Green Bay at Detroit
Time: NOON CT (FOX)
Spread: EVEN
Total: 51
Odds c/o 5dimes
The Green Bay Packers improved to 2-1-1 last week with its 22-0 shutout of the Buffalo Bills. This week it travels to face the Detroit Lions at Noon (CT) on FOX. NFL oddsmakers at 5dimes have set the line EVEN for this game, with an over/under of 51 points.
GB
Green Bay had its way over lowly Buffalo, even with Aaron Rodgers having a subpar outing for himself. He threw 22 of 40 (55 percent) for completion with one TD and one interception while suffering two sacks for 16-yards lost. He did rush five times for 31 yards, and Aaron Jones rushed 11 times for 65 yards and a TD, but the Packers defense really got the job done against the Bills and Josh Allen. Allen was sacked seven times (!) for 64-yards lost and he threw a pair of interceptions in the game.
The Bills also managed just 54 rushing yards, as LeSean McCoy led the Bills with only 24 yards on five carries. The defensive havoc was wrecked collectively, with Blake Martinez pacing the team with 10 total tackles (seven solo), including two for loss and a sack. He also had two quarterback hits. Kyler Fackrell had three sacks and three tackles for loss, and Green Bay’s defensive intensity and the pressure was strong the entire game.
Buffalo managed just 87 passing yards and 58 rushing yards, looking like a full disaster. Can Green Bay recreate that defensive effort against the Lions? It is holding opponents to 20.8 points per game this season, ranking No. 11 in the league. With a decent offense, it should be able to steamroll this into some victories, but the Lions are set even odds for a reason which we shall begin to explore.
DET
Detroit is 1-3 on the season, but it has posted a 1-1 record at home thus far. It sits in the cellar of the NFC North at this juncture, however, it is hoping the addition of cornerback Cre’Von LeBlanc will help its secondary. More problematic is the fact it will possibly be without much of its defensive unit. Four defensive backs are listed as questionable for this game, as is starting safety Quandre Diggs and cornerback Kevin Lawson. The Lions may look to Dee Virgin who was signed at cornerback as the team waived Rolan Milligan.
Detroit’s defense has not been good, so perhaps the turnover will help if it can keep its defensive backs healthy. It is giving up 28.5 points per game, which is not a strong enough effort with a rather mediocre offense. The Lions score just 23.5 per game, and its rush attack is under 100-yards per contest. It does boast the NFL’s No. 10 pass offense, but with so many defensive issues and so little from the ground, Matt Stafford’s arm just has not been enough for the Lions.
Stafford has thrown 112 of 165 (67.9 percent) for 1,202 yards and eight touchdowns. However, he has thrown five interceptions and suffered six sacks for 46 yards lost. Running back Kerryon Johnson has done well with 216 yards on the season, but he has just one touchdown and the Lions have got little to no help for him with a collective ‘0’ TDs elsewhere and only Stafford even averaging over five yards-per-carry (though he has just five attempts, along with Theo Riddick’s 27 yards on five carries).
The Lions have gone to Golden Tate and Kenny Galloway through the air for a combined 719 yards between them and five touchdowns. No. 3 receiver Marvin Jones Jr. has added another 233 yard and two touchdowns. Riddick has done more as a receiver than a rusher, with 21 catches for 118 yards. The Lions simply need a better defense for this to matter in any way whatsoever though, and perhaps putting the ball on the ground more would not hurt: Detroit does average 4.6 yards-per-carry on its 86 rush attempts this season.
