Expect the Packers to Continue Their Dominance over the Lions at Lambeau

The last time the Detroit Lions won a game in the state of Wisconsin versus the Green Bay Packers was 1991. The Lions won the NFC Central Division title that year and advanced to the NFC Championship Game.

Not a lot has gone right for the Lions since then. They have lost to the Packers 23 straight times in Wisconsin (three times in Milwaukee and 20 times at Lambeau Field), including a 1994 NFC Wild Card Game in Green Bay. In that game, the Packers held the great Barry Sanders to minus-one yard in 13 carries.

Things haven't gone much better for the Lions in the overall scheme of things in the NFL since 1991 either. Detroit has won just one divisional title, which happened two years later in 1993. It has made six playoff appearances after the 1991 season but has not won a postseason game in that time.

The low point of the Lions was in 2008, when the team finished 0-16.

Meanwhile, the Packers have had enormous success since that cold December day (10 degrees) at Lambeau Field in 1991. The Packers have won 10 NFC Central/North titles since then and have played in the postseason 16 times, including victories in Super Bowl XXXI and Super Bowl XLV.

The 2014 version of the Lions is probably the most talented team Detroit has had since 1991. The Lions have an 11-4 record, which is the same as the Packers' record going into Sunday's contest. The winner of the game will clinch the NFC North title and have at least the second seed in the NFC playoffs.

That would mean a bye the first week in the postseason and at least one home game in the playoffs. No matter what, both the Lions and the Packers are guaranteed playing in the postseason.

But there is a big difference in being the No. 2 seed compared to being the No. 6 seed. That is why the game at Lambeau Field this Sunday is so important.

Looking at team statistics going into this game, the Lions have been exceptional, especially on defense. Detroit is ranked second in the NFL in total defense. The Lions are also ranked first in run defense but just 13th in pass defense.

That could be a key factor in the game on Sunday.

The two key players for the Lions on defense are defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who has 46 tackles and 8.5 sacks, and linebacker DeAndre Levy, who has 140 tackles (third in the NFL), 2.5 sacks and one interception. The front seven is the strength of the Detroit defense.

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Offensively, the Lions have been inconsistent. Detroit is ranked 18th in total offense, which includes being ranked 11th in passing offense and 27th in running the football.

The offense is led by quarterback Matthew Stafford, who has thrown 19 touchdown passes versus 12 interceptions for 4,040 yards. That adds up to an 85.4 passer rating.

Stafford likes to utilize both Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate in the passing game. Combined, the two have 163 receptions for 2,324 yards and 10 touchdowns.

In the running game, Joique Bell does the brunt of the work. He has rushed for 800 yards and seven touchdowns but has been hampered by an Achilles injury this week in practice. He did practice fully on Thursday, however.

Bell will get some help from the dangerous Reggie Bush, who can hurt teams in both the run game and the passing game.

The biggest question mark for the Lions on offense is the offensive line. Center Dominic Raiola was suspended for the game against the Packers for stomping on the ankle of Chicago Bears defensive tackle Ego Ferguson last Sunday.

That means rookie Travis Swanson will start at center. Swanson has started three games for the Lions at right guard but hasn't taken a snap at center.

Another player to watch on the line for the Lions is Cornelius Lucas, who will start at right tackle. Lucas alternated at right tackle with Garrett Reynolds at the position the first time the Lions played the Packers in Detroit, and he had some issues with Julius Peppers in that game.

The Packers have struggled a bit on offense the last couple of games, but their defense is playing its best ball of the season now.

Overall, the Packers are ranked sixth in total offense, which includes being ranked seventh in pass offense and 11th in toting the rock.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is having another NFL MVP-type of season, as he has thrown 36 touchdown passes versus just five picks for 4,155 yards. That adds up to a sparkling 111.0 passer rating.

Rodgers mostly looks to both Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb in the passing game. The two have combined for 179 receptions for 2,640 yards and a whopping 23 touchdowns.

Running back Eddie Lacy is having another fine year, as he has 1,039 yards rushing and nine touchdowns. No. 27 also has caught 39 passes for 401 yards and four more scores.

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Unlike the Lions, the Packers offensive line is solid across the board and has been playing exceptionally as of late.

The Packers defense in now ranked 12th in the NFL after its dominating performance in Tampa last week against the Buccaneers.

That includes being ranked 10th in passing defense and 22nd in run defense.

Like in all games, special teams play can be a key factor in the contest, and this is where the Packers might be exploited. That being said, if the game is on the line, I would prefer the Packers' Mason Crosby kicking a field goal for me as opposed to the Lions' Matt Prater.

Crosby is used to kicking outdoors in the winter and has a higher field-goal percentage than Prater.

In a game like this, we also have to look back at history a bit—especially with the play of Rodgers and Stafford at quarterback.

Rodgers is 9-2 against the Lions overall and 5-0 at Lambeau Field. In his career against Detroit, No. 12 has thrown 20 touchdown passes versus just five picks for 2,721 yards. That adds up to a very robust 109.0 passer rating.

Stafford, on the other hand, is just 2-6 against the Packers in his career and is 0-3 at Lambeau Field. In his history against the Pack, Stafford has thrown 13 touchdown passes versus 16 interceptions for 2,377 yards. That adds up to a less than mediocre passer rating of 73.6.

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To me, the Packers have a big advantage at quarterback when it comes to consistent production and performance.

Both quarterbacks will be helped on Sunday if their offenses can generate a good running game. Believe it or not, this may favor the Packers, no matter what the stats show regarding the Detroit run defense.

Lacy has been on a roll the past six weeks, as he has 561 yards rushing and five touchdowns. His yards-per-carry average is 5.7.

I expect the Packers to use both the run and the pass to exploit the Lions' stout defense.

The bottom line is that the Packers are 7-0 at Lambeau Field this year. Green Bay has outscored its opponents by a 288-143 margin.

Add that together with the close to a quarter-century of losing in Wisconsin by the Lions, and you have a recipe for another Green Bay victory.