With the regular season one game away from being over, week 18 has a very different meaning for some teams. Some are fighting for playoffs, while others fight for draft picks and the sweet taste of messing up a playoff spot for a familiar team. This week’s Packers vs Lions game has all the makings of a playoff game and because of that, it was decided it would be a great idea for the expert writers for the Packers here on NFC North Report to tell you who’s going to win and why.
Kyle Perron: Packers win 31-21
Reasoning: Assuming the Seahawks lose earlier in the day, the winner of this game makes the playoffs. The Packers are riding a hot streak, and the Lions would love nothing less to knock a divisional opponent in Green Bay out of the playoffs. With that being said, I see this as an offensive showdown, with the Packers offense simply outplaying the Lions, and getting key defensive stops out of what has been a spectacular defense as of late. As long as the Packers stick to the run game with both Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon, they should win this game pretty easily.
Lucas Weisser: Packers win 24-13
Reasoning: In a crucial game under the lights, Aaron Rodgers, 4x MVP and the back-to-back reigning MVP, will not fall to the Detroit Lions. The Packer’s defense is currently on fire; they have contained the pass-heavy offense of Miami and Minnesota tremendously well. If Green Bay’s front seven can contain Jamal Williams and D’Andre Swift, this game will be in Rodgers’ hands.
Seth Poll: Packers win 31-20
Reasoning: After much trash talk from the Lions players and fans the Packers prevail on Sunday Night Football to advance to the playoffs for a 4th straight season. Vintage Aaron Rodgers shows up and has a huge game as well as Robert Tonyan. In the end the veteran lead Packers were too much and we’re not going to lose this game as the Lions are a young team and are still a year away from seriously competing for a Super Bowl.
Andres Schwartz: Packers win 28-17
Reasoning: Both teams playing their best football, a potential spot for the playoffs on national television at an iconic venue?! Not much more you’d want in an NFL game. Despite the Lions inspiring run they would still need an upset from a mediocre 5-10 Rams unit which seems unlikely. Although Detroit will still be hungry to take the Pack down in their house it would be hard to imagine that the momentum wouldn’t shift when they found out that they are no longer in playoff contention. The Packers run game should find success against one of the league’s worst defensive units and Joe Barry’s red-hot defense stays hot forcing multiple turnovers.
Zach Cutler: Packers win 34-24
Reasoning: Just over a month ago, the Green Bay Packers were 4-8 with conversations about starting Jordan Love for the rest of the season. A month later, and the Packers are one win away from a playoff berth. Unlike the 2016-win streak, the Packers are not relying on Aaron Rodgers. Rather, the Packers are predicating their offense on the run and playing lights out defense. In the last four games, the Packers have averaged 29.8 points per game with an average point differential of 12 points. The Detroit Lions enter Lambeau with one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL but that production is nearly cut in half when playing on the road. Expect the Packers run game to be successful against a Lions run defense that was run over by the Carolina Panthers just a couple weeks ago. With the chance of this being Aaron Rodgers last game at Lambeau paired with the Packers red hot defense, Green Bay should be in control the whole game and win handily.
Harry Pinder: Packers win 31-17
Reasoning: With this season on the line, realistically you’d be silly to pick Jared Goff to beat Aaron Rodgers at Lambeau on primetime. I think the Packers will be able to take advantage of the Lions poor run defense with Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon playing a big part in an eventual Packers win.
Adam Butterwick: Packers win 17-14
Reasoning: You heard it here first; it’s going to be another defensive slugfest against a gritty Detroit Lions team. This time however, I have the Packers slated to come out on top. Despite a passionate Dan Campbell with either a playoff spot or full of spite to fuel him heading the Lions to a hot streak, the Packers defense as of late has been unstoppable. I see this going down as another classic with Mason Crosby finishing on a game winning field goal to seal the deal
