Matt Flynn Gives Green Bay Packers Best Chance to Win Against Detroit Lions

He's not Aaron Rodgers, no one is, but Matt Flynn gives the Green Bay Packers the best chance to win on Thanksgiving day against the Detroit Lions.

The team's official Twitter showed a picture of Rodgers finally back at practice, which is great news for Packers fans.  However, they also announced that it was unlikely he would play this Thursday.

Tom Silverstein from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Matt Flynn is going to be the starter on Thursday based off of what Mike McCarthy said in his press conference on Tuesday.

The Packers decided to put Flynn in against the Minnesota Vikings this past week, and he actually did a pretty solid job.  The team was down 23-7 at one point, but Flynn helped lead the Packers back, although the game did end in a tie after two field goals in overtime.

The numbers for Flynn were solid coming off of the bench.  He completed 21 of his 36 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown, posting a passer rating of 82.5 and a 74.5 QBR.  Before being pulled, Scott Tolzien completed just seven of his 17 passes for 98 yards and a rushing touchdown with a 60.4 passer rating and 16.3 QBR.

Considering how much Flynn struggled over the past couple of seasons before moving back to Green Bay, it appears that this is the ideal system for him to thrive in.  In five total games with the Seattle Seahawks and Oakland Raiders, Flynn attempted a total of 43 passes, completing 27 of them for 314 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Flynn spent four seasons with the Packers, and he is likely more comfortable in the offensive system than Tolzien is.  With Tolzien under center, he was able to drive the Packers down the field, but they often stalled and were unable to get in the end zone, scoring just three touchdowns as a team in three games.

The Packers will be playing the Lions this Thursday, and that gives Flynn an opportunity to prove himself once again.  The Lions are giving up 276.8 passing yards per game, which ranks 28th in the NFL, while allowing opposing quarterbacks to post a 90.8 passer rating.

In his last start for the Packers, Flynn played the Lions in Week 17 against their starters.  He ended up throwing for 480 yards and six touchdowns, breaking franchise records in both categories.  While this Lions team is different than the one he faced nearly two years ago, he has to feel pretty confident heading into this one.

A win could put the Packers right back near the front of the NFC North race, which would be huge as Rodgers appears close to returning.  While it won't be easy, Flynn is the team's best option to get the team rolling and get them ready to make a late playoff push.