Packers: Lombardi Ave staff predict Week 5 game vs. Lions

The Lombardi Ave staff have made their predictions for the Green Bay Packers’ Week 5 game against the Detroit Lions.

After getting back on track last week against the Bills, can the Packers win a second in a row at Detroit in Week 5?

The Lombardi Ave staff all successfully predicted a Packers win last week, but nobody guessed it would be a shutout victory.

Is there the same confidence this week?

Tanner Nestle: The Packers picked the best week to potentially rest their three best receivers against one of the worst running defenses in the league. Aaron Rodgers will still kill the Lions through the air, but I like Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams to have great games.

There’s no way the Packers lose to Detroit, right? That doesn’t happen very often when Mr. Rodgers plays. Green Bay 31, Detroit 26

Kevin Culligan: I’d love to pick Green Bay here, but I think the current injuries on offense might just be too much. This offense has largely struggled to score points when healthy, so things will only get more difficult with potentially the top three receivers each being out.

Mike Pettine’s defense should fare OK, but it will be quite a test to not allow explosive plays against Matthew Stafford and this group of receivers.

Hopefully, Rodgers’ increased participation at practice this week is the spark the offense needs. Otherwise, fans might start pulling the panic button out pretty quickly. Detroit 27, Green Bay 20

Nile McNair: Following the first two weeks of the season where Green Bay played the two best teams in the division, I noticed the schedule got easier before the Week 7 bye. In a four-game stretch the Packers would play Washington, Buffalo, Detroit and San Francisco.

In those four games I thought Green Bay would go 3-1 with the one loss coming to Detroit. Even though Washington gave Green Bay their first loss, I am still picking Detroit in this game.

This game will be a shootout and will come down to who gets the ball last. Matthew Stafford will lead the final drive for a heartbreaking, game-winning field goal. Detroit 34, Green Bay 31

Jesse Fry: After a shutout victory, the Packers defense will look to take the next step in their evolution. Stafford and the Lions will pose a much larger threat than Josh Allen and the Bills.

On offense it’s possible the Packers could be down their top two or three receivers. They will have to rely on the run game and defense to do most of the damage. Detroit has historically been a tough place for the Packers to play.

I think Davante Adams will play, and after the comments of Aaron Rodgers, have a big day. The defense will clamp down on the Lions and the Packers will win. Green Bay 20, Detroit 17

Nick Olig: Here’s a bad stat: Green Bay ranks 29th in the NFL in time of possession. Considering the injury issues in their wide receiver corps this week, it’s definitely the right time to lean on their three capable running backs: Jamaal Williams, Aaron Jones and Ty Montgomery.

We should see all three heavily in the offense on the ground and in the air. And here’s a Hail Mary of a hot take: Don’t sleep on rookie Marquez Valdes-Scantling making big plays. The Packers’ ambitious young corners will be tested by the Lions’ receiving talent, but I like the Packers in a one-score thriller. Green Bay 27, Detroit 24

Kyle Lohmiller: Although the Packers usually dominate the Lions, they tend to struggle while visiting Ford Field. We don’t know what kind of Matthew Stafford we’re going to expect. Stafford got destroyed by the Jets defense, but also took down the Patriots.

Either way, he tends to keep it close — especially in the fourth quarter. The Packers DBs will be tested between Marvin Jones Jr, Golden Tate and Kenny Golladay. History has shown that when Rodgers is disappointed in himself he’ll come out next week guns blazing. Green Bay 28, Detroit 27

Freddie Boston: All week I’ve been confident in a Packers victory, but the closer the game gets, the more I question it. At the time of writing, it’s difficult to predict which of the team’s top receivers will be on the field.

Randall Cobb is out. Geronimo Allison looks to be a long shot to play too. My guess is Davante Adams will be active, but will he be 100 percent?

But the Lions are dealing with a number of injuries, too. Detroit’s sack leader from 2017, Ezekiel Ansah, has been ruled out. And given the Lions’ struggles stopping the run, I’m still giving the edge to the Pack. Green Bay 28, Detroit 24