Detroit (0-1) at Green Bay (0-1)
When: Monday, September 20th, 2021
Where: Lambeau Field,
Green Bay, WI
Time: 8:15 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Green Bay -11/48.5
The NFC North really took it on the chin in Week 1 with all four teams losing including a shocking blowout loss by the Green Bay Packers. Jameis Winston and the New Orleans Saints bullied Aaron Rodgers and the Packers 38-3, but Green Bay should feel pretty good about their home opener against the Detroit Lions on Monday night. The Pack come into this contest as 11-point favorites with a total set at 48.5. This will be the second straight season the Packers have their home opener against Detroit. Green Bay rolled 42-21 last year behind 168 yards rushing and two scores from Aaron Jones. He also caught a TD pass from Rodgers, who threw for 240 yards. It was the most points the Packers had scored at home in the series since 2011.
The Lions were down 24 to San Francisco in the fourth quarter last Sunday, then scored 16 points and got the ball back to make things interesting and ended up covering the closing number of 9.5 points. The 49ers gashed Detroit’s defense, averaging 8.0 yards per play. San Francisco also returned a Jared Goff interception for a touchdown and sacked him three times. Including a 1994 playoff victory, the Packers are 27-3 against the Lions in the state of Wisconsin since 1992, but Detroit is 7-1 against the spread in the past eight meetings.
The Lions were getting blown out of the building last week but showed some heart in head coach Dan Campbell’s debut. If you bet the Lions +8.5 vs. the 49ers, you got a shocking late reward as Detroit was down 41-17 with less than two minutes left but managed to cover the spread in a 41-33 loss. Despite Goff’s mistakes, he threw for 338 yards and three scores. TJ Hockenson caught eight passes for 97 yards and a TD and seems to be Goff’s favorite target early on. Running backs Jamaal Williams and D’Andre Swift combined for 93 yards on 20 carries and caught eight passes apiece. Top offensive lineman Taylor Decker missed last week with a finger injury and won’t play Monday. Cornerback Jeff Okudah, the No. 3 overall pick n the 2020 draft, suffered a season-ending injury. Wide receiver Tyrell Williams and defensive end Kevin Strong are in the league’s concussion protocol.
Green Bay was a 4-point favorite on Sunday against the Saints in a game moved from New Orleans to Jacksonville, Fla., due to damage from Hurricane Ida. Rodgers played one of the worst games of his career in completing 15-of-28 for 133 yards and two scores. It was just the third time the Packers scored three or fewer points in one of Rodgers’ starts and his third career game with no touchdown passes and multiple interceptions. The offensive line didn’t help the running backs, who were held to 43 yards on 15 carries. The defense gave up five Jameis Winston touchdown passes as well. Against the Lions, Rodgers has thrown 21 touchdowns with just four interceptions in 11 home games against them. The Packers have also won their last eight home openers. Offensive guard Lucas Patrick and tight end Josiah Deguara are under concussion protocol. Linebacker Za’Darius Smith (back) also missed Thursday’s practice.
I really don’t want any part of this game. I think we all know that the Packers will probably rebound against this Lions team, but Detroit always seems to play the Packers tough. They have covered seven of the last eight. I’ll put a small play on Detroit.
Pick: Lions +11
Week 2 Staff Selections
