Lions vs Packers Monday Night Football Picks, Odds & Preview – Can Detroit Muddy up NFC North Picture?
- The Green Bay Packers host the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football
- Lions have won four straight against the Packers
- Get the odds, our pick, and all the info you need to bet the game below
When you’re in a division where every team has a winning record, every win counts. And that’s the case on Monday Night, when the NFC North-leading Green Bay Packers welcome the Detroit Lions to Lambeau Field (Oct. 14, 8:15pm ET).
At 2-1-1, the Lions are sandwiched in third behind the second-place Minnesota Vikings (4-2) and the fourth-place Chicago Bears (3-2). A win in Green Bay (4-1) would drag the Pack down from their perch and into the thick of an already muddled division picture.
Detroit Lions vs Green Bay Packers Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lions | +165 | +3.5 (-109) | Over 45.5 (-109) |
| Green Bay Packers | -185 | -3.5 (-109) | Under 45.5 (-109) |
Odds taken 14/10/19.
With Aaron Rodgers as their trump card, the Packers have traditionally dominated this matchup. But the Lions will be looking for their fifth straight win against Green Bay, against a version of Rodgers that’s looked downright mortal through five weeks.
Motown Making the Most Recent Hits
After breaking an astonishing 24-game losing streak at Lambeau in 2015, Detroit has won three of four on the road, including the most recent matchup: a 31-0 drubbing last season.
Packers HC Matt LaFleur called Matthew Stafford an "elite quarterback."
— Pride of Detroit (@PrideOfDetroit) October 10, 2019
The Lions have won four straight overall from their division rivals. You have to go back to the 1982 and 1983 seasons for the last time that’s happened.
Their hot start has been aided by Matthew Stafford, who’s one of just eight QB’s this season averaging 8.0 yards per pass attempt, and one of 10 pivots averaging 280 yards passing per game or better.
Find a better throw today in the NFL.
Matthew Stafford fires a strike through defenders for a Kenny Golladay TD. pic.twitter.com/I2s5NndsQN
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) September 29, 2019
He’s the main reason the Lions are ranked eighth in total offense in the NFL this season. Stafford is averaging 283.3 yards passing and has nine TDs without an INT in the past four games against Green Bay.
Rodgers Trying to Find his Groove
It’s fair to say that Aaron Rodgers hasn’t been the same dominating self that we’ve grown accustomed to over the years. Under the guidance of new head coach Matt Lafleur, he’s had just one massive passing game (422 yards in a loss to the Eagles), while every other game he’s passed for less than 240 yards.
https://twitter.com/packers/status/1180953267582291968
He’s been aided by a strong defense, particularly a secondary that’s tied for fourth in the NFL in interceptions with seven, and they’re one of 10 teams in the league that are allowing less than 20 points a game.
Against the Cowboys, he allowed another Aaron to reign supreme: running back Aaron Jones, who scored a career-high four touchdowns and piling 182 yards from scrimmage.
A career-high 182 total yards & franchise record 4 rushing TDs earned @Showtyme_33 NFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 5! #GoPackGo https://t.co/6uwqETbrAX
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) October 9, 2019
At some point they’ll need the back-breaking Rodgers to reappear for the Pack to have any chance to contend for a Super Bowl.
Perhaps the Lions and Monday Night are the right recipe: Rodgers has thrown for 300-plus yards and achieved a passer rating of at least 100 in four consecutive Monday night starts – the longest streak in MNF history.
The Lions aren’t ready for a healthy Aaron Rodgers again pic.twitter.com/FULcUPG611
— IKE Packers Podcast (@IKE_Packers) October 12, 2019
Against Detroit, he’s won seven of nine starts at home, throwing 17 TDs to just three interceptions, with a passer rating of 109.4. Rodgers also has a passer rating of 100-plus in six of nine home games against Lions.
What’s the Best Bet?
There’s something resilient about this edition of the Lions. They had no business escaping Arizona with a tie, and used up several lives in beating the Chargers. They did almost everything they could to let the Eagles come back and beat them. In perhaps their best overall game of the year, they lost to the Chiefs.
They’ve been in every game they’ve played this year, and while I wouldn’t pick them on the money line, I’d be confident this was going to be a field-goal difference when it’s all said an done – especially since Rodgers won’t have Davonte Adams (turf toe) to throw to.
Pick: Lions (+3.5)
Having worked in and around sports since 1997, Eric is truly a knowledgeable expert. The two-time journalism grad specializes in all things NBA and NFL. From TSN.ca to CTV's Olympic Broadcast Consortium, Eric's work has appeared in local and national publications alike.
