THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL PREVIEW:
GREEN BAY PACKERS AT DETROIT LIONS
Week 13 begins on Thursday night on NFL Network (8:25 PM ET) with the GREEN BAY PACKERS (7-4) visiting the DETROIT LIONS (4-7) at Ford Field in Detroit.
Detroit aims for their fourth consecutive win following a 45-14 victory over Philadelphia on Thanksgiving.
“It’s really fun to play on Thanksgiving and it’s a blast when you win,” says Lions quarterback MATTHEW STAFFORD. “Our team never wavered after the slow start and it’s a lot of fun when you get on a streak like we’re on.”
Stafford completed 27 of 38 passes (71.1 percent) for 337 yards and five touchdowns for a 137.8 passer rating last week. Stafford has passed for 1,498 yards (374.5 per game) with 12 touchdowns and two interceptions for a 107.7 passer rating in his past four games on Thursday.
Detroit has won three of its past four games against the Packers. Stafford aims for his third consecutive win at home against Green Bay.
Lions wide receiver CALVIN JOHNSON has 14 touchdowns in 15 career games against the Packers. In his past seven against Green Bay, Johnson has 48 catches for 808 yards and five touchdowns. After catching three touchdowns last Thursday against Philadelphia, he aims for his eighth Thursday game in a row with a touchdown catch. Since 2011, Johnson leads the NFL with 7,135 receiving yards, averaging 101.9 receiving yards per game.
On defense, Lions defensive end EZEKIEL ANSAH enters Week 13 with 11.5 sacks, the most in the NFC, and is tied for the league lead with four forced fumbles. Ansah has 9.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in his past eight games.
The players with the most sacks this season:
PLAYER
TEAM
SACKS
TACKLES
FORCED FUMBLES
J.J. Watt
Houston
13.5
55
1
Ezekiel Ansah
Detroit
11.5
32
4
Chandler Jones
New England
10.5
33
3
Green Bay aims to rebound from a 17-13 loss against Chicago on Thanksgiving.
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Packers quarterback AARON RODGERS passed for 202 yards and a touchdown in the game. Rodgers has 24 touchdown passes this season, the second-most in the NFC. Green Bay running backEDDIE LACY rushed for 105 yards on 17 carries (6.2 yards per rush) in the contest, his second consecutive game with at least 100 rushing yards.
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“We had a tough loss at home and it’s very disappointing because we had a lot of opportunities in the game,” says Rodgers. “Detroit has been playing well. They beat us a few weeks ago and we are going to have to go in there and get a win.”
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Entering Thursday’s game, Rodgers has compiled a 10-3 record against Detroit as a starter with 24 touchdowns for a 106.8 passer rating. In eight career Thursday games, Rodgers has thrown 15 touchdowns with three interceptions for a 104.1 passer rating. Rodgers aims for his ninth consecutive Thursday game with at least one touchdown pass.
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Green Bay wide receiver RANDALL COBB looks to continue his impressive play against NFC North opponents. Cobb has 10 touchdown receptions in his past 11 games against divisional opponents. Since 2014, Cobb’s eight touchdown receptions against the NFC North ranks third in the league for players against their own division.
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The players with the most touchdown receptions against their own division since 2014:
PLAYER
TEAM
TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS
Odell Beckham, Jr.
New York Giants
11
Dez Bryant
Dallas
9
Randall Cobb
Green Bay
8
WEEK 13 – THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2015
GREEN BAY PACKERS (7-4) AT DETROIT LIONS (4-7)
SERIES
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PACKERS
LIONS
THURS. RECORD
18-26-2
40-40-2
SERIES LEADER
95-68-7
STREAKS
3 of past 4
COACHES VS. OPP.
Mike McCarthy: 15-4
Jim Caldwell: 2-1
LAST WEEK
L 17-13 vs. Bears
W 45-14 vs. Eagles
LAST GAME
11/15/15: Lions 18 at Packers 16. Detroit QB Matthew Stafford passes for 242 yards & 2 TDs. Lions WR Calvin Johnson has 6 receptions for 81 yards.
LAST GAME AT SITE
9/21/14: Lions 19, Packers 7. Detroit S Don Carey has 40-yard FR-TD. Lions RB Reggie Bush rushes for 61 yards & TD.
REFEREE
Carl Cheffers
BROADCAST
NFLN (8:25 PM ET): Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, Tracy Wolfson (field reporter). Westwood One: Ian Eagle, Tim Ryan. SIRIUS: 88 (WW1), XXX (GB), XXX (Det.). XM: 88 (WW1), XX (GB), XXX (Det.).
STATS
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PASSING
Rodgers: 236-390-2684-24-4-97.4
Stafford: 266-410-2944-20-12-90.1
RUSHING
Lacy: 122-513-4.2-2
Abdullah (R): 96-347-3.6-1
RECEIVING
Cobb: 53-627-11.8-6
C. Johnson: 67-921-13.7-6
OFFENSE
344.0
344.9
TAKE/GIVE
+6
-9
DEFENSE
361.5
354.6
SACKS
Peppers: 6
Ansah: 11.5
INTs
4 tied: 2
Quin: 2
PUNTING
Masthay: 42.3
Martin: 46.1
KICKING
Crosby: 82 (25/25 PAT; 19/21 FG)
Prater: 64 (22/25 PAT; 14/14 FG)
NOTES
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PACKERS: QB AARON RODGERS is 10-3 (.769) vs. Det as starter & has 24 TDs, 5 INTs & 106.8 rating. Has 15 TDs, 3 INTs & 104.1 rating in 8 Thurs. games…RB EDDIE LACY aims for 3rd in row with 100+ rush yards. Rushed for 100 yards in his last game vs. Det. RB JAMES STARKS has 342 scrimmage yards (85.5 per game) in past 4…WR RANDALL COBB has 10 TDs in past 11 vs. division. WR JAMES JONES is averaging 29.4 yards per catch in past 3 meetings. TEs RICHARD RODGERS & JUSTIN PERILLO each had TD in Week 10…LB JULIUS PEPPERS has 13 sacks & 7 FFs in 15 games vs. Det. In past 6 on Thurs., has 5.5 sacks & 49-yard INT-TD. Is only player in NFL history with 100+ sacks (132) & 10+ INTs (11). LB CLAY MATTHEWS has 7 sacks in 10 meetings. S HA HA CLINTON-DIX had 11 tackles & INT in Week 10. Leads team with 79 tackles. Rookie CBDAMARIOUS RANDALL (12) & CB SAM SHIELDS (10) lead team in PD..
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LIONS: Have won 3 in row…QB MATTHEW STAFFORD aims for 3rd consecutive win at home vs. GB. Has 1,498 yards (374.5 per game), 12 TDs, 2 INTs & 107.7 rating in past 4 on Thurs. Had 337 yards, 5 TDs & 137.8 rating last week…RB JOIQUE BELL has 5 TDs in past 4 on Thurs. RB THEO RIDDICK had rec. TD last week & leads NFL RBs with 55 catches. Rookie RB-KR AMEER ABDULLAH had 104-yard KR in Week 10…WR CALVIN JOHNSON has 14 TDs in 15 meetings. In past 7 vs. GB, has 48 catches for 808 yards (115.4 per game) & 5 TDs. Aims for 8th in row on Thurs. with TD catch & had 3 TDs last week. Since 2011, leads NFL with 7,135 rec. yards & 101.9 rec. yards per game. WR GOLDEN TATE had TD last week…DE EZEKIEL ANSAH had 3.5 sacks, FF & FR last week. Has 9.5 sacks, 4 FFs & 2 FRs in past 8. Leads NFC with 11.5 sacks. LB STEPHEN TULLOCH aims for 3rd in row at home vs. GB with sack. DE JASON JONES aims for 3rd in row vs. GB with sack. S DON CAREYhad 40-yard FR-TD in last home meeting.
WEEK 13 INJURY REPORT – MONDAY
GREEN BAY PACKERS at DETROIT LIONS on Thursday night
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Monday
T Bryan Bulaga (ankle), CB Demetri Goodson (illness), WR Ty Montgomery (ankle), LB Julius Peppers (not injury related)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Monday
G T.J. Lang (shoulder), C Corey Linsley (ankle), LB Nate Palmer (foot), G Josh Sitton (back)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Monday
WR Jared Abbrederis (rib, chest), S Micah Hyde (hip), CB Damarious Randall (knee)
DETROIT LIONS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Monday
WR Lance Moore (ankle), K Matt Prater (illness)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Monday
S James Ihedigbo (hamstring), WR Calvin Johnson (ankle), S Glover Quin (ankle), DT Caraun Reid (ankle), C Travis Swanson (ankle), WR Golden Tate (calf)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Monday
G Larry Warford (concussion), DT Gabe Wright (ankle)
