Lions Assert Themslves in NFC North Race
The Detroit Lions overcame a rough start to beat the Green Bay Packers rather handily on Thursday afternoon in NFC football action. The final score of the rout was 40-10 as Matthew Stafford lit up the Green Bay defense, especially in the second half.
Stafford three three touchdown passes and Reggie Bush accounted 182 yards of offense by himself as they ran their record to 7-5 while dropping the Packers to 5-6-1. The Lions will be awaiting the outcome of Sunday’s game between the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings to see if they will have the top spot to themselves. The Bears go into the game at 6-5.
The win snapped a two game losing streak for the Lions and also a nine year losing streak in the annual Thanksgiving Day game in Detroit. Next week the Lions will take on the red hot Philadelphia Eagles in a battle of division leaders pending the outcome of the second game of the Thanksgiving triple header between the Dallas Cowboys and Oakland Raiders and Sunday’s Eagles vs Arizona Cardinals game.
Green Bay cannot get starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers back soon enough. They have yet to win a game since he went down a month ago with a broken collarbone suffered in a game against the Bears. Former back-up Matt Flynn, who did very well in a previous stint in Green Bay, has harassed all game long by the Lions pass rush and had an awful day. Rodgers is showing why he is an MVP because with him, the Packers are probably the best team in this division. Without him they might be the worst.
Green Bay now has 11 days off and then they will have four games left to play. Don’t be shocked to see them win four in a row with Rodgers back and wind up 9-6-1. The question though is whether that will be enough. If the Lions win three of four they will end up 10-6. After the Eagles they have the Ravens, the New York Giants and the Vikings. Three out of four down the stretch is certainly possible for Detroit.
And do not forget about the Bears. If the Bears go four of five they can also wind up at 10-6. But like Green Bay, they need to get their starting quarterback in good health. Jay Cutler is not expected to pay in Sunday’s game as he has been in and out of the lineup with various injuries the last month or so. Green Bay can tell the Bears all about trying to beat the Vikings without the number one quarterback. They failed at it a week ago when they ended in a tie at home 26-26.
All things considered, the Lions are in really good shape after today’s outcome to win this division. Right now, the have the healthiest starting quarterback and if he ca stay that way, the most explosive offense. If you can find a futures bet on the NFC North, bet on the Lions.
