What would the holidays be without Green Bay Packers' football? The Packers have played on at least Thanksgiving or Christmas each season for the last five years. Today, it's another visit to Detroit for turkey day with the Packers taking on the Lions at 12 PM CST. On Sunday, the 7-3-1 Packers pulled off a 23-6 defensive drubbing of the Minnesota Vikings to kick off their divisional matchup streak. The 7-4 Lions were also victorious, but they just barely pulled off a 34-27 OT win over the New York Giants, where some questionable decisions late by the Giants likely saved Detroit. Today is a huge game that will undoubtedly have playoff implications in the end. 

The last time these two teams met was week 1 on September 7th, when the Packers basically shocked the league with a 27-13 victory over the Lions that wasn't as close as it looks. The Packers held Detroit out of the endzone all game long until the Lions finally scored a TD with 55 seconds left in the game in what was essentially garbage time. Jordan Love went 16/22 for 188 yards and two touchdowns. Josh Jacobs had 19 carries for 66 yards and a score, but the main show was put on by the defense, sacking Jared Goff four times and Evan Williams getting an interception. Things have changed since these teams last met, but the Packers will be looking to put on a similar performance today. 

On Sunday, the Packers finally played a game with contributions from the offense, defense, and wefense (special teams). The defense absolutely suffocated Minnesota's offense, only allowing 145 total net yards. The Packers' running game actually netted more yards than the entire Minnesota offense, with 146 yards rushing. Special teams forced a turnover on a punt for the first time in ages, which may have been the play of the game. Many have complained that the offense was not aggressive enough. I agree that in a game against a rival like the Vikings, as a fan, you just want to step on their throat all game long and run up the score. But from a Matt LaFleur perspective, I understand being conservative. We are unsure of the status of Jordan Love's left shoulder. The last thing we need heading into today's game is an even further banged-up Jordan Love or even no Jordan Love. So, I understand LaFleur not wanting to put Love in harm's way with the defense basically shutting down the Vikings' hopes of a comeback.  

It's our third straight game on Thanksgiving, let's go get some more turkey legs. 

What to See on Offense

In week 1, when I wrote about this matchup, I noted that everything Packers fans had heard about Micah Parsons could also be said about Lions' pass rusher, Aidan Hutchinson. Well, in week 1, Hutchinson was quiet. But he is back to form now with 8.5 sacks so far this season. Detroit also has a trio of linebackers high on the sack totals list, with Al-Quadin Muhammad holding 6 and Jack Campbell tying with Derrick Barnes at 4 apiece. Detroit has three more sacks total than the Packers this season. So, the Lions are no slouch when it comes to getting after the quarterback. In week 1, the Packers' offensive line did a great job of protecting Jordan Love, not allowing a single sack. They're going to need more of that today. Things have changed since week 1, but the offensive line will need to be prepared today for a possible siege on their quarterback. 

The Packers are banged up at wide receiver. Okay, fine, the Packers are banged up almost everywhere. But WR in particular has a long list. OUT today will be Savion Williams; Matthew Golden is questionable. Golden missed Sunday's game with a wrist injury after returning to the lineup the previous week. Given the fact that the Packers were playing another game four days later, it's hard to tell if Golden was held out to give him a little more time to heal up for today or what the situation was, but it would be nice to see him return to the lineup today. Another return that everyone has been waiting for at that position is Jayden Reed. Reed could really help open up the passing game a bit more when he returns to the field, but we will have to wait another week as Reed is OUT today. 

The Lions' defense ranks towards the middle of the pack in passing yards allowed on average so far this season. Safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph are still a formidable pair in the secondary, with Joseph leading the team in interceptions with three. However, this secondary is a bit banged up itself, with Joseph OUT today with a knee injury and CB Terrion Arnold questionable with a concussion. If Love can stay out of harm's way, he may be able to exploit the Lions' secondary a bit. This could be a big game for Christian Watson. The Lions have been giving up some good games to WRs as of late, and even though the Packers spread the ball around a lot, Watson seems to have become the more reliable threat. I'd be looking for him to exploit the Lions' secondary today if given the chance. 

On to the running game. Josh Jacobs was held out on Sunday, and Emanuel Wilson had a coming-out party. Packers fans already knew Wilson could run the ball pretty well, but the league surely wasn't ready for it. He's absolutely carved out a spot amongst the NFL's best #2 running backs after that performance. My biggest takeaway from Wilson's first extended action was his patience in waiting for running lanes to develop. That's something you love to see from a running back. 

Josh Jacobs' status for today is still up in the air. Much like my previous comments regarding Matthew Golden, it's unclear whether Jacobs was held out on Sunday to give him a little more time to heal up for Thursday. Jacobs has said that he's definitely playing, so we'll go with that he'll be on the field today. 

Anthony Belton replaced Jordan Morgan at right guard on Sunday, and the returns seemed to be fruitful in the running game. We'll have to see how they rotate today, but the Lions are ranked 11th in rushing yards allowed per game and will be a bit more of a challenge than Minnesota's defense was. We'll have to see if, perhaps, with the emergence of Wilson as a formidable running threat has him split carries a bit more with Josh Jacobs and see how the running game responds. 

What to See on Defense

On Sunday, the Packers' defensive front likely inserted itself into JJ McCarthy's future nightmares. Outside of the five sacks, they hit McCarthy ten times; one of those hits ended up in an Isaiah McDuffie interception as Rashan Gary got McCarthy's arm, changing the trajectory of the football. When the Lions and Packers last met, Micah Parsons was that shiny new toy in his first game as a Packer, and despite being on a controlled snap count, he still harassed Jared Goff several times and picked up his first sack of the season. 

One of the biggest keys to today's game for the defense is to get in Goff's face again. The Lions' offensive line has kept Goff pretty clean since that game, only giving up just under two sacks per game on average. The Packers will need to do much better than that today to put pressure on Goff, as if they don't, he can make them pay. They may have a little help in that category as the Lions' OL is banged up with Graham Glasgow OUT with a knee injury, and the rest of the offensive line, minus Kayode Awosika listed as questionable. The Lions will also be without tight end Sam LaPorta, who is out for the season with a back injury, but they still have receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, who are big-play threats. Keisean Nixon left Sunday's game with a neck stinger and was replaced by Kamal Hadden, who was able to hold his own, mainly aided by the pass rush, but if Nixon is unable to go, Hadden could be tested often today. 

The Packers need a repeat of Sunday's game from the pass rush to counter Detroit's passing game. 

On to the running game. In week 1, Green Bay's defense shocked everyone by holding Detroit to just 44 yards on 20 carries on the ground. Last week, Minnesota was able to run the ball effectively against the Packers' defense with Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason before the Vikings had to play catch-up and throw the ball. Jahmyr Gibbs has been great this season, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, and is only 49 yards away from hitting the 1K mark on the season. Behind him, David Montgomery is also having a good season as RB2, averaging 4.4 yards per carry with 511 yards on the season. If the Lions are able to run the football effectively, they can impose their will. The Packers rank 7th against the run, and the defense seems to rise to the occasion when facing a formidable running attack. 

You usually hear the quote that sometimes your best offense is a great defense. Well, this is often true, especially with the way the Packers' defense has played so far this season. But today, the offense may also have to be a great defense. If the offense can extend drives and put up points early and often, that will help the defense stay rested and force the Lions to rely on their passing game. 

Extra Notes

No, you did not have to adjust your television set; the Packers' special teams actually forced a turnover. After an early third quarter, Daniel Whelan's punt bounced inside the Vikings' 10-yard line. The ball took a backward bounce, right back into the Vikings' return man, who was trying to block Zayne Anderson from keeping the ball out of the end zone. Anderson recovered what ended up being a fumble, and the Packers took over on offense with first and goal. Those are the types of plays gunners on special teams dream about. This led to a Packers' touchdown and essentially sealed the game early as the Vikings did not recover. Whelan remains one of the top punters in the league, and that particular play could help boost his resume for All-Pro this season. 

My only question is, when I hit a backspin punt in Madden, why can't it turn out that way? Instead, it bounces like 10-15 yards backwards in the opposing team's favor.

Detroit's punter, Jack Fox, ranks toward the bottom of the league at 24 with 45.9 yards average. Their kicker, Jake Bates, has had a few struggles this season, going 15/19 on field goals and 37/39 on extra points, but he has a long of 59 yards. 

On the Packers' side of the kicking spectrum, for once, I didn't have to take a shot of whiskey before writing about it. Brandon McManus was a perfect 3/3 for field goals and 2/2 for extra points, accounting for 11 of the Packers' 23 points this past Sunday. We can only hope that success continues, because as I've said before, the last thing we want dominating our headlines is our kicking game. 

Jacob Saylors is Detroit's main kick returner, averaging 26.9 yards per return with a long of 39 yards, but Saylors has been dealing with a back issue lately. It didn't seem to hamper him this past Sunday, so it may not be an issue today, but with a short week, it's something to keep an eye on. Returning punts is Kalif Raymond. Raymond averages 7.3 yards per return and has a 65-yard PR TD to his credit this season. Luckily, we have a punter like Whelan to deal with Raymond to ensure he doesn't become a factor today. 

The Packers' return game has continued to be questionable. Kickoffs are about average with Savion Williams each week. With Williams OUT today, I'm assuming we'll see a lot more of Bo Melton on kick returns. Punt returns with Romeo Doubs are often, let's say, less than interesting. Doubs is likely out there to just be the sure-handed catch and nothing more than that. Watching him take two seconds to figure out where he's going to run after that catch can be maddening, but I have to admit, it could be worse. I'd rather have a sure-handed catch with no return than compare our punt returner to Amari Rodgers' issues holding on to the ball a few years ago. 

In the End

I'm going to say it. Tradition be damned, I'm so tired of Detroit and Dallas having the early and mid-afternoon games on Thanksgiving every single year. The NFL added the prime time game that the Packers have now hosted twice, so we actually get to see some different teams play on the holiday, but having to look at the inside of Ford Field/Pontiac Silverdome, and AT&T/Texas Stadium every single Thanksgiving for as long as I can remember has gotten old. It'll never happen, but I would love to see the NFL finally say, "No, we're letting other teams host this season."

We've had two Thanksgiving victories in the last two years. In one of them, Jordan Love was robbed of his coveted turkey leg, and it set the world ablaze. Last year, he finally got his turkey leg from Leroy Butler, and all was (somewhat) right in the world. But this year, we return to the scene of the previous crime. Let's go get that revenge turkey leg.

After a somewhat of a mini-bye week, the Packers will be at home against the Chicago Bears for the last of this three-divisional game stretch. Hopefully, we head into it with a lot of momentum. Go Pack Go.