a 27-yard field goal, Joseph made arguably the most important play of the game with a pick-six, extending Detroit's lead to 17-3 by halftime. Gibbs added a 15-yard touchdown run on 4th & 1 in the second half to create a comfortable cushion for a Detroit win.
Playoff scenarios:
Detroit can clinch a playoff spot with one of the following:
- Win/tie over GB
- ATL loss/tie + LAR loss/tie + PHI win
- ATL loss/tie + ARI tie
- ATL loss/tie + ARI loss + LAR loss/tie
- ATL loss + ARI loss + PHI win + 3.5 combined wins from DAL, CHI, PIT & TEN
- ATL loss + ARI loss + PHI win + CHI win + 1 combined win from PIT & TEN
- ATL tie + ARI loss + wins from PHI, DAL, CHI, PIT & TEN
- TB loss/tie + LAR loss/tie + PHI win
- TB loss/tie + ARI tie
- TB loss/tie + ARI loss + LAR loss/tie
Green Bay cannot clinch a playoff spot this week.
Quick hits:
1. Wide receiver Jayden Reed is the only player in NFL history with at least 100 catches, 1,400 receiving yards, 10 receiving TDs, 200 rushing yards and multiple rushing TDs in the first 25 games of his career.
2. Thursday's game marks Green Bay's first time playing on back-to-back Thursdays since 2015 and just the third time since the 1970 merger (2007).
3. Green Bay's matchup at Detroit is their second of four straight scheduled primetime games, with matchups against Seattle and New Orleans to follow.
Data dive:
Stats are based on Weeks 1-13 followed by the rank.
| Team | Total Offense | Total Defense | Rushing Offense | Passing Offense | Rushing Defense | Passing Defense | Takeaways |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | 395.2 (2) | 320.3 (10) | 154.4 (4) | 240.8 (5) | 93.5 (5) | 226.8 (25) | 19 (T-6) |
| Packers | 382.9 (3) | 325.5 (13) | 148.5 (5) | 234.3 (8) | 106.6 (8) | 217.3 (17) | 23 (5) |
Next on the schedule:
- Green Bay: at Seattle, Dec. 15, 8:20 p.m.
- Detroit: vs. Buffalo, Dec. 15, 4:25 p.m.
Here are five Packers storylines to follow into Sunday afternoon's matchup:
1. Packers embracing 'the race' in ultra-competitive NFC North
Since Week 9, Detroit, Minnesota and Green Bay have a combined 11-0 record as the Packers sit just two games back of the Lions entering the final stretch of the season. READ MORE
2. 5 ways Packers are better for rematch vs. Lions
Packers.com Editor Mike Spofford takes a lot of five areas Green Bay has improved since the teams' first matchup, including red zone efficiency, special teams and overall team health. READ MORE
3. Eric Wilson looking forward to moving past 'bitter taste after last game' against Lions
Green Bay linebacker Eric Wilson addresses the media, discussing the bitter feeling after falling to Detroit a month ago and preparations for the Packers' visit to Ford Field. WATCH
4. Matt LaFleur says Lions QB Jared Goff 'is playing at an MVP level'
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur spoke at the podium, sharing high praise for Lions quarterback Jared Goff, who completed 18-of-22 passes and one touchdown in the first meeting between the teams. WATCH
5. Three Things: Team health, inside linebacker and a wake-up call
Packers Senior Writer Wes Hodkiewicz, Editor Mike Spofford and Analyst Larry McCarren share three things to watch in Green Bay's matchup with Detroit. WATCH
