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Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions pregame thoughts: Is it a happy Thanksgiving if the Lions lose?
Written by Al Beaton   
Wednesday, 25 November 2009 23:33

GAME INFORMATION

Kickoff: Thursday, November 26, 12:30 p.m. ET

Stadium: Ford Field

Television: FOX

Play-By-Play: Joe Buck

Color: Troy Aikman

Lions Radio Network Flagship: 97.1 FM The Ticket, WXYT-FM

Play-By-Play: Dan Miller

Color: Jim Brandstatter

Sidelines: Tony Ortiz

2009 Records: Lions, 2-8; Packers, 6-4

Line: Packers -310.5, over/under 47.5

Most interesting prop bet: Via Bodog.com

What will be the highest point total the Detroit Lions will achieve from Week 12-17 of the 2009 NFL Regular Season?

Over/Under  26.5

If Matthew Stafford can play sometime within the time frame, I'd take the over.

Last meeting: 2009, Packers 26 - Lions 0

Series: Packers 85 - Lions 62 - Ties 6

Semi-interesting factoids:

Straight from Lions' PR: This year’s Lions-Packers game on Thanksgiving Day renews a holiday rivalry that dates back to 1951. This year’s game marks the 19th time the Lions have battled the Packers on Thanksgiving, with Detroit holding an 11-6-1 (.647) advantage. The Lions have played Green Bay more than any other opponent in the Thanksgiving Day series.

For 13 consecutive years from 1951-63, the Lions and Packers met on Thanksgiving, with the Lions claiming a 9-3-1 record during that span. The Lions-Packers Turkey Day tilt marks the fourth time since 2001 that the two teams will play in Detroit on Thanksgiving and the third at Ford Field.

The Lions Thanksgiving Day game has sold out in each of the last 15 seasons (since 1994), and it has reached a sellout for every Thanksgiving Day game played at Ford Field (seven since 2002).

Straight from Packers' PR: In Green Bay's win over the San Francisco 49ers last Sunday, the Packers controlled the ball for 41 minutes, 39 seconds. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, time-of-possession statistics have only been kept since 1977, but that mark for the Packers was a franchise record.

Combined with the Packers' 40:48 time of possession against the Lions in Week 6, it gives the team two games with 40-plus minutes of controlling the ball, which is also a single-season franchise record. Green Bay is the only team in the NFL to accomplish that feat in a regulation game twice this season.

Just the stats, please:

Lions-PAckers stats comparison

What to watch:

The Lions' shorthanded defense will be unable to stop the Packers, though it's not as if Green Bay is a juggernaut. Far from it. But they have a respectable quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, who will pick the Lions backfield apart for 300+ yards and multiple touchdown passes. It's a given, as any NFL quarterback worth his salt has put up season best against the Lions. If Brady Quinn can look like an All-Pro...well, need I go on?

The Lions will need to score plenty, but won't be able to keep up with Green Bay offensively. Detroit's offense is uninspiring and ineffective with Daunte Culpepper under center. It's even more so (if that's possible) when you subtract Calvin Johnson.

You'll be checking to see when the turkey will be done before the game is over...and it's going to be over by the half.

Prediction:

Blowout city, as the Pack cruises. The rest of the nation begins bitching about the Lions playing on Thanksgiving by halftime.



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