The Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions will be the first of three nationally televised games Thanksgiving Day.
This one could be the biggest of the day and perhaps the biggest of the year for the Packers.
A win gives them a commanding lead over the Lions in terms of tiebreaker scenarios should they need that in the NFC playoff picture.
The Lions are a proud team under Dan Campbell and looking to repeat as NFC North champions but will unlikely be able to do that with another loss to Green Bay.
More on that and other things in our weekly six pack.
1. An Encore?
Yes, Micah Parsons was on the field for the team’s first game against the Detroit Lions, but he was not fully unleashed. It was his first game of the season, and he did not practice much during his time in training camp with the Dallas Cowboys. As a result, he was on a snap count for his debut. He still had a memorable sack in the first game of the year.
What does he have for an encore in his first Thanksgiving Day game for the Packers?
Parsons is used to playing on Thanksgiving as a member of the Dallas Cowboys, but it has been rare that Dallas was playing in a game with as high of stakes as what the Packers will have in Thursday’s game.
The Lions likely won’t be surprised this time around and will potentially have a better plan to keep Parsons blocked.
2. Rashan’s Return?
Ford Field has a lot of memories in it for Rashan Gary. First of all, while he never played in the stadium, his college football was played in the state of Michigan as a member of Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverines.
His 2022 season was where adversity struck in his career as Gary tore his ACL in the midst of a 15-9 loss to the Lions.
Gary would attack his rehab and return 10 months later for Jordan Love’s start as the team’s preferred starting quarterback.
The 2023 season also saw Gary have one of the biggest games of his career where he sacked Jared Goff three times and forced a fumble that was returned for a touchdown.
3. Divisional Foes
The Packers first goal coming into the season was to take back the NFC North, a division they have not won since 2021.
That’s a long time in Green Bay.
Through two division games this year the Packers are 2-0 with a big win over these same Lions to start the season. With four of their next six games against the NFC North, those are the games that will likely decide the fate of the season.
4. Banged-up Secondary
The Packers’ secondary is paper thin with Nate Hobbs having been shelved for the last three games. Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine have both been healthy all season, but the Packers are one rolled ankle from exposing depth that is nonexistent in the cornerback room.
On the Lions’ side of things, they’ve been banged up. Terrion Arnold and DJ Reed are two players the team was counting on to play big roles for them, and they’ve been in and out of the lineup.
Reed will likely miss Thursday’s game, while Arnold is a question mark as well.
5. WR1?
Matt LaFleur has said the discussions surrounding a number one wide receiver makes him want to throw up, but one receiver is starting to emerge at the top of the depth chart.
When Christian Watson returned to the lineup, Romeo Doubs went into a bit of a slump, and in that time frame, Watson has taken off.
He had four catches for 84 yards in his season debut in Pittsburgh. He had a big game against the New York Giants scoring two touchdowns.
One of the best games of Watson’s career came on Thanksgiving at Ford Field where he caught a bomb from Jordan Love on the first play from scrimmage.
Might he be in line for another big game here?
6. Cooper Hunting?
Edgerrin Cooper shares a picture of Halloween’s Michael Myers on his Instagram page before almost every game since he became a Packer.
The last time he played the Lions, Cooper was on the hunt. He was one of the best players on the field and a big reason the Packers were able to keep Jahmyr Gibbs to 50 yards on 19 touches.
Cooper has not had the ascension in to stardom that was expected when he came into training camp this year. Jeff Hafley insists that the best is yet to come with Cooper.
Thursday’s game would be a good spot for him to have a big time performance.
