Posted on: November 22, 2023, 11:38h.
Last updated on: November 22, 2023, 11:38h.
When the Green Bay Packers visit the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, running back Aaron Jones will most likely sit out due to a knee injury.
Jones sustained a left knee injury against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. He feared an ACL tear, but an MRI revealed it was only an MCL sprain. Head coach Matt LaFleur indicated that Jones will not spend a stint on the IR, but he is unlikely to play on Thursday.
Very relieved that it’s not anything long term,” said LaFleur. “We’ll just kind of work through that.”
A banged-up Jones missed multiple games earlier in the season with a hamstring injury. He appeared in only seven games this season, and rushed for 245 yards on 66 carries with two touchdowns. He also added 19 catches and one touchdown reception.
The depleted Packers will most likely start AJ Dillon at running back on Thursday. Rooke backup Emanuel Wilson has a separated shoulder, and he’s listed as questionable. The Packers recently promoted Patrick Taylor from the practice squad.
Dillon leads the Packers in rushing this season with 405 yards on 117 carries, but he scored only one touchdown.
Packers and Lions in Turkey Day Divisional Joust
The Lions host a Thanksgiving game which has become a holiday tradition since its inception in 1934. This year’s Turkey Day has three games with the Lions and Packers kicking off the festivities. The games part of traditions and attracts punters wishing to wager.
The Lions are -7.5 favorites against the Packers. They have one of the best betting records in the NFL this season with a 7-3 record against the point spread (ATS). The betting odds heavily favor the Lions as the favorites.
The Packers are 5-5 ATS. They started the season with a 3-0 ATS record, but have since gone 1-5 ATS in their last six games. The Packers are considered underdogs in this matchup.
The Packers fell behind 27-3 at halftime, and they abandoned the running game in the second half. The Packers rushed for 27 yards and Jones led the team with 18 yards on only five carries. The way packers abandoned the running game left them a low point in their performance which resulted in the loss.
Offensively as a whole we’ve just got to start faster,” said quarterback Jordan Love. “We don’t start fast and we kind of get behind and it’s hard running the ball. We get put in situations where you’ve got to throw the ball. We’ve just got to start faster.”
In the rematch, the Packers will need to pay special attention to points and make strategic decisions to ensure they turn the tables on the Lions.
Packers Still Eye Wild Card
The Packers (4-6) occupy third place in the NFC North, behind the first place Lions (8-2) and second place Minnesota Vikings (6-5). Current ranking of the NFL teams can be an indicator of how valuable the teams is when betting and Packers hold a secured position so far considering the performance in recent years.
According to a playoff projection from Upshot, the Packers have a 25% chance to qualify for the postseason. This projection can easily change as intrests continuously swing during game play hence it’s important to keep track of the games when betting.
The Packers can vastly improve their postseason chances with an upset victory against the Lions on Thanksgiving. With strong performances the Packers can heavily affect the odds.
The Packers are a long shot to win the NFC North at +2000 odds. The Lions are a huge divisional favorite at -1100. The strong odds of Lions is something the Packers need to overcome to ensure a strong performance and hence betting performance.
The Packers are +290 odds to make the playoffs, and -380 odds to miss the postseason. This marks an important turn in the season and a change in odds can easily affect the betting predictions.
The Packers are near the bottom of the NFL futures board at +20000 odds to win the Super Bowl. This is an important piece to note when predicting performance as it can help in determining next moves in wagering.