For a moment on
Sunday
Cheap Isaac
Nauta Jersey , it looked like no one wanted the top pick in the 2020 NFL
Draft, since all the teams at the top of the order were winning.But we have come
to count on the Giants.If the season ended today, the Bengals (1-11) would still
hold the top spot in next year¡¯s selection order. Also, a lot of people would be
saying: ¡°Why did the NFL season end the Tuesday after Week 13?¡±But the Giants
are more secure in the second spot, after wins by Washington (3-9) and Miami
(3-9) kept those teams in the third and fourth slots. The Giants, meanwhile,
have lost eight in a row and seem intent on challenging the Bengals.The Falcons
(3-9) would pick fifth based on current standings, followed by the Lions
(3-8-1), Cardinals (3-8-1), Jaguars (4-8), Jets (4-8), and the Chargers (4-8),
who crept into the top 10 with a third straight loss.The Broncos fell from fifth
last week to the 11th spot, showing the volatility at the bottom, as the teams
at the top of the league separate themselves from the chaff pretty early this
year. Twice in the past three seasons, this was a de facto NFC North title
game.Now, the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers are already out of the playoff
race.So much for another big showdown in the regular-season finale.Packers
CoveragePackers sign CB Tremon Smith off practice squadRodgers¡¯ recent
near-perfect play leaves LaFleur ¡®speechless¡¯Packers Snap Counts: Darnell Savage
returns from ankle injuryUpon Further Review: Packers lean on running backs in
win over ChiefsPHOTOS: Packers at ChiefsRodgers, Jones lead Packers past Chiefs
31-24Packers¡¯ Davante Adams, Chiefs¡¯ Patrick Mahomes out in Kansas CityPhotos of
the Week: 10/20/19 ¨C 10/26/19Chiefs QB Mahomes ruled out vs. PackersPreview:
Chiefs not ruling Mahomes out ahead of Packers showdownFor both the Lions and
Packers
Isaac Nauta
Jersey Womens , the offseason begins the moment Sunday¡¯s game ends in
Detroit. Both teams showed promise at times in 2017, but an injury to Aaron
Rodgers derailed Green Bay, and the Lions stumbled down the stretch for a second
straight season. When these old rivals meet this weekend, there won¡¯t be much
left to play for.¡°Obviously this is new territory for us ¡ª at least for me and
the majority of guys on this team,¡± Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews said.
¡°For the first time, we¡¯re not playing for a postseason spot.¡±The Packers (7-8)
have fallen short of the playoffs for the first time since 2008, a year before
Matthews was drafted.Detroit (8-7) won¡¯t be in the postseason either, and the
big question now is whether the Lions will stick with coach Jim Caldwell for
another year. Detroit made the playoffs last season, but lost its final three
regular-season games and its postseason opener.This season, the Lions were in
decent shape at 6-4 before consecutive losses against Minnesota and Baltimore
left them playing catch-up.Detroit is now out of contention for a playoff spot
following a bad loss at Cincinnati last weekend.¡°It¡¯s different. I¡¯ve never been
in this situation before so I don¡¯t know how to feel,¡± said Lions receiver
Marvin Jones, who made the playoffs each of his four previous healthy seasons in
the NFL.Last season, the Packers and Lions both made the playoffs and Green Bay
won at Detroit in Week 17 to take the division title. The teams both made the
postseason in 2014 as well, and the Packers held off the Lions at Lambeau Field
in the regular-season finale to win the NFC North.There¡¯s nothing like that at
stake this week, but here are a few things to watch when Detroit hosts Green
Bay:PLAYING FOR PRIDEBoth teams appear to be treating this like a normal game.
Rodgers has been shut down for the season, but there¡¯s no indication this will
turn into a parade of backups.¡°It¡¯s important to play to win. To me, this isn¡¯t
the preseason,¡± Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. ¡°I think it would be the wrong
message to send to the locker room, and it¡¯s a terrible message to send to your
fans. People are electing to go to Ford Field to see the Green Bay Packers play
the Lions
Isaac Nauta
Detroit Lions Jersey , so we¡¯re going there to win. If our players are
healthy, I expect them to play and I expect them to play to win.¡±PASSING
STATSThe Lions have their share of problems, but the passing game isn¡¯t the main
reason they¡¯re missing the playoffs.Matthew Stafford has seven consecutive
seasons with at least 4,000 yards passing, and Jones has surpassed 1,000 yards
receiving for the first time in his career.¡°I did what I set out to do, but at
the same time, I play the game to help my team to make it as far as we can,¡±
Jones said. ¡°Everybody is disappointed and feels like we had a team to go to the
playoffs, but it didn¡¯t happen.¡±RARE OPPORTUNITYThe Lions haven¡¯t swept Green
Bay since the 1991 season, but they have a chance to accomplish that after
beating the Packers on the road 30-17 in early November.INJURY ISSUESGreen Bay
has been hurt by injuries to its receiving group. Davante Adams (concussion)
didn¡¯t play in last weekend¡¯s loss to Minnesota, and Jordy Nelson went down with
a shoulder injury in that game.Matthews (hamstring) also missed that
game.Detroit has had to deal with injuries on its offensive line: Travis Swanson
(concussion), T.J. Lang (foot) and Rick Wagner (ankle) were inactive against
Cincinnati.UPS AND DOWNSBrett Hundley, who has been Green Bay¡¯s replacement for
the injured Rodgers, went 17 of 40 and threw two interceptions against
Minnesota. That was a step back after he¡¯d thrown six touchdown passes with only
one interception over his previous three appearances.¡ªPACKERS-LIONS
CAPSULEOPENING LINE ¡ª Lions by 7RECORD VS. SPREAD ¡ª Green Bay 7-8, Detroit
7-7-1SERIES RECORD ¡ª Packers lead 100-69-7LAST MEETING ¡ª Lions beat Packers
30-17, Nov. 6LAST WEEK ¡ª Packers lost to Vikings 16-0; Lions lost to Bengals
26-17AP PRO32 RANKING ¡ª Packers No. 21, Lions No. 17PACKERS OFFENSE ¡ª OVERALL
(25), RUSH (18)
Isaac
Nauta Jersey 2019 , PASS (23)PACKERS DEFENSE ¡ª OVERALL (22), RUSH (20),
PASS (22)LIONS OFFENSE ¡ª OVERALL (13), RUSH (32), PASS (6)LIONS DEFENSE ¡ª
OVERALL (27), RUSH (17), PASS (28)STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES ¡ª Lions trying for
first sweep of Packers since 1991 season. ¡ Both teams eliminated from playoff
contention. Both made it last season, and their matchup to end regular season
decided division. ¡ Packers started this season 4-1 but are 3-7 since loss to
Minnesota in which QB Aaron Rodgers was injured. Brett Hundley, who replaced
Rodgers, has thrown for eight TDs with 10 INTs. ¡ Green Bay¡¯s Jamaal Williams
and Aaron Jones form only rookie pair in which each player has at least 400
yards rushing and at least four TDs rushing. ¡ Packers WR Davante Adams is tied
for second in NFL with 10 TD catches. ¡ Green Bay LB Blake Martinez leads NFL
with 136 tackles. ¡ Detroit¡¯s Matthew Stafford is third in NFL with 4,123 yards
passing and has seven straight seasons with at least 4,000. ¡ Since 2015, Lions¡¯
Theo Riddick is only RB in NFL with 1,500 yards receiving and 10 TD catches. ¡
Detroit hasn¡¯t had 100-yard rusher since Reggie Bush had 117 on Thanksgiving
against Green Bay in 2013. ¡ Lions CB Darius Slay leads NFL with seven INTs.
Fantasy Tip: Detroit¡¯s anemic running game is generally worth avoiding, but if
you must consider RB from Lions, rookie Tion Green has played more prominent
role lately and may receive more extensive look in largely meaningless
finale.