NFL Picks Week 17: Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers

Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
Sunday, 1/1/12, 1:00 PM EST, TV: FOX
Opening Point Spread: Green Bay -3
Current Betting Line: Detroit -3
Opening Total: 48
Current Total: 44
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

Lions Packers NFL Preview — Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy will rest most of his starters Sunday

Detroit has a few reasons to try and pick up a victory Sunday, including the potential of grabbing the No. 5 seed in the NFC playoffs and snapping a 20-year losing streak inside Lambeau Field. That particular drought on another team’s field is currently the longest active losing streak in the NFL. Weather in the area is expected to be near 32 degrees with a 30 percent chance of rain. “Thirty degrees isn’t that bad for this time of year,” commented Lions center Dominic Raiola. Detroit is 6-9 ATS in the last two-plus seasons against division opponents.

The Lions are definitely excited about the possibility of finishing the regular season with four straight wins after starting the 2011 campaign with a 5-0 record. Detroit’s offense has been remarkable over the last four games due to the play of quarterback Matthew Stafford, who has averaged almost 350 passing yards over that span, while throwing 10 touchdowns and just one interception. The Lions will be look to gain revenge from a 27-15 loss to the Packers as four-point home underdogs on Thanksgiving Day.

Green Bay has already clinched home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs and will be the No. 1 seed for the first time since 1996. The Packers entered last year’s playoffs as a wild card en route to winning the Super Bowl. Head coach Mike McCarthy doesn’t have to worry about chasing perfection anymore, allowing him the freedom to rest players this weekend. “It’s really what’s best for your team and what’s best for the individuals,” stated McCarthy in practice this week. He has led the team to an 18-1 home record since Week 10 of the 2009 season, which is the best mark in the NFL over that span. Green Bay is 16-6 ATS inside Lambeau Field the last two-plus years.

The Packers are on pace to score 549 points this season, which would ranks as the No. 3 scoring season in NFL history. Green Bay checks in at No. 1 in the league in averaging 34.3 points per game. There’s no question that this squad is the favorite to win it all again this year, as seven players were recently named to the NFC’s roster for the 2012 Pro Bowl. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers leads that group, but will likely sit for most of this contest and give way to backup signal-caller Matt Flynn.