Sunday’s NFL Week 9 schedule features a huge contest in the NFC North between the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
The Lions won the division comfortably last season before reaching the NFC Championship game, while the Packers came on strong late in the year to suggest they could be a team to watch this time around.
That has proved to be the case with the Lions at 6-1 and the Packers at 6-2 heading into this key clash, but both teams’ quarterbacks have been affected by injuries.
Jared Goff of the Lions is expected to shake off an ankle issue to play, but the decision on whether the Packers’ Jordan Love can start after leaving last week’s game with a groin injury could go down to the last minute.
Something has to give with the Lions having won their last five games and the Packers on a four-game winning streak, but Dan Campbell’s visitors are favourites to secure a crucial away win.
Green Bay Packers vs Detroit Lions betting tips
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Relentless Lions are hard to oppose
The Lions’ only defeat this season was a 20-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2, but they have left that stuttering start far behind them with some scintillating offensive displays in recent weeks.
They have scored a phenomenal 172 points in their last four games – that’s more than 13 teams have managed all season – and their points difference of +100 is the best in the league by 16 points.
The Titans, who were blown away 52-14 last week, were the only real strugglers the Lions have faced in that run, which also included a 31-29 win in Minnesota as Detroit became the first team to beat the Vikings this season.
With a varied offence and a strong defence that has so far survived the loss for the season of star pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson without any serious problems, the Lions should be full of confidence as they bid to repeat their 34-20 win at Lambeau Field last season.
The Packers will be happy to have a 6-2 record having had the early weeks of the campaign disrupted by an injury to quarterback Love, but he is again in the treatment room and is unlikely to be fully mobile even if his groin problem eases enough for him to start.
Green Bay won two games with Malik Willis at QB earlier this season, but would much prefer to have their main man available for this tough test and the visitors look the safer bet.
LaPorta can give home defence a tough time
Tight end Sam LaPorta was a huge part of the Lions’ success in their playoff campaign at the end of his rookie season and he looks to be back in top form after a quieter start to his second year in the league.
LaPorta has scored touchdowns against the Cowboys and Titans in his last three appearances and caught all six of his targets against Tennessee for 48 receiving yards.
That sort of reliability is likely to keep Goff looking in his direction and the Packers defence struggled to keep tabs on the Jaguars’ tight ends last week, with Evan Engram and Brenton Strange posting a combined nine receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown.
All odds correct at time of writing
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