Mike McCarthy has started the week by playing mid games with Jim Schwartz, a man I think McCarthy generally would not enjoy having a few beers with but I am not Mac. He did not really rule Aaron Rodgers out of Thursday's game plus he said the team is looking at all quarterback options continue to screw with Schwartz's head. Hell, we even saw Rodgers practice on Tuesday morning. Rodgers has yet to cleared to play in tomorrow's game, and if it happened sometime before 11:30 am CST tomorrow, it would be a Yeezus blessing on Thanksgiving. We are going to assume Matt Flynn will be the starter on Thursday morning playing a battered Detroit secondary. For years and years, the narrative about Detroit is they have a powerful front seven with no one in their defensive backfield. For awhile it looked like the Lions had absolved those problems, but in recent weeks, their old troubles are coming back to haunt them again. Ben Roethlisberger threw for over 350 yards in a comeback win two weeks again. Mike Glennon had an efficient day throwing for 247 yards on only 14 pass completions including an 85 yard touchdown pass. Andy Dalton had his highest output of the year when he threw for 372 yards against this team. Kyle Meinke of MLive points out Detroit has allowed opposing quarterbacks' highest quarterback rating in three of their last five games. They have lost all of those games.
In steps Flynn against the 30th-ranked passing defense and a team who basically ensure he got a fat paycheck in the last two years. Flynn torched a different version of these Lions at Lambeau Field two years ago. There is really nothing that makes you think it will be the same this time around. Yes, we have pointed out all of the inefficiencies about this Lions team, but Flynn still needs to make the passes when he is given the opportunity. What is interesting to note in the article posted above is it seems like Detroit is giving away a lot on film and it could be exposed again this week.
Sam Shields will be back from a groin injury and life does not start easy as he faces Calvin Johnson. In my opinion, I think Sticky could have went last week if the Packers-Lions were playing on Sunday this week. Johnson should figure to have a huge game in this one. Green Bay's weakest spot on their team, safety, will have to play their best game of the year. This is like asking your always drunk relative if he or she can pull it together for one family function. Johnson can easily exploit the middle all day long against Packers defense making him a nightmare. There is no real solution to shut down Johnson, just pray Green Bay can do enough to keep him quiet.
While Johnson is a major concern, Green Bay needs to force turnovers, something they have not done all season. In their last four games, Detroit has 13 turnovers including Matthew Stafford throwing four interceptions last week against Tampa Bay. They have been careless with the ball as Reggie Bush and others are having difficulties holding on to the ball. Further, the Lions had miscues in special teams where Green Bay has been inconsistent this year. This reminds me a bit of the New York game two weeks ago when we had a similar discussion about the need for turnovers against a team whose doing it often. If Green Bay can get an early turnover, it will be do wonders for this ball club.
Call me a homer as I have picked with this team through thick and thin. It hurts to see Green Bay not win in the last month, but based off Sitton's comments, it tells me they are hungrier than ever for a win especially against Detroit. They know if they win this football game, it could springboard Green Bay in the NFC North with Rodgers possibly coming back against Atlanta. Detroit needs to strike early and often if they want to win this football game. If Green Bay gets up early, Schwartz will go into a panic mode. I think this is a nail-biter and a high-scoring affair that the Packers pull out in a Thanksgiving Day classic.
Green Bay 34 Detroit 31
Charlie.
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