Packers @ Lions Pre-Game (Thurs Night)

[Krabs]

You’re right. It’s undeniable.

That said. This was a week 9 matchup.
As the season progresses the cream rises. I think GB has risen a little bit since Week 9. I think Detroit is stagnant at their Plateau and possibly a slight -minus. It could be seen a little in Week 13.

Detroit was without Jameson.
Packers were without
Josh Myers, J’aire, Evan Williams and Preston Smith literally looked at 80%. Preston mentally was not in this, he got washed out and called out by name by announcers which is an anomoly.
Jameson is back, but so is J’aire and Evan Williams. We also won’t have inconsistent multiple fumbled snaps with Myers. We have Jenkins playing his natural spot and continuity.

Unfortunately, Alexander has been ruled out along with Doubs.

Another point. While I agree Detroit was loaded on depth. They are not anymore. They barely have any depth left. Detroit just signed 4 players off other teams PS. That means they are ACTIVE. Packers need to confuse the crap out of them with shifting multiple Receivers into empty backfield. Detroit will have their hands full on Defense. Potentially we caught them perfectly at Invalid status. as in injury weakened. It could be a Packer romp IF we can slow Goff or get a few mistakes. GB has too many weapons moving too many directions if we get sophisticated on O it’ll expose the new guys. Detroit D might need to sell out regular.

They also ruled out OT Taylor Decker. That should help our pass rush. We need to get after Goff like we did last year.

 

[PikeBadger]

Missing one player at three separate positions doesn't compare to the Lions missing three starters and a strong rotational player at one position (DL). Pascal, DJ Reader, and Hutchinson are all starters and huge losses. Levi Onwuzurike had been having his best season ever.

To pile on if we want to look at all positions, they'll also be without starting LT Decker and obviously Anzalone is still out at LB. The point about the DL is that they will be playing backups and practice squad guys against our intact starting five and Josh Jacobs. If I were LaFleur, I would run heavy in the first half no matter how successful we are in terms of progress. Those guys aren't used to playing 60min and will tire. Once the Lions have to commit to the box, Love can burn them over the top.

Agree about what we should do regarding heavy on the run in the first half but I truly don't see LaFleur being able to commit to that if he isn't putting up points on just about every drive. He has never shown me that type of patience and commitment in the past.

 

[PikeBadger]

All I know is I don't want to see any sky is falling, fire Gute and MLF or BS if the best team currently in a LOT of minds beats us at their house.....

This game with all the injuries and timing of it all is about as much a coin flip game as I can remember. The only thing I don't see happening is a blow out being dealt to us, I can see a nail biter win by either or a game where Packers light it up big time in the dome.

I believe Watson might just have a 2 TD day.

You need to stay off the game thread then. The chicken little's will be out in full force if things don't go our way tonight.

 

[Krabs]

Alexander is out again for Detroit. At this point, I would rest him until the playoffs. He's already missed most of the season. If he comes back before then, he'll just get hurt and miss any playoff games. After the season, Gute should think long and hard about cutting Alexander. They're paying him way too much money to have him watch the games. No way do I play Doubs in this game as well. He had a concussion. That should be at least a 2 to 3 week hiatus. If he comes back too soon, he runs the risk of being the next Sam Shields.

Personally, I think Alexander would need a game or two to get his legs back under him. I'd prefer that if he is healthy he is playing.

 

[Firethorn1001]

All I know is I don't want to see any sky is falling, fire Gute and MLF or BS if the best team currently in a LOT of minds beats us at their house.....

2 more popular nuggets that will be floated out if tonight doesn't go well : Love is overpaid and we should be 3-9 we are just lucky to be 9-3.

 

[PikeBadger]

Wow, that is a long time ago.

I just now realized that the Bears were part of the 13 straight Super Bowls that the NFC won. As were the Packers, although it was GB's loss to Denver that ended the streak.

No crime losing to a guy like John Elway. He was a very special player as was Davis in that time.

 

[PikeBadger]

2 more popular nuggets that will be floated out if tonight doesn't go well : Love is overpaid and we should be 3-9 we are just lucky to be 9-3.

Yup, those always get drug out quickly by people that don't understand the CBA and salary cap rules. Same people that think we're just lucky when we win and don't believe we have good players on our roster.

 

[tynimiller]

Yup...but when Lions win close games against Bears or Chiefs barely beat Carolina....."Good teams find a way..."

Folks are just fools at times...

 

[PikeBadger]

Yup...but when Lions win close games against Bears or Chiefs barely beat Carolina....."Good teams find a way..."

Folks are just fools at times...

Most of us are. Some like to advertise it publicly.

 

[PackerDNA]

I'm not feeling very confident in this game. The lions are badly banged up we're missing some key players too. But to me if Love and this team are legit they have to win this game. To win it they're going to have to play their cleanest and best game of the year. Want to be one of the big boys, play like it. Is you is or is you ain't? Packers, 27-24

 

[MichiganSportsTalk]

Genuinely not feeling great about this game as a Detroit fan. Too many injuries on defense and GB has been looking much better as of late. Honestly wouldn't be shocked to see both teams score over 40, I fear that's the only chance Detroit has to win. I expect the Packers to move the ball almost at will between the 20s. Red zone defense is usually a strength for Detroit, but hard to guess how the MacGyver'd front 7 is going to look.

Just not feeling this one. Ugh. Packers 41 - Detroit 37

And for the love of all things good and decent, please PLEASE come out of this game without losing anyone else.....

 

[tynimiller]

And for the love of all things good and decent, please PLEASE come out of this game without losing anyone else.....

Truthfully, I bet Dan and Matt both would agree at this stage in the season they'd both take a one point loss tonight and a healthy exit over a one point win but loss of a major starter yet again...

 

[Sanguine camper]

Personally, I think Alexander would need a game or two to get his legs back under him. I'd prefer that if he is healthy he is playing.

That's an optimal scenario but he's just as likely to get reinjured if you put him in there too soon. After the season the 2025 cap savings would be modest if Alexander is cut or traded for a low round pick. The 2026 cap savings would be significant. I think Alexander's days in GB are coming to a quick end. Taking up a roster spot and giving him a huge salary to watch makes no sense.

 

[Sanguine camper]

I'm not feeling very confident in this game. The lions are badly banged up we're missing some key players too. But to me if Love and this team are legit they have to win this game. To win it they're going to have to play their cleanest and best game of the year. Want to be one of the big boys, play like it. Is you is or is you ain't? Packers, 27-24

Tonight's game is not a must win situation. Beat the Saints and the Bears and the Packers are in the playoffs. Winning the division doesn't help the team. Ask the 2020 and 2021 Packers how that helped? Other than the intradivision rivalry aspect, I don't see all that much to play for. Being ultra cautious with Doubs, Cooper and Alexander leads me to believe that the team feels that way too. If it were the playoffs, would Alexander be sitting tonight? I doubt it.

 

[OldSchool101]

Unfortunately, Alexander has been ruled out along with Doubs.

thanks @Krabs I saw that.

Alexander is great. But we’re winning without him so he’s more a bonus than a necessity. It hurts not having Doubs. Although this might generate a few more passes to our RB’s which is what I’d prefer. Get the ball out quickly and in space. Use your TE!! Kraft is underused imo, he’s underestimated and underused to ability in the passing game.

Other points are this.

1. We allow players needed time to get back fully ready. We will need them for Postseason, God willing.

2. No excuses. I don’t want to hear excuses from outside here about injuries. Both teams have multiple starters out. Detroit can no longer claim were completely healthy. Let’s beat them while not fully healthy.

3. I like Doubs so nothing personal. We still have other guys that can step up. Doubs leans more as a possession WR and we do have alternatives. Wicks or Melton are good players if they execute properly. Watson is preferred over Doubs in an indoor contest against an Offensive shootout imo.

4. IMO we are still + gain over week 9. Love was literally hopping around after plays. He’s not hobbled anymore. Love can run when necessary and he possesses more torque when his legs are underneath him.

5. Detroit is still Detroit. A very good team. They play fast and they go open throttle in all 3 phases. That said there is ZERO doubt for me that the number of backups playing does NOT improve Detroit. Detroit in Week 14 is NOT improved over Week 9 (not suggesting you said that, I’m just reiterating my primary argument) I’d rather play Week 14 Detroit at their house than Week 9 at ours I get a choice. At best the Lions are similar only due to a home game. but definitely not better. GB is in slightly better shape than Week 9 overall.

 

[gopkrs]

Looking forward to a very good game. We need to keep it close in the first half. Am anxious to see how the D line does. Montgomery has been a Packer killer. Well, not only The Packers.

 

[Thirteen Below]

You need to stay off the game thread then. The chicken little's will be out in full force if things don't go our way tonight.

Yeah; I expect some of us are going to have to screen out a lot of hysterical screeching every time Goff completes a pass.

 

[Thirteen Below]

I mentioned in a previous post how much I’ve always enjoyed the Packer fans that come to our games. What an excellent fan base! I’m sure there will be quite a few of you there. Looking forward to what I think is going to be a heck of a game.

Welcome! I can't stand Bears fans or Vikings fans, but I've always liked Detroit fans for some reason. The last couple of years, I've been wishing you were in the AFC, because I've enjoyed watching your team finally have some success, but obviously I have mixed feelings about the whole thing.

One thing's for sure, though - you fans really deserve this success; you've been waiting way too long. If we don't make it to the Super Bowl, I'll be pulling for Detroit to win it all.

I won't go so far as to wish y'all good luck tonight, but here's to a clean and well-played game, and no further injuries on either side. We'll have a game thread going, so feel free to stop by and join in.

 

[Firethorn1001]

Yeah; I expect some of us are going to have to screen out a lot of hysterical screeching every time Goff completes a pass.

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[Magooch]

You need to stay off the game thread then. The chicken little's will be out in full force if things don't go our way tonight.

To be fair it kinda goes both ways... There are a number of posters who seem to be conspicuously silent when we are playing poorly and very vocal when we are playing well ("Where are the chicken littles now???" just like there's a number of posters who sure do pipe up more when we're playing bad and tend to vanish when things are going right...Nature of the beast I guess

 

[DoURant]

You need to stay off the game thread then. The chicken little's will be out in full force if things don't go our way tonight.

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[Voyageur]

You need to stay off the game thread then. The chicken little's will be out in full force if things don't go our way tonight.

This is why I don't even bother to go near my computer. I immerse myself in the game, and watching it like a coach watching tapes. I try to dissect it in my mind as it goes along. Depending on who the announcers are, I sometimes even turn the volume off because having their voices spewing opinions as if they were facts is mind boggling.

 

[tynimiller]

This is why I don't even bother to go near my computer. I immerse myself in the game, and watching it like a coach watching tapes. I try to dissect it in my mind as it goes along. Depending on who the announcers are, I sometimes even turn the volume off because having their voices spewing opinions as if they were facts is mind boggling.

I will admit in the live watching I really try to shut my diagnostic mind off and just enjoy it but it is very tough. Now the rewatch of the All22 and just the normal rewatches I really need to get a life and not spend so much time on.

 

[games]

Like many here, I tend to be too analytical. For this one game, I'm stepping back...

Is this Lions team better or worse than the Thanksgiving 2023 version? I believe worse due to the sheer number of injuries on defense.

Packers beat the Lions in DET last year by a TD and they're going to win by more tonight.

Packers 41
Lions 31

 

[El Guapo]

There's a lot of eye candy and distractions in a game. I try to watch the OL/DL battle when the ball is snapped. Once the ball is handed off or thrown, I follow the ball. It helps me stay focused.

When I watch hockey, I'll follow the puck until it's in the zone. Then I just watch what happens around the net. The puck eventually shows up there.