AFC North Takes center Stage – Steelers Host Bengals on Sunday Night
It’s hard to believe that half way through December and the Steelers are out of the playoff race! But there are still three games remaining for Pittsburgh and one of them comes our way Sunday night against heated, hated rivals Cincinnati who are poised to make the playoffs for the third straight year and look like a lock to win the always-competitive AFC North.
Disappointment Bowl – Giants Host Skins in Battle of the NFC East Basement
The NFL schedule makers must have been drooling at the prospect of a prime-time Sunday Night matchup between the Skins and the Giants but things haven’t gone as expected – only pride will be on the line Sunday – not control of the NFC East.
AFC Heavyweight Battle – Broncos Head to Foxborough to Take On Patriots
One of the best quarterback rivalries in the history of the NFL writes another chapter on Sunday night when the Peyton Manning-led Denver Broncos head to New England to take on the Tom Brady-led New England Patriots.
AFC West Heavyweight Showdown – Unbeaten Chiefs Tacks One-Loss Broncos Sunday Night
The marquee matchup in a busy NFL schedule takes place in Denver Sunday night when the still undefeated KC Chiefs take on the Broncos to AFC West supremacy.
Offensive Take Center Stage Sunday Night – Cowboys Visit Saints
In what is sure to be the shootout of the Week 10 schedule, the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints clash at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. Both teams currently sit in first place in their respective divisions but have teams breathing down their necks.
Colts Visit Texans in Key AFC South Battle
Two teams coming off their much needed byes meet in Houston Sunday when the Colts who have taken a stranglehold on their division meet the Texans who were supposed to challenge for the AFC South but have absolutely fallen flat.
Peyton Returns to the House He Built
If you have been living under a rock – welcome back to civilization. This week Peyton Manning guides his Denver Broncos into Indianapolis to take on a Colts team that he returned to prominence in what is the marquee game on the NFL Week 7 calendar.
49ers Visit Seahawks For Early control of NFL West
Two of the most hyped teams in the NFL meet on Sunday Night Football when the San Francisco 49ers head to the Pacific Northwest to take on the Seattle Seahawks – a team that has not lost at home since December 2011.
Giants and Cowboys Kick Off Their Seasons Sunday Night
Another year brings another expectation in the states of New York and Texas that the Giants and the Cowboys will emerge at the end of the season with the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
The New York Giants will look to erase their bad start against the Dallas Cowboys in 2012, as they open the 2013 NFL football season on the road in the NFL’s first Sunday night game.
Headline: NFC East Title on the Line – Cowboys Visit Redskins for Division Championship
It doesn’t get much better than this! The NFC East Championship is on the line in the last weekend of the Regular Season with the Cowboys, the Redskins and the Giants all still alive in the murky playoff picture. The marquee matchup of the weekend – the Cowboys versus the Redskins with the winner guaranteeing themselves a spot in the postseason.
Headline: NFC West Slug-fest – Seahawks Host 49ers in Battle of Best of the West
The San Francisco 49ers will attempt to finally put an end to the NFC West race when they head to Seattle Sunday to take on the only team that can catch them in the division standings. The 49ers have looked tremendous since Colin Kaepernick took over the reins while the Hawks have established themselves as a true contender in the NFC – as complete a team as there is in NFL.
A couple of real Super Bowl contenders square off in this late season inter-conference showdown. The Pats are red hot and San Fran will look to slow them down with one of the league’s best defenses.
Headline: Lions Relegated to Spoiler Role in NFC North – Lions and Packers at Lambeau Week 14
Many of us had December 9 circled on our calendars as an NFC North matchup that could determine the state of the division. Instead, we will see a matchup a chronically underachieving Detroit squad against a Green Bay team that has shaken the early season doldrums and has looked every bit the Super Bowl challenger that we envisioned before the season started. Sunday’s game has major implications – unfortunately for Detroit, none of the implications involve them!
Detroit Lions (4-8) vs. Green Bay Packers (8-4)
Date/Time: Sunday, December 9, 8:20 PM ET
Venue: Lambeau Field
Broadcast: NBC
Lions vs. Packers Betting Lines from betonline.com
Spread: Packers -6 1/2 (-110)
Moneyline: OFF
Over/Under: 52 points
ATS Matchup Stats | Gambling Insight!
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Before the season started nobody would have predicted that the Detroit Lions would be battling for yet another Top 10 pick in the 2013 draft but that is just where we are 12 games into the season. The good news for Detroit is that Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson are on the verge of rewriting the record books again. The bad news is that no matter what they do their running game and defense will more than likely fail their end of the bargain.
Detroit leads the NFL in passing through 13 weeks with an average of 312.50 yards per game and they are 21st in rushing. Matthew Stafford has thrown for 3429 yards and 14 touchdowns. Calvin Johnson is living up to his Megatron name with 1257 yards so far this season; however, he has only tallied four touchdowns.
Johnson has 790 yards receiving in the last five games and he did have five catches for 143 yards in the first meeting between the two teams. The Lions can score points as well – they are 11th in the NFL with an average of 25.00 points per game.
The Lions will absolutely need more from their running game this week – Adrian Peterson showed last week that the Packers can be run on. Do I trust Mikel Leshoure? Nope!
Detroit’s defense has been a problem all season long. Despite some serious talent on the O-line, this team is prone to big plays and their games often result in shootouts because of it. The Lions are 18th against the pass and 19th versus the run. They give up 26.25 points per game – good for an ugly 25th in the NFL. This unit has given up an average of 31.75 points per game during the Lions four game losing streak as well.
The Green Bay Packers have emerged from their 2-3 start but have gone 6-1 since. Have they looked unstoppable in their wins? Not exactly. Are they getting it done in a host of different ways? Absolutely.
Injuries have been a big part of the 2012 season thus far for Green Bay and by the looks of it, there will be some starters on both sides of the ball absent again this week. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Green Bay is surprisingly 11th in the NFL in passing thanks to fill-ins Randall Cobb and James Jones. Greg Jennings is back healthy but now Jordy Nelson is in danger of missing a week or two. Fear not Packers fans – Aaron Rodgers can make anyone look like an All-Pro. The question surrounding this offense is the O-line that has been shaky to say the least this year. Keeping Rodgers healthy and upright is paramount for this team – the line will be tested for sure against Detroit’s pass rush.
The Green Bay defense has also been playing without some quality starters – Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson are in danger of missing this week as well. Still, the Packers defense is 17th against the pass, 15th versus the run and they are 13 in points against – 21.58 per game.
Betting Prediction:
• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Detroit’s last 6 games
• The total has gone OVER in 13 of Detroit’s last 16 games on the road
• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit’s last 5 games when playing on the road against Green Bay
• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Detroit’s last 7 games when playing Green Bay
• Green Bay is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
• Green Bay is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Detroit
• Green Bay is 13-1 SU in its last 14 games when playing Detroit
• Green Bay is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
Late game meltdowns have become a pattern for the Detroit Lions as of late – I see the same thing happening here. The Lions defense has been BAD the last month and Aaron Rodgers has been very good. Rodgers also has a good history against Detroit – in his last two games Rogers has a 70% completion percentage and seven touchdowns versus Detroit. The Lions will put up a fight but when it comes down to the end, Green Bay, on home field, in December against a struggling team won’t be denied.
Pick: Green Bay Packers -6 1/2
Headline: Battered Steelers Host Rival Ravens for AFC North Supremacy
One of the more anticipated Week 11 matchups has been significantly watered down with the news that Ben Roethlisberger is highly doubtful to play after sustaining a separated shoulder on Monday night.
Headline: Top Defenses Clash in Battle of 7-1 Teams – Texans Visit Bears Sunday Night
In what is the most anticipated game on the Week 10 schedule the Houston Texans head to Soldier Field to take on the Bears with second place in the NFL on the line. Both teams have been very impressive on both sides of the ball thus far and both will be looking to prove why they are serious contenders for the Super Bowl during their nationally televised showdown.
