DETROIT, MI — The annual Thanksgiving game has arrived, with the Detroit Lions (8-2) hosting the Green Bay Packers (4-6) in the day’s first game from Ford Field.
In this post, we’ll answer three burning questions ahead of kickoff.
Can Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams keep the team on track?
Over the last two games, Jameson Williams has appeared more at ease and capable. And there are numerous reasons to believe that the positive momentum will continue throughout the season. Production is still not where it should be. But Williams hasn’t dropped a pass in two games in a row (the first time in his young career), and he’s earned more trust.
The Lions were fighting for their lives in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, trailing by 12 points. And when they needed a big play, they used his speed to beat everyone to the pylon in the back of the end zone. Williams finished the game on time.
At this level, his speed is nearly unrivaled, and it’s frightening to imagine Ben Johnson’s offense with a more involved and cleaner Jameson Williams on the other side of Amon-Ra St. Brown.
“Yeah, for him, the last couple of weeks have been so good,” Lions quarterback Jared Goff said. “He’s done so well in practice.” We now have faith in him. We have a lot of faith in him, and I have faith in him to make that throw in that situation.
“He’s doing a great job blocking, completing all of his assignments correctly, and he’s doing a really, really good job, and it’s starting to pay off for us.” As he continues to develop, the level to which our offense could potentially progress is quite exciting.”
What does Green Bay’s offense look like now that Aaron Jones is likely out with a knee injury?
With Jones in and out of the lineup in 2023, A.J. Dillon has struggled this season, averaging a career-low 3.5 yards per carry. Even on their worst days, the Lions have been tough against opposing running backs. They are sixth in the league, allowing only 3.6 yards per attempt, and are in the top five, allowing only 895 yards rushing through 10 games.
And, with Packers quarterback Jordan Love looking better and more at ease, the Packers are likely to rely on the passing attack and those play-action looks. Through three games, Love is ranked eighth among quarterbacks by Pro Football Focus. In the same time period, he is eight spots ahead of Lions quarterback Jared Goff.
And a trio of young receivers, Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and Romeo Doubs, are bolstering his performance in the NFC North.
“I just think he’s connecting on some of these throws, man,” said Dan Campbell. “I really think he’s always been pretty poised.” Some of these connections have not been made; they have not been able to connect at critical times. He appears to be making those.
“He appears to be calm. He’s definitely athletic. He has a strong arm.”
How close could the Lions be to winning their first division title since 1993 if they win on Thanksgiving?
The Minnesota Vikings’ Sunday Night Football loss puts an early division title within reach. They are the only other team in the higher division.500 is 6-5, 2.5 games behind the Lions, with two meetings scheduled between the two teams over the next three weeks.
But let us not lose sight of how unique that is in these parts. The Lions haven’t won their division since 1993, when it was still the NFC Central, and the current four teams included the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
A win over the Packers would effectively end their long-shot wild-card hopes. The Vikings play the Bears, and while a win keeps them in the picture, a win for the Lions would do a lot to close that window.
With seven games remaining in the regular season, the Lions have a 94% chance of winning the NFC North. As things stand, only the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs have a better chance of winning their division.
If they beat the Packers and the Vikings beat the Bears, those odds remain unchanged. What happens if they win and the Vikings lose? The odds of winning the North have increased to 98%. Even if the Lions lose again on Thanksgiving and the Vikings win again, those odds drop to 86%, according to the New York Times.
