Packers shouldn’t overlook Lions in Week 17 matchup

The Green Bay Packers can’t afford to overlook the Detroit Lions in Week 17.

The Packers are NFC North champions, have won four in a row and get the chance to clinch a first-round bye on Sunday. Their opponents are the Lions, a team that has lost eight in a row and enters Week 17 with a 3-11-1 record.

It’d be easy to look beyond this week and focus on the playoffs, but the Packers can’t afford to do that. Despite the Lions’ record, they’ve been in some close games this season.

In their current eight-game losing streak, the Lions have only lost by more than a touchdown three times. Two of the losses were by three or four points, and three were by seven or eight points.

However, it’s also important to note their three biggest losses over the past eight games have all come in the past three weeks. Detroit lost by 13 points to Minnesota, 21 points to Tampa Bay and 10 points to Denver.

With so many injuries, the Lions haven’t had the quality to close out wins. But they haven’t looked like a team that’s given up on the season, either.

If the Packers overlook them on Sunday and have one eye on the playoffs, they’ll lose. The Lions are at home and will be aiming to finish a miserable regular season on a positive note and a victory over a division rival.

The Packers might be playing for a first-round bye and division sweep, but the Lions are aiming to avoid being swept in the NFC North for the first time since 2012.

If the Packers play as they did on Monday night, the defense should have no trouble shutting down a Lions offense led by third-string quarterback David Blough. The offense will be able to do enough to win the game, and comfortably.

But they’ll need to be prepared for a close game. If not, they might be upset by the Lions, potentially costing them a first-round bye.