Week 7 Staff Predictions – Packers at Lions
The Lions had a bye in Week 6, but there is still some revelry going on for the absolutely dominating win in the dessert against the Cardinals in Week 5. The offense looked great, and the defense started to look...dare I say...competent? With the return of Brian Branch this week and better CB play due to getting back to more man-t-man sets, the defense will need another strong game against a Packers team that lives to draw flags and throw it deep and may get its running game going with the return of Jacobs form the Commish exempt list.
This is a very similar matchup on paper to the Jets game, with a Top 12 Defense against the Lions Top 3 offense. The Packers are running thin on the DL and at LB, but they have some great safeties and disruption off the edge with their edge rushers. The Lions are fully healthy on offense and get Cade Mays back, so the expectation is that there will be a lot of running and play action against Gannon's defense to basically out-score the Packers. Jordan Love will be throwing it deep plenty and often, as the Packers have drawn some of the most downfield penalties in the NFL and will test the Lions LBs, Safeties and CBs.
As mentioned in Week 5, the officiating can be a significant wildcard, as the crew is led by Alex Moore, who is in year two of being a Referee and his crew is no 2 in the league in penalties thrown er game, Conversely, the Packers are one of the most penalized teams in the league, and the Lions are at home, so should be an advantage to Detroit. Personally, I expect a lot of offense in this one with the game possibly turning on a big play by the defense or special teams.
Back in Week 5, the entire Grey Manes staff picked the Lions over the Cardinals and the race tightened up even more. Out of that game came a new leader, as Dan has the tiebreaker currently nailing how many points scored the Lions had so far in 2026, with Brent matching his record and off by a single point, while Mickey (4) and Chris (15) are within striking distance due to the tiebreaker. Mike is still looking for a break to get back in it, but if he does his pts for the tiebreaker are only off by 10.
All of us felt this was a game the Lions would win, and our picks this week reflect that, although the defense improvements against seen against the Cardinals aren't fully convincing to everyone yet. Everyone picked the Lions, and we all have them scoring between 30-28 pts on offense and giving up 23-35 on defense, so a close game looks on tap.
Mickey
The Lions are on track to allow over 5000 yards through the air. The opponents have a 106.3 passer rating. Joe Burrow has a passer rating of 104.4, Patrick Mahomes is 103.1 and Josh Allen is 102.1. So, pretty much every chump that plays against the Lions comes out better than any of those guys. That’s scary. The Packer D woke up last week against the Cowboys and currently leads the NFL in interceptions and is 3rd in lowest percentage of drives ending in a score. But, they haven’t played an offense like the Lions. In those same stats – Detroit has yet to throw an interception. Due to Goff staying pick-free, the Lions offense has the lowest percentage of drives ending in a turnover. Detroit’s offense is second in the league in drives ending in a score, scoring on over 50% of our possessions (52.8 to be exact). The Packer front 7 is banged up and I expect Jahmyr Gibbs to have a big game and Goff to then rely on the play-action passes to carve up the Packers.
Detroit 30, Green Bay 24
Dan
Do you like barn burners? What about games where your nerves and heart get traumatized due to back and forth scoring and lead changes? Then there is a good chane this Lions and Packers game will be for you. So many storylines, with the Packers injuries mounting to key players, return of Packers Josh Jacobs and Brian Branch and Case Mays for Detroit, a neophyte officiating crew that is super pass happy and an undisciplined Packers team that is 2nd to last in the NFL in penalties. Expect a shootout, with TEs and WRs running free all over the field with plenty of scoring and the occasional defensive stop, and a game that could very well be decided by a single defensive or specials teams play.
Lions 31, Packers 28
Brent
The Lions head into the Green Bay game with positive momentum. The Packers are equally hot beating the Bears like a drum forcing Johnson to eat crow at mid-filed post game. Then, the Packers soundly beat the Cowboys. The Packers come into Motown having won three in a row. The Lions, coming off a bye week and wearing their black uniforms, look to start the division games with a home win. The Lions are 6-2 in the last eight against the Green team and MCDC is 2-2-1 in the last five games after a bye. In the end, this boils down to two key points, the Lions ability to stop the pack with their porous defense, and the Lions offense to be prepared to outscore the Packers. If the Lions do what they can do offensively, this is a win. Brian Branch being back, gives me more confidence in the Lions ability to periodically stop Green Bay.
Lions 38, Green Bay 35
Mike
The Lions are coming off of a bye week which will bring 2 different starters to the team one we are very familiar with and the other not so much. Brian Branch makes his return to the playing field this Sunday hoping to help an ailing defense find some level ground. Cade Mays is making his Lions regular season debut in a much different scenario. The Lions O-Line has been ranked and performed highly most of the young season and have been as high as the #1 Oline in the NFL AND Juice Scruggs has been rated as the #1 Center in the NFL according to various sources. So why not replace Scruggs with a guy who hasn't played a regular season snap? I mean what could go wrong? All of that said this is going to be another shoot out for the Lions.
Lions 31, Packers 30
Chris
Dan Campbell's Lions are 2-2-1 coming out of a bye since 2021 and 2-1 over the last three seasons. A healthier Detroit has used the extra week well, while Green Bay is on a short turnaround after a Sunday night game. The matchup tilts Detroit's way. Even though Josh Jacobs will get some carries, the Packers are averaging 2.9 yards per carry, so Jordan Love will have to throw into a Lions pass rush with an already NFL best 20 sacks in only 5 games. It'll be a touchdown win with a few nervous moments, as Lions wins tend to be.
Lions 30, Packers 23
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