NFL Football
2025-11-27 - Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : NFL Week 13
Thursday 27th November 2025 - Scheduled 1pm
6pm (British Time)
Preview
All three games on Thanksgiving Day look hugely important, but the first of those looks the one with most on the line for both teams.
The Detroit Lions (7-4) are hosting as usual and they are playing Divisional rivals Green Bay Packers (7-3-1) who would be edging them out for a Playoff spot if the regular season was to end today. Both are trailing the surprising Chicago Bears in the NFC North, while the Detroit Lions are just 1-2 in the Division this season and have already suffered a defeat to the Green Bay Packers, who are 2-0 against NFC North rivals.
Both teams were able to pick up a win in Week 12, but the Lions had to dig much deeper than the Packers with an Overtime win over the struggling New York Giants. Green Bay were more comfortable in beating the Minnesota Vikings, but those games are now in the rearview mirror and both the Lions and Packers are completely focused on a big Thanksgiving Day game.
For the home team, the Line of Scrimmage is going to determine so much about the direction this game will end up travelling.
Detroit have to find a way to establish the run in this game against a Green Bay Defensive Line that have continued to be stout up front and who will be looking to put Jared Goff behind the chains. All season the Packers have been able to clamp down on the run, including in the Week 1 success against the Lions when they limited Detroit to just 46 yards on the ground.
Being able to do the same IN Detroit is the challenge, especially after recent games in which the Lions have been able to get things going on the ground in front of the home supporters and when not dealing with outdoor conditions. However, the Packers will take encouragement from the success that Philadelphia had against the Lions as they look to force Detroit to try and beat them from third and long spots.
This is far from an easy test for the Lions Offensive Line, who have perhaps not been as confident when facing some of the tougher teams on the schedule. It will feel like a 'prove it' moment for a team chasing a Super Bowl, while also being important to help Jared Goff at Quarter Back considering some of the struggles he has when the pocket begins to collapse around him.
Green Bay will bring the pass rush when they have the Lions in obvious passing situations and they have a Secondary that have been producing at a high level for the majority of the season. In recent games it has really been a tough team to throw against with any consistency and so it is imperative for the Lions to find a way to keep the team in third and manageable spots in order to sustain drives.
It is a game that will be a challenge for the Detroit Offensive unit, but the same can be said for the Packers when they have the ball.
Josh Jacobs is expected to miss out again, but it would have been a tough game for him and it will be a tough game for Emanuel Wilson in relief as the Packers try and establish the run against a Lions Defensive Line that have played that very well in recent games. Much like the Packers on the other side of the ball, Detroit are going to want to see if Jordan Love can beat them from third and long situations and see if he can do that over and over again when facing a Secondary that have plugged in players as injuries have piled up.
It has not stopped the Lions from being effective and they will note that Jordan Love has not been the same at Quarter Back as he continues to deal with a shoulder issue on the non-throwing side.
Jordan Love will feel he can make some plays against this Secondary, but that becomes tougher from third and long situations and Green Bay's recent passing numbers have been tough to read.
Everything is pointing to a competitive game between these two rivals and in front of a national audience.
Both teams will have some issues running the ball, which is going to put pressure on the two Quarter Backs.
The narrowest of edges has to be with the Lions who should find running the ball a bit more comfortable inside of their own Stadium- they are also playing the Packers with revenge and the Lions are 10-2 against the spread against Divisional opponents in that spot.
They have struggled as a small favourite/small underdog this season, which is a concern when laying the points with Detroit, but the Green Bay Packers are 1-4 against the spread on the road.
Green Bay are in an unfamiliar spot of being given points this season, but it should be noted that they have not covered in the last eight Divisional games when given points and having just cleared the spread by double digits, as the Packers did in the Week 12 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.
Most will expect this game to come down to the wire, but the Lions look capable of being the one left standing at the end of this opening Thanksgiving Day game.
Prediction
Lay the points with the home favourite in the opening Thanksgiving Day game.
The Pick :
Detroit Lions 24-20 Green Bay Packers
