It was never relaxing, but at the end of the day, the Green Bay Packers control their own destiny when it comes to getting back to the playoffs. Despite a dreadful performance through the first three months of the season that saw the Packers sitting at 4-8, the Packers are now in position to make the playoffs with a win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football. Green Bay has won four straight games in order to be 8-8, and the Packers hold the tiebreakers over the Lions and the Seattle Seahawks. Although the Lions are in a position to make the postseason too, this game might be meaningless to Detroit by kickoff. If Seattle beats the Los Angeles Rams at home, then the Lions would be eliminated from playoff contention, and that would lead to a huge shift in the NFL betting odds prior to kickoff.
As of now, the NFL regular season finale will feature the Green Bay Packers hosting the Detroit Lions for the final playoff berth in the NFC. This game will be played on Sunday Night Football on January 8, 2023, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.
NFL Week 18 Betting Odds
Detroit Lions +4.5
Green Bay Packers -4.5
Total 49.5
Money Line: Lions +184, Packers -220
Odds Analysis
We have seen a small amount of movement with the NFL betting odds for this game throughout the week. Green Bay initially opened as a four-point favorite, and the line has moved by a half-point in favor of the Packers. Meanwhile, the total initially jumped from 48.5 to 49.5 points before falling to where it currently rests at 49 flat.
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions have been one of the best stories in the league over the second half of the season. It looked like another year of mediocrity for the Lions after a 1-6 start, but they turned their campaign around with a 15-9 victory over Green Bay two months ago. Detroit has rallied to win seven of its last nine games, and the Lions knocked off the Packers, New York Giants, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, and New York Jets in that stretch.
Jared Goff has had a fantastic season in the Motor City after a tumultuous debut with the Lions in 2021. Goff is completing 64.9% of his passes for 4,214 yards (7.6 YPA) with 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Amon-Ra St. Brown has continued to develop after a strong rookie season and is now the No. 1 receiver by a mile, and Jamaal Williams leads the league with 15 rushing touchdowns. Willaims and D’Andre Swift have been a solid running back tandem, as Swift is averaging 5.6 YPC and 8.0 YPR as a receiver out of the backfield.
Detroit has one of the worst defenses in the NFL. The Lions rank 29th in scoring defense (25.7 PPG) and dead last in total defense (398.7 YPG). They have shown improvement after a terrible start though, as No. 2 overall pick Aidan Hutchinson has registered 7.5 sacks and three interceptions. Jeff Okudah is having a nice year at cornerback, and James Houston is flourishing as a situational pass rusher.
Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers has not been great this season, and he can’t be given too much of the credit for Green Bay’s turnaround over the last month. Rodgers hasn’t thrown for more than 240 yards in any of the Packers’ last four wins, and he has tossed just four touchdowns compared to two interceptions.
Instead, it’s the ground game and the defense that have led the way for the Packers. Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon have proven to be an excellent tandem, combining to run for 1,810 yards and nine touchdowns. Dillon has run for six touchdowns in the last five weeks, as he has developed into the short yardage back that Green Bay hoped it had when he was selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
This defense has risen to the occasion too. Green Bay’s overall stats aren’t great, allowing 21.9 PPG and 337.4 YPG, but the secondary has really buckled down. Jaire Alexander and Rasul Douglas have combined for 29 pass breakups and nine interceptions. The run defense has had some issues, but the interior is solid with De’Vondre Campbell and Quay Wallker helping fill gaps.
Lions at Packers Free Pick
Green Bay has to be the play here considering the game probably won’t mean anything for Detroit. A Seattle win over the Los Angeles Rams earlier on Sunday is likely, so it’s smart to back the Pack.
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