For the Detroit Lions this is their Super Bowl. For the Green Bay Packers it could be their worst nightmare. The Packers have only three days to adjust to the loss of two defensive starters and also have to play on the road. Granted it is only an hour away by air, but it is still a road game on national TV against a team with nothing to lose. A loss to the Lions would be absolutely devastating. In fact, if the Packers were to lose to Tampa Bay and Detroit in the same season they shouldn’t even be allowed in the playoffs even if they qualify record-wise. There ought to be a law.
Even without Al Harris and Aaron Kampman the Packers have far superior talent than the Lions on both sides of the ball, especially defensively. The Lions are not good defensively and if the Packers don’t put on an offensive display tomorrow it will be very discouraging. If Brady Quinn can rip them up Aaron Rodgers should have a field day. Of course I said the same thing about the Bucs game a few weeks ago and we all know what happened there.
I don’t know who reminded me of my statement calling the Lions, Bucs and 49ers as jokes, but this is the NFL. It’s not who you play it’s when you play them, consequently it is not what you say, it’s when you say it. Oddly enough, even against a team you wouldn’t think they need a break, the Packers have caught a break. No better example than that. I’d be worried if Stafford was one-hundred percent healthy but I just don’t think Daunte Culpepper can beat us (note – bet the opposite).
The way I see tomorrow’s game is like this. The big win by the Lions last week doesn’t worry me at all. For a team like the Lions a win like that is more of a relief than a momentum builder, they probably haven’t returned to earth yet following their unbelievable zero-second win by the what may be the new Brett Favre – Matthew Stafford. The Packers likely won’t see Stafford because he was almost decapitated a play before he threw his game-winner and is listed as doubtful. Probably a good thing for the Packers given their history against rookie quarterbacks this year.
I think the motivation to get to 7-4 and take advantage of an extended break promised by McCarthy with a win, along with the memory of Tampa Bay, will be enough to motivate the Packers to a convincing win. If Stafford plays, all bets are off, but I think the Packers win 31-20.
I want to wish you all a great Thanksgiving Day. I will be doing my game day blog. Confidence is high.