NFL Thanksgiving Day Betting: Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions

NFL / Andy Richmond / 25 November 2009 / Leave a Comment

"These two met back in Week Six and the Packers played a perfect game on defence with QB Aaron Rodgers passing for 358 yards and two touchdowns in a 26-0 shutout at Lambeau Field."

With both teams missing key personnel for Thursday's Thanksgiving clash, will the Pack be the pick or can the Lions roar to victory at home? Andy Richmond selects the best bets.

In the thick of the NFC play-off race, the Green Bay Packers are preparing to play the rest of the season without two of their defensive stalwarts. While the Detroit Lions don't have the same post-season aspirations, they might have to play this Thanksgiving Day game without the reigning NFC player of the week.

The banged-up Packers will rely on a makeshift defence but the Lions will likely be without Matthew Stafford, who was injured while leading his team to an exciting comeback win last week.

Green Bay (6-4) rank first in the NFL in total defence, allowing an average of 295.8 yards, but that unit took two major hits when cornerback Al Harris and linebacker Aaron Kampman were hurt on separate plays in the second half of Sunday's 30-24 win over San Francisco. Without those two veterans in the line-up, the Packers struggled to shut down the 49ers, allowing 21 second-half points.

These two met back in Week Six and the Packers played a perfect game on defence with QB Aaron Rodgers passing for 358 yards and two touchdowns in a 26-0 shutout at Lambeau Field.

Both teams arrive here on the back of wins - the Packers hanging on to beat the 49ers 30-24 and the Lions winning with the last play of the game against the equally hapless Browns 38-37. Whilst the Packers are very much thought of as an explosive offensive team they are better when they inject balance via the running game and their premier back Ryan Grant - he rushed for 90 yards in the first meeting between these teams earlier this year and will look to have a similar outing on Thursday as he approaches a 1,000 rushing yards for the season.

Green Bay shouldn't have much trouble moving the ball against a Detroit team that ranks last in scoring defence (30.1) and 31st in total defence (401.9). Especially as Detroit may not only be missing QB Matt Stafford but their other offensive star WR Calvin Johnson, the star receiver missed the Week Six meeting with a knee injury, and Detroit's offence suffered as a result. He seemed to find his legs again since his return in Week Nine, but there is a chance Johnson could sit again with hand and knee problems.

The Lions have lost five games in a row on Thanksgiving and these teams met in 2007 on Thanksgiving with the Packers coming away victorious, 37-26.

Recommendation: Missing stars for Detroit make "The Pack" the pick - 1pt win -10.5 at 2.0 or better