Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions: Full Green Bay Game Preview

Coming off their fourth loss in five weeks, the Green Bay Packers will take on the Detroit Lions in a rematch of division rivals Thursday night.

The Packers (7-4), who lost in disappointing fashion to the Chicago Bears at home on Thanksgiving, will look to regain some ground in the NFC North with their second straight Thursday game.

Meanwhile, the Lions (4-7) have won three in row including an 18-16 road victory over Green Bay to start the streak on November 15.

When these two teams met three weeks ago, the Lions were heavy underdogs as they hadn't won at Lambeau since 1991. This time around, the Packers opened as three-point favorites on the road, according to OddsShark.com.

In that Week 10 matchup, Green Bay's field goal on its opening possession was followed by a scoreless drought until the fourth quarter. During that stretch, Aaron Rodgers and the offense managed just six first downs in eight drives, including five three-and-outs. 

The game ultimately came down to Mason Crosby and a 52-yard field-goal attempt to win it as time expired. Surprisingly, the veteran kicker botched the try, and Detroit left victorious. 

With a full week of preparation for both teams ahead of Thursday's Week 13 matchup, let's go over all you need to know ahead of this divisional rematch. 

Viewing Info

Location: Ford Field, Detroit

Date: Thursday, December 3

Time: 8:25 p.m. ET

TV: CBS/NFL Network

Week 12 Results and Recap

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NFC North Standings 

Team	W	L	T	PCT	Div.	PF	PA	Streak
Minnesota Vikings	8	3	0	.727	3-1	231	194	W1
Green Bay Packers	7	4	0	.636	2-2	262	215	L1
Chicago Bears	5	6	0	.455	1-3	231	264	W1
Detroit Lions	4	7	0	.364	2-2	230	288	W3

Week 12 Recap

On a night that saw Brett Favre get honored with a special appearance from Bart Starr, the Chicago Bears who spoiled the party and came away from Lambeau Field with a 17-13 victory over the Packers on Thanksgiving. 

The loss paled in comparison to the treat Packers fans got at halftime. Favre's name and retired No. 4 were unveiled in the north end zone facade next to other franchise greats, including Starr. The 81-year-old received a standing ovation when he rode out during the ceremony to congratulate Favre in person.

For Green Bay, it would be the team's fourth loss in five weeks, as a 6-0 start to begin the season looks more and more distant in the rearview mirror. 

In hindsight, the Packers were lucky to score even 13 points considering how poorly Aaron Rodgers played throughout the game. His 62.4 passer rating was his worst so far this year, while a 51.2 completion percentage (second-worst) and 202 passing yards (third-worst) aren't any consolation.

On the other hand, Eddie Lacy provided the lone offensive bright spot for Green Bay. He racked up a season-high 105 rushing yards and added a touchdown reception. It's the second straight game Lacy has gained at least 100 yards on the ground after failing to reach the century mark in any of his first eight games to start the season.

News and Notes

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Quarless Sentenced in July Gun Incident

Packers tight end Andrew Quarless was sentenced to one year of probation and required to pay a $1,000 fine on Monday for firing a gun in public on July 4 in Miami Beach, according to John Diedrich of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Court records also showed that Quarless will be required to take anger management and firearms safety classes in addition to forfeiting his gun, via Diedrich. 

The timing of the sentencing is interesting considering Quarless is now eligible to play for Green Bay after spending the last nine weeks on the injured reserve/designated to return list following his Week 3 knee injury. 

However, he may face additional discipline from the NFL, which is expected to do its own investigation now that the court case is over, according to Quarless' attorney via Diedrich. 

ESPN,com's Rob Demovsky provides some more details on Quarless' situation: "Quarless, who was originally charged with a misdemeanor for firing a weapon in public, was scheduled to go to trial Monday, according to the court records, but he entered a no-contest plea in exchange for the fine, probation and other penalties."

Quarless practiced Monday—his first since the injury—instead of appearing in court and has not yet been activated to Green Bay's 53-man roster.

Janis Wins KO Return Job

It appears Jeff Janis has finally shown the coaching staff enough to earn more playing time. The second-year receiver will be the No. 1 kickoff returner going forward, according to Weston Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. 

Janis was thrown into the job two weeks ago with usual returners Micah Hyde, Ty Montgomery and Jared Abbrederis all injured. His response? A 70-yard burst down the sidelines on his first career kickoff return. 

Then, in the loss to Chicago last week, Janis showed his 4.42-second 40-yard-dash speed was no joke. He broke off a 64-yarder that would ultimately lead to a Mason Crosby field goal and give the Packers a 10-7 lead. 

On his four returns this season, Janis' average of 41.3 yards would lead the NFL. Furthermore, since he took over the job two games ago, the Packers have moved from 10th to fifth in average yards per kickoff return (26.4).

Moving forward, we'll see if the added responsibility as the Packers' top kickoff returner pays off for Janis, who's struggled to find playing time as a receiver on offense.

Latest Injury News

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

Week 13 Injury Report

Player	Position	Injury	Status
Jared Abbrederis	WR	Rib/Chest	FP
Bryan Bulaga	OT	Ankle	DNP
Demetri Goodson	CB	Illness	DNP
Micah Hyde	DB	Hip	FP
T.J. Lang	OG	Shoulder	LP
Corey Linsley	C	Ankle	LP
Ty Montgomery	WR	Ankle	DNP
Nate Palmer	LB	Foot	LP
Damarious Randall	CB	Knee	FP
Josh Sitton	OG	Back	LP

*Official injury report courtesy of Packers.com.

DNP = Did not participate in Monday's practice; LP = Limited participation; FP = Full participation

Injury Notes

The big news from Monday's practice was outside linebacker Julius Peppers' absence for the first time in his two years as a Packer. 

However, Peppers is not injured, according to the team's recent injury report, which didn't include the 14-year veteran. Although the Packers had a day off from practice Tuesday, the team still filled out a report to show any updates from the day before.

Peppers' failure to participate in Monday's practice was described as "not injury related," which means he likely simply got a day of rest, as Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette suggests. 

Head coach Mike McCarthy offered some more explanation to reporters in his press conference Tuesday, via the Packers' Twitter account:

"

McCarthy on Julius Peppers not practicing: That was a coaches' decision. He doesn't like to miss practice. Wanted to give him a break.

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 1, 2015"

Tight end Andrew Quarless practiced for the first time Monday after being sidelined ever since he suffered a sprained MCL in Week 3. Still, though, the team has yet to activate him from the injured reserve/designated to return list.  

Although he's eligible to return for Thursday's game, Quarless will likely be held out of game action for another week. McCarthy typically prefers a player to go through a week of practice before playing after lengthy injury absences, according to ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky.

In other news, tackle Bryan Bulaga (ankle) and cornerback Damarious Randall (knee) avoided serious injuries, despite both leaving last week's game early, according to Demovsky.

Top Matchup

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Packers O-Line vs. Lions DE Ezekiel Ansah

Although Ezekiel Ansah was held without a sack in Detroit's win over Green Bay earlier this season, it's clear who the top defensive playmaker will be for the Lions come Thursday. 

Ansah has terrified opposing quarterbacks—and their offensive linemen—all year long. His team-leading 11.5 sacks are the second-most in the NFL and just two off the pace of J.J. Watt's league-leading 13.5.

It's a little ironic Ansah failed to record a sack when he first faced the Packers in November. The third-year defensive end has brought down opposing passers in eight of his 11 games in 2015—highlighted by his 3.5 sacks on Thanksgiving against Philadelphia. 

And if the task of stopping Ansah from getting to Rodgers wasn't tough enough, the Packers may have to do so with a makeshift offensive line. 

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, tackle Bryan Bulaga is battling a sprained ankle he suffered against the Bears and has yet to practice this week, while center Corey Linsley sat out Thursday's game with his own ankle injury. 

Both may wind up playing, but it'll be a banged-up Bulaga with his expected limited mobility trying to stop the hot Ansah off the edge. 

If the Packers want to get their offense back on track, it'll have to start with protecting Rodgers in the pocket a bit more. As good as he is on the run, Rodgers has been noticeably flustered lately with teams bringing more and more pressure and Green Bay receivers failing to get open sooner. 

X-Factor

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Packers X-Factor of the Week: RB Eddie Lacy

When the Packers lost to Detroit in Week 10, the offense failed to get going on all fronts until late in the fourth quarter. One notable absence from that game was Eddie Lacy, who sat out with a groin injury. 

Still, it's hard to argue the outcome would have been any different if Lacy had played. He had just lost his starting job to James Starks the week before and was struggling all season as the lead back. 

In Thursday's rematch, though, the Lions will have to deal with a rejuvenated runner out of Green Bay's backfield. 

Lacy is coming off back-to-back 100-yard rushing performances—his first games reaching the century mark all season—with an average of 5.3 yards per carry over the two contests, including a pair of 27- and 29-yard runs. 

By all means, he's looked like the same back who rattled off consecutive 1,000-yard seasons over his first two years in Green Bay and not the one who mustered just 308 rushing yards on a 3.7 yards-per-carry average over his first eight games of 2015.

If the Packers offense is to get back in rhythm, it'll have to look to Lacy for an added threat on the ground. And a matchup with Detroit's 22nd-ranked unit against the run could be the perfect time. 

Prediction: Packers 20, Lions 17

Mike Roemer/Associated Press

The Packers are desperate for a win. They've lost four of their last five—including two to divisional opponents at home—and are in danger of falling farther behind in the NFC North standings with another dismal performance. 

We've been saying it for weeks now, but the Packers are due for an offensive outburst. A matchup with Detroit's 28th-ranked defense should do the trick, yet that's what many said in Week 10 when the Packers scored 16 in a losing effort to the Lions. 

Thursday's game could be different largely because of the rebirth of Eddie Lacy in Green Bay's backfield. The play-calling has noticeably changed to get him more involved over the past two games—and the results have backed that decision up. 

Lacy has rushed for at least 100 yards in consecutive weeks, as he saw 20 and 17 carries, respectively, in the two games.

Furthermore, Aaron Rodgers may have more motivation to elevate his own play in the aftermath of one of the worst games of his career. 

Both teams will have had a full week to prepare for Thursday's action, as Detroit and Green Bay both played on Thanksgiving. Still, the time off should benefit the Packers as they try to solve some of their inefficiencies on the offensive side of the ball.

Like we said, Rodgers and Co. are due for a breakout performance, and a prime-time matchup with a divisional foe who bested them at home already this season is the perfect time.

Prediction: Packers 20, Lions 17