Steve Starr
- Green Bay (8-8) is a 4.5-point home favorite over the Detroit Lions (8-8)
- The NFC North rivals are both still in playoff contention heading into Week 18
- NBC’s Sunday Night Football kicks off from Lambeau Field on January 8 at 8:20pm ET
While he has long been one of the NFL’s most annoying characters, Aaron Rodgers is close to adding another epic comeback story to his Packers legacy. Despite an ugly 4-8 start, Green Bay will make the playoffs with a victory over Detroit. However, if Seattle loses to the Rams earlier in the day, Dan Campbell’s Lions will also face a win-and-in scenario on Sunday night.
Before we check the odds on this NFC North matchup, here’s where you can find the best Super Bowl betting tips and the top betting sites for NFL football in 2022.
Packers vs Lions
 | Spread | Money Line | Total Points |
| Detroit Lions | +4.5 (-111) | +193 | Ov 49 (-110) |
| Green Bay Packers | -4.5 (-109) | -223 | Un 49 (-110) |
Rodgers is on a roll
Green Bay captured it’s fourth-straight victory with a 41-17 beatdown of the Vikings last Sunday. Aaron Rodgers only needed to throw for 159 yards and a TD as the team rode Aaron Jones (111 rushing yards) and AJ Dillon (41 yards, TD) to an easy win.
Once a laughing stock, Joe Barry’s defense intercepted Kirk Cousins three times. Jaire Alexander also held All-Pro receiver Justin Jefferson to just one catch for 15 yards. However, the Packers D will face a much bigger test against an explosive Lions offense that’s averaging the fifth-most points scored per week (27.1).
"Zac Taylor and Sean McDermott deserve a lot of credit for the way they handled things last night" ~@AaronRodgers12#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/eFpLUZlgF1
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 3, 2023
Detroit’s path to the playoffs
Green Bay isn’t the only team surging down the stretch. After starting the season with a 1-6 record, the Lions have won four of five games (and seven of their last nine). Now at 8-8, Dan Campbell’s club can still make the playoffs if the Rams upset Seattle on Sunday afternoon.
Detroit would then need to defeat a Packers club they beat 15-9 in early November. Jared Goff passed for 255 yards and 3 touchdowns in 41-10 over the Bears last week. But, given the QB’s struggles in cold, rainy weather throughout his career, winning a game at Lambeau Field in January will be tough.
Green Bay vs Detroit
Green Bay is a 4.5-point home favorite at Lambeau Field on Sunday Night Football, with the over-under at 49 total points. The Packers offense has come alive of late, topping 24 points in each contest during their four-game winning streak. And, while their defense has been steady as of late, the results have come against questionable competition.
Having already led the Lions to eight 30-point games this season, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is one of the league’s buzziest coaching candidates. If he can scheme up a victory on SNF, he’ll be running a new franchise by February.
“We got our identity back — in a hurry.”
Go inside the Lions locker room, where Dan Campbell said the team extended their playoff hopes another week.
🎥: @Lions pic.twitter.com/tl4a3OVaNT
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) January 2, 2023
Best Bet
Everyone seems to have Aaron Rodgers and the Packers coasting into the playoffs. While it’s always a concern that the game’s officials will be under strict orders from the league to make that happen, we don’t think it will be that easy.
Dan Campbell’s team always plays hard. Whether Seattle wins or loses in the afternoon, the Lions will keep it close and possibly even score the upset in the NFL’s season finale.
Final Score Prediction: Detroit 27, Packers 24
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