Lions vs. Packers: The Lions Will Feast on Cheese for Thanksgiving

For many football fans, watching the Detroit Lions play on Thanksgiving is an annual tradition. Families gather around their television to watch the blue and silver, and then retire to the dinner table for a good meal.

Most cannot imagine Thanksgiving without the Lions on TV. It would be like Thanksgiving without turkey, stuffing or pumpkin pie.

Fans have not always been rewarded for their loyalty on this great holiday though. They have a strange habit of developing heartburn before the Thanksgiving feast.

For the last five years, Detroit has failed to produce a win on Thanksgiving. Heck, they've failed to produce a game worth watching.

Lion fans have probably kept the Tums Corporation in business on Thanksgiving Day!

In those five years the Lions have lost by a total score of 190-82. This includes a 47-10 whooping by the Tennessee Titans in 2008, and two double digit losses to the Green Bay Packers in 2007 and 2009.

2011 ushers in a new hope on Thanksgiving Day. Lions fans are cautiously optimistic about their chances for at the very least a good showing. Maybe even a win against the undefeated Packers.

Why not? 

Yes, the Lions have been poster boys for inconsistency, especially over the last 5 games. 

The Carolina game demonstrated this to a tee. The Lions looked terrible in the first half then came on like gangbusters and dominated the Panthers in the second.

Inconsistency or not, no one will deny that the Lions have the talent to compete with anyone in the league. That was not always the case in years past. 

The Packers are undefeated and Aaron Rodgers looks like the second coming of Joe Montana, but they are beatable. Here is why.

Simple Odds

Ignoring offenses and defenses, just look at the odds. Green Bay is undefeated. How many teams have gone undefeated in the NFL regular season?  Only one since the advent of the 16 game season.

As the weeks go by, it becomes less and less likely that the Packers will win. The fact that this football game is at Ford Field only decreases the odds for the Packers.

Beware the Defense

Many claim that Green Bay's defense is not what it used to be. They are giving up more yards and more points a game to opponents this year. 

Those numbers are deceiving though. They also lead the league in interceptions.

An article on MLive.com by Philip Zaroo illustrates this illusion perfectly:

http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2011/11/green_bay_packers_defensive_st.html

The Lions are certainly not taking the Packer's defense for granted. Their impact will likely be determined by which Matthew Stafford take the field on Thursday. 

The one that threw four interceptions in eight games, or the one that threw six picks in six quarters of action. 

Running Wild

The Packers run defense is ranked 12th in the NFL. So the Lions cannot rely on Kevin Smith having a repeat performance. Nor should the Lions totally abandon the run as we've seen them do from time to time.

Smith and Maurice Morris need a chance to establish the run. The Packers secondary is good enough to limit the Lions passing attack, so a balanced offensive game plan is their best chance for victory.

Hopefully the Ford Field crowd will hold off on the turkey until after the game. Tryptophan tends to eliminate most crowd noise

Except snoring!

My prediction: Lions win 34-27. 

Pass the turkey!