Thursday Night Football Picks for Packers vs. Lions, NFL DFS
This week’s Thursday Night Football showdown is between the top two teams in the NFC North: the Packers and Lions. This game is one of the most anticipated games in Week 14, as the NFC-leading Lions will be put to test against their division rivals.
We've compiled the best Thursday Night Football picks and player projections on PrizePicks for this exciting divisional Packers vs. Lions matchup.
Whether you're backing a running back to go more than his rushing yards projection or a quarterback to throw multiple touchdowns, tonight's primetime showdown is filled with plenty of opportunities.
Don’t forget to head to the PrizePicks NFL board, lock in your picks, and submit your lineup to get in on the real money NFL action.
Thursday Night Football Picks for Packers vs. Lions
Here are the top picks for Thursday Night Football tonight, Packers vs. Lions, including a TD scorer prediction.
- Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs 67.5 Rush Yards — More
- Packers RB Josh Jacobs 73.5 Rush Yards — More
- Lions TE Sam LaPorta 36.5 Rec Yards — More
- Lions WR Amon-Ra St Brown 79.5 Rec Yards — More (Demon)
Thursday Night Football: Packers vs. Lions Preview
With the Packers standing at 9-3 and the Lions at 11-1 entering Week 14, this matchup is poised to be pivotal for the NFC North divisional race.
The Green Bay Packers have a weak pass defense, allowing over 235 passing yards per game, ranking 21st in the NFL, as well as permitting an average of 21 completions per game. The Packers will be without CBs Jaire Alexander and Corey Ballentine in this game, which makes them even more vulnerable.
The Lions will look to exploit this weakness with players like TE Sam LaPorta, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, and RB Jahmyr Gibbs out of the backfield, all of whom could have game-breaking performances.
On the other side, the Detroit Lions also suffer from defensive shortcomings, allowing 240 passing yards per game (25th in the NFL) and an average of 22 completions, ranking 22nd in the league. Players such as Packers WRs Jayden Reed and Christian Watson could benefit the most from this vulnerability in the Lions' defense.
Let's break down who has the best matchups for Thursday Night Football tonight!
Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs 67.5 Rush Yards — More
The Lions offensive line is one of the best in the NFL. Leading the unit is center Frank Ragnow, who ranks second among 39 centers in the league. Right guard Kevin Zeitler ranks second out of 73 guards, and right tackle Penei Sewell ranks fourth out of 76 tackles.
The beneficiary of this outstanding offensive line has been RB Jahmyr Gibbs, who averages 6 yards per carry this season — second in the NFL— and is fourth in rushing yards with 973.
The Packers defensive line is one of the weaker units in the league. DT T.J. Slaton ranks 101st out of 116 interior defensive linemen, and longtime veteran Kenny Clark is having one of his worst seasons since entering the NFL in 2016, ranking 82nd out of 116.
This will provide ample opportunities for Gibbs to exceed his projected rushing yards in primetime as well as being a strong candidate for a touchdown scorer, which is a goblin projection. Gibbs has gone more than this rushing yards projection in nine of his last 11 games.
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Packers RB Josh Jacobs 73.5 Rush Yards — More
With the Packers facing an injured-plagued Lions defensive front, this should open things up in the front seven for their workhorse RB Josh Jacobs.
Lions LB David Long Jr. ranks dead last in run stopping amongst linebackers in the NFL ranking 82nd out of 83 and will fill the gaps left by injured Lions. Also filling in tonight will be 2018 draft pick Ezekiel Turner who has little to no experience in the NFL. This is due to Derek Barnes, Alex Anzalone, and Malcolm Rodriguez all being on injured reserve at the linebacker position for the Lions.
To make matters worse, starting defensive linemen DJ Reader and Josh Paschal are also out on a line that is already down Aidan Hutchinson for the season.
Jacobs has gone more than this rushing yards number in five of his last six games, including his last matchup with the Packers, where he rushed 13 times for 95 yards.
Lions TE Sam LaPorta 36.5 Receiving Yards — More
The Packers linebackers unit, led by Quay Walker, has not lived up to expectations. Walker ranks 60th out of 83 linebackers via PFF, while Isaiah McDuffie, a former sixth-round pick, ranks 66th out of 83, and was limited in practice this week with an ankle injury. Not only have they struggled overall, but Walker ranks even worse in coverage — 64th out of 79 linebackers — while McDuffie ranks 67th out of 70 in coverage.
This is significant because Lions TE Sam LaPorta has been tremendous this season, ranking in the top five for receiving touchdowns with five and among the top 20 in receptions among tight ends. He poses a serious threat to this weak Green Bay linebacker unit.
While LaPorta has gone less than this number in the last two games with WR Jameson Williams back from suspension, he is still involved in the offense, with six targets in each of those games and two touchdowns last week.
Lions WR Amon-Ra St Brown 79.5 Rec Yards — More (Demon)
Packers nickel corner Javon Bullard, the rookie second-round pick out of Georgia, has struggled since entering the NFL, ranking 80th out of 91 safeties in coverage this season. When targeted, Bullard is allowing a passer rating over 100 with nearly 11 yards per reception and has surprisingly allowed the ninth-most receptions in the NFL at 34.
He is slated to match up against slot receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, who has been exceptional for the Lions. St. Brown ranks in the top five in receiving touchdowns (5), receptions (76), and top ten in receiving yards (820). When targeted, he boasts a passer rating of nearly 133 and averages close to 11 yards per reception.
With Packers missing key secondary pieces, they could be exposed by this explosive passing offense of the Lions, and St. Brown is right in the center of it.
Note: Demon picks add a payout boost to your lineup on PrizePicks, as they are more difficult projections to hit.
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