Green Bay Packers v. Lions: 3 Bold Predictions

Before the Green Bay Packers take on the Detroit Lions, here are three bold predictions for Sunday’s final matchup of the regular season.

It’s hard to believe that we are already in week 17 of the NFL’s regular season, but here we are. Not to mention that it’s a game where the Green Bay Packers have a lot on the line. They were able to secure the division last Monday in Minnesota, but a win against Detroit and they secure a first-round bye. However, a win coupled with a Seattle win over San Francisco, and the Packers’ are the NFC’s No. 1 seed.

Meanwhile for the Detroit Lions, things went south pretty quickly this season. Although they started 2-1-1, they are now 3-11-1 and have been without quarterback Matthew Stafford for a number of weeks now. While they will certainly want to play spoiler on Sunday, if Green Bay can get out to an early lead, that could very well drain Detroit of any extra energy and have them looking ahead to the offseason.

But before we get to Sunday’s game, as always I’ve busted out my crystal ball and made my three bold predictions for the upcoming matchup. After a rough week 15 for me, I was one for three in week 16, and oh so close to two for three. So let’s see how I fare in the final week of the regular season.

Aaron Rodgers will pass for over 325 yards

This is something that Aaron Rodgers has only done twice this season – against Philadelphia and Oakland – but the Detroit defense presents him with another opportunity to do so. While we have seen moments here and there from the passing game this season, they’ve largely been inconsistent. However, this is a Detroit Lions team that is allowing 282.6 passing yards per game this season, the most in the NFL.

In their week six matchup, Rodgers totaled 283 yards through the air, his fourth highest total of the season, and my expectation for this game is that the Green Bay Packers will come out swinging in an effort to take an early and commanding lead, hoping they could potentially rest some key players in the fourth quarter. That aggressiveness along with the Lions’ secondary issues could equate to a big day for Rodgers.

Packer Defense Pitches a Shutout

In today’s NFL we rarely see shutouts anymore, but I’m calling my shot. Over the last three games under quarterback David Blough, Detroit is averaging just over 13 points per game, meanwhile over the last month, the Green Bay defense has been playing extremely well allowing just 12.8 points per game, while forcing turnovers and pressuring the quarterback.

Last season in the final game we saw Detroit dominate the Packers at Lambeau Field in a 31 to 0 victory. With DeShone Kizer at quarterback for most of the game and nothing to play for, Green Bay was just ready for that game to end.

Well this year, I’m expecting much of the same, except this time it is the Green Bay Packers who will be dominating. They have everything to play for and as I mentioned previously, if they can get out to a quick lead, the Lions could very well start looking ahead to the offseason.

Both Davante Adams and Aaron Jones Eclipse 1,000 yards

Now, one of these is much more attainable than the other as Aaron Jones sits at 984 rushing yards this season. And considering he’s going up against a Lions’ run defense that allows over 115 rushing yards per game, along with no Jamaal Williams for Sunday’s game, Jones should have plenty of opportunities and he should easily reach the 1,000 yard mark.

However, Davante Adams is going to have to work a little harder. He currently sits at 904 receiving yards, so 1,000 is still well within reach and also quite impressive considering he has missed four games this year. While 96 receiving yards certainly isn’t a given, this is a Lions’ secondary that gives up a lot of yards and I also expect Rodgers to target Adams heavily, much like he did last Monday in Minnesota.