When the schedule first came out, Jon Gruden and Sean McDonough probably wept at the prospect of calling a legitimate game on Monday Night Football. What a difference a couple of months makes. The slumping Detroit Lions (3-4) travel to Lambeau Field to take on the Aaron Rodgers-less Green Bay Packers (4-3) on MNF at 8:30 p.m. EST.
The Game: Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers (+2)
O/U: 43.0
The History
The Lions and Packers have played 175 times since 1930 with Green Bay holding a 100-68-7 advantage in the all time series.
The Packers have won the last three match ups between the two teams and four of the last five. Last season, they swept Detroit 34-27 at Lambeau Filed on September 25, 2016 and 31-24 at Ford Field on New Year’s Day.
The Lions last won at Lambeau on November 15, 2015, 18-16.
DETROIT LIONS (3-4)
Is it any mystery that Jim Caldwell signs a contract extension and the Lions immediately start losing games? Is that just something I noticed? Detroit has dropped four of their last five after a solid 2-0 start. Their problem last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers was an inability to get the ball into the end zone. Matthew Stafford finished 27 of 45 for 423 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. All 15 of Detroit’s points came from field goals.
Worse than that, they managed just one scoring drive in the second half. That’s crunch time and the place where Stafford has lived for the last two seasons and been successful. He couldn’t do it against the Steelers, especially in the red zone.
There was no help from the run game. The Lions amassed just 71 total yards on the ground with 11 carries and 27 yards from Ameer Abdullah. Abdullah has been a huge disappointment as a pro and maybe just needs a change of scenery. It’s not working out in Detroit.
Marvin Jones caught six passes for 128 yards. Golden Tate had seven catches for 86 and T.J. Jones had four for 88. None of those went into the end zone.
Defensively, once again, the Lions could produce very little pressure. They got zero sacks and only five stops in the backfield.
Left tackle Greg Robinson is listed as out and Kenny Golladay is doubtful.
GREEN BAY PACKERS (4-3)
Brett Hundley was auditioning for other teams last week and with all the QB moves over the final trade deadline, this was really the time to shine. Instead, he finished 12 of 25 for 87 yards and a pick. He did rush three times for 44 yards and a score, but it wasn’t the performance I was expecting and I picked the Packers to lose.
Aaron Jones has taken over the starting running back job for good, regardless of who gets healthy here on out. Jones rushed 17 times for 131 yards and a touchdown against the suddenly competent Saints defense.
Hundley spread the ball around to seven different receivers, but the catches didn’t amount to much. Tight end and waste of cap money Martellus Bennett caught two passes for 17 yards and led the day.
Green Bay’s defense wasn’t much better than their offensive counterparts. They gave up 161 yards on the ground and made up for it by surrendering 324 passing yards. They were lucky the score was as close as it was. They sacked Drew Brees once and got just four stops in the backfield. This is a unit that has aged before our eyes.
Bennett, linebacker Ahmad Brooks and defensive tackle Quinton Dial are all listed as doubtful. Linebacker Joe Thomas is out.
The Pick
As close as the Packers made it against the Saints, I was disappointed with the way Hundley played in his first NFL start. Green Bay had a bye week to help prepare for this one, but I think they’ll have to score with Detroit to stay in it. Lambeau is a tough place to play, but the tundra hasn’t frozen yet. Stafford should be fine. Lions 24, Packers 17
This week
Straight up: 0-1
Against the spread: 0-1
Last week
Straight up: 9-4
Against the spread: 8-5
Season
Straight up: 69-50
Against the spread: 58-61
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