If the Packers win this football game they will clinch the NFC North with 5 weeks to go.  The Lions need to win this game if they want to make the playoffs as they have played very poorly the last two weeks.

Look for the Packers to start throwing the ball when they get off of the bus.  The Packers have only allowed 14 sacks this season so Favre should have time to throw the ball.  That could mean big trouble for the Lions who are allowing 257.9 yards passing per game.  Look for Favre (2,985 yards passing, 19 TDs and 8 INTs) to shred the Lions defense in this game.

The Lions would smart to run a more balanced offense to try to control the clock in this game.  But, Mike Martz won’t likely have any of that as he prefers the Lions to air it out.  The Lions offensive line better be able to block DEs Aaron Kampman (9 sacks) and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (8.5 sacks) or Jon Kitna will make mistakes with the football that will turn this game in the Packers favor. 

PREDICTION:  PACKERS 31, LIONS 21

Something has to give in this game and it should be fascinating to watch.  The Lions are a sparkling 4-0 at Ford Field as they have outscored their opponents 124-67 at home so far this season.  But, the Giants hail from the NFC East and the Lions are 0-2 against teams from that division and they’ve been outscored 90-24 by teams that aren’t in the Giants class.

The Giants have a very physical and balanced offense and that could pose problems for the Lions defense which isn’t that good.  The Lions do have a good interior defense against the running game but the Giants will likely still pound Brandon Jacobs (545 yards, 5.3 ypc) at them to help open up the passing game.  Eli Manning has been so-so this season but if Jacobs gets it going on the ground Manning will kill the Lions with play action passes to Plaxico Burress (41 rec, 588 yards, 8 TDs), Jeremy Shockey (43 rec, 487 yards, 3 TDs) and Amani Toomer (33 rec, 392 yards, 2 TDs).  Manning will have to be careful with the ball however as the Lions already have 15 pickoffs this season.

The Lions must attempt to run the football in this game with Kevin Jones against a Giants defense that is allowing 4.1 ypc this season or else Jon Kitna will have a long, long day.  That’s because the Giants blitz early and often and the result has been 32 sacks this season.  The Lions have allowed an amazing 40 sacks this season already and they can’t afford to let Kitna get rattled into mistakes.  The Giants allow 200.2 yards passing per game and opposing QBs have a rating of 84.0 against them so if Kitna has time to throw he will have success. 

PREDICITON:  NEW YORK GIANTS 31,  DETROIT LIONS 20

The Buccaneers are 4-2 on the season which has been a huge surprise but they haven’t played too well on the road this season as they are 1-2 there.  The Lions are also off to a surprising 3-2 start and they are a solid 2-0 at home this season.

The Bucs would be best served to try to run the ball with Ernest Graham and Michael Bennett (if he’s ready) against a Lions defense that is allowing 115.0 yards rushing per game an 3.9 yards per carry so far this season.  The Bucs need to keep the ball away from the Lions offense because they don’t want to get into a shootout with them.  Still, the Bucs have to feel good about Jeff Garcia (103.6 QB Rating) throwing the football against a Lions defense that is allowing a whopping 263.6 yards passing per game so far this season. 

The Lions will come off of the bus passing in this football game.  Jon Kitna (1,333 yards passing) will have his full complement of receivers with Calvin Johnson back from a bruised back and that could be trouble for the Bucs defense.  The Bucs don’t have a good pass rushing team so it will be interesting to see if Kitna who has been sacked 25 times this season already has time to throw the football.

PREDICTION:  There will be no secrets on the football field as Rod Marinelli used to coach under Jon Gruden for the Bucs.  With that in mind I will go with the home team by a field goal.  Lions 31, Bucs 28.

This is a game between two teams that have exceeded expectations so far this season.  The Lions are a surprising 3-1 on the season and the Redskins are a solid 2-1.  They have gotten where they are in different ways as the Lions have done it with offense and the Redskins have been running the football and playing defense. 

The Lions will come out throwing in this football game just like they always do.  The Redskins would be smart to blitz a lot against the Lions as Lions QBs have been sacked 21 times already this season.  Still, that won’t stop the Lions from putting the ball up as they attempt 40.5 passes per week and they average 312.8 yards passing per game.  The Redskins corners will be tested as the Lions will often come out in a 4-wide formation with Roy Williams (26 rec, 388 yards, 3TDs), Shaun McDonald (21 rec, 268 yards, 3 TDs), Mike Furrey (20 rec, 246 yards) and rookie Calvin Johnson (10 rec, 189 yards, 2 TDs).  The Lions won’t likely run much against the Redskins who allow 92.0 yards rushing per game and 3.9 yards per carry.

The Redskins want to run the football to control the clock against the Lions and they should have success.  The Lions allow 114.3 yards rushing per game and 4.1 yards per carry so Clinton Portis (227 yards rushing, 4.7 ypc) could have a huge game.  The Redskins will also likely get LaDell Betts some carries as they try to pound the Lions defense into submission.  QB Jason Campbell has been so-so this season but he should have success throwing the football to Antwaan Randle El and TE Chris Cooley against a Lions defense that has allowed 267.5 yards passing per game this season.

PREDICTION:  I think the Redskins will win this football game as they will run the ball all over the Lions defense and keep the ball away from Jon Kitna and the Lions offense.

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