Lions vs Packers Prediction: Goff to fire Detroit to top of NFC North

Week 4 of the NFL kicks off in the early hours on Friday morning, where the Green Bay Packers host the Detroit Lions in an all-NFC North match-up. We’ve previewed this game and given you our suggested picks for the occasion.

Two sides line up with identical records heading into Week 4, as the 2-1 Packers (EVS) host the 2-1 Lions (5/6) at a balmy Lambeau Field on Thursday night. Betfred has this as a virtual pick-em match-up and have given the Pack a slim +1.5 lead on the spread.

Green Bay played their opening home game in Week 3, where they pulled off a miraculous comeback victory over the New Orleans Saints. The Black and Gold were 17 points up entering the 4th quarter, before a 18-point shutout sealed the win for the Packers.

Detroit had things a little more comfortable at Ford Field, with a 20-6 win over the Atlanta Falcons, including a rare rushing touch down for quarterback Jared Goff.

One of these sides will be going 3-1 here and looking firmly at the play-offs whilst another will be .500 and licking their wounds ahead of Week 5.

Team news: 

Green Bay had three starters not participating in practice on Monday in left tackle David Bakhtiari, left guard Elgton Jenkins and linebacker De’Vondre Campbell.

Matt LaFleur will be hugely encouraged by the participation of star running back Aaron Jones as well as a limited practice by receiver Christian Watson.

Detroit are without full back Jason Cabinda, who is struggling with a knee injury and looks very doubtful for Thursday night. Right guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai (knee) was a non participant in practice and will likely be replaced by Graham Glasgow.

Dan Campbell was encouraged by the recovery of left tackle Taylor Decker and running back David Montgomery, who are trending in a positive direction.

Detroit Lions to win – 5/6

How the tables have turned in the NFC North; It’s not that long ago that the Aaron Rodgers led Packers were the goliath in this division and the Lions were the whipping boys.

Now both sides enter week 4 on identical records and Dan Campbell has a real thing going in Detroit, while Green Bay struggle to get used to life with new QB Jordan Love in the hot seat.

Doubts remain about both of these quarter backs, with both men throwing interceptions in week 3 and Love struggling to get his offense ticking.

The one area where the Lions have really struggled in recent years is in defense but that was arguably their strongest suit against the Falcons.

I expect this one to be a really fun watch and a tightly contested battle but I just feel like the experience of Goff will get Detroit that much needed win to top the division.

Jared Goff +249.5 passing yards and +1.5 TD’s – 7/4

Goff looked like a stud when he was picked as first draft by the LA Rams in 2016 and led the franchise to their first play-offs for 13 years and then a year later to Super Bowl LIII, their first appearance in the final since 2001.

However, after that painful loss, the QB struggled for the next two seasons and was eventually traded for Matthew Stafford to the Lions.

2022 was tough opener for the 28-year-old as Detroit struggled to 3-10-1 but last season things started to finally click into place, with the Lions registering a 9-8 record, for their first winning season since 2017.

Goff has thrown for a combined 819 yards in the opening three weeks which averages comfortably over this line of 249.5. Goff also has five passing touch downs to date so this bet looks to have a decent chance.