Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers predictions: Are the playoffs coming?

Okay, as we count down the minutes until the Detroit Lions’ “Thursday Night Football” game against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field tonight (8:15 p.m., Amazon Prime Video and WJBK-TV in Detroit), let’s watch what it’s all about.

The Lions already made history last week with their first 11-1 start in franchise history. Likewise, a win would give them first place 12-1 Beginning of the franchise history.

Then there’s the streak: The Lions’ current streak of 10 wins is the longest in franchise history. It begins as early as 1934 – their first season in Detroit after moving from Portsmouth, Ohio – when they began with 10 straight wins (all shutouts, a franchise streak unlikely to be matched any time soon). ..then lost three games in a row and finished the season three games behind the undefeated Chicago Bears. So a win would set the franchise brand value even with consecutive victories.

THE GAME:Lions host Packers in crucial Thursday night showdown: “We’re in playoff football right now”

(And because we know you’ve been wondering: 33 teams in NFL history have won 11 straight times in a season, including 26 in the Super Bowl era. And of those 26? 13 have made it to the Super Bowl and seven have won it. And since the NFL had a 16-game schedule in 1978 – and 17 games in 2021 – there have been 22 teams with 11-game series, of which 10 made it to the Super Bowl and won five.)

And that, of course, brings us to the big prize: A win tonight would secure the Lions a spot in the playoffs – even with four games remaining. A loss doesn’t mean they’re out, though – there are a number of scenarios, but if the Lions lose, they’ll face the Falcons (vs. the Vikings), the Buccaneers (vs. the Raiders) and the Cardinals (vs. the Raiders). Seahawks) and the Rams (who play the Bills). Losses by one of the two NFC South teams and both NFC West teams would also secure a spot for the Lions.

So will the Lions clinch a playoff spot tonight, or will they have to watch the scoreboard/Red Zone Channel on Sunday? Four Free Press sportswriters have their thoughts.

Dave Birkett

The Lions are on a league-best 10-game winning streak and have looked like the best team in the NFL for long stretches. They have a strong offense, a game-winning defense and one of the best kicking games anywhere, but their roster has been decimated by injuries and that is the league’s great equalizer this time of year.

The Packers are a good football team and mostly healthy, while the Lions need name tags to know who is lining up next to each other. They’ll have to shut down Jacobs, win the turnover battle and outscore Green Bay to win this game – all they’re capable of. But in a division game with so much at stake for both teams, I think it will be difficult to score points and the Lions’ winning streak will come to an end. The choice: Packers 27, Lions 24.

Carlos Monarrez

Sure, the Lions have won 10 games in a row and are the class of the NFC. But they got lucky against the Bears and haven’t been able to get a blowout win against a good opponent since their win over the Texans a month ago. With injuries piling up on defense, it will come down to Ben Johnson balancing the Packers’ potent offense and then hitting Jake Bates in the leg in overtime. The choice: Lions 30, Packers 27 (OT).

Jeff Seidel

At some point, all of these injuries will affect the Lions. At some point it is no longer sustainable.

But at this point? This is a monster game for the Lions in their quest to gain home-field advantage in the playoffs. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson will make just enough explosive plays, Dan Campbell will take just enough calculated risks and Jared Goff will flirt with perfection again – back at Ford Field – as the Lions will simply outscore the Packers. The choice: Lions 31, Packers 27.

Shawn Windsor

The Lions are in danger of stumbling and injuries are piling up. But it’s hard to compete against a team that plays with the secrets of the universe. Jared Goff and the offense haven’t played a complete game in a minute, and they’ll have to do the same against Green Bay. We assume they will do it and persevere in the end. The choice: Lions 29, Packers 26.

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Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers predictions: Are the playoffs coming?

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