The Packers and Lions are five games away from a Thanksgiving dream match-up. If both teams can sustain their winning ways, the two teams will have a combined record of 20-0. What are the odds? You’re about to know.
Odds of Green Bay remaining undefeated: 80 percent
There are only two things that worry me about the Packers leading up to Thanksgiving: The week nine game at San Diego, and whether or not the Packers will even have any offensive linemen left on the active roster for Thanksgiving.
The Packers should have three free wins during this stretch (home versus St. Louis and a home-and-home with Minnesota). Tampa Bay travels to Green Bay in week 11, and even though they were just blown out by San Francisco 48-3, it could still be a trap game for the Packers.
After all, do I really need to bring up what happened the last time we played Tampa Bay back in 2009? Here’s a hint: They were winless in November, and yet the Buccaneers still beat Green Bay 38-28. Yikes.
At any rate, San Diego is the Packers’ biggest threat right now. The Chargers always play better as the season wears on, and playing at home is always an advantage for a team on the West Coast. I just don’t think Green Bay will lose if they keep playing at this level.
One thing to keep an eye on is the injuries to Chad Clifton and Brian Bulaga. Bulaga should be returning shortly from his knee injury, but Clifton has, according to Mike McCarthy, a “significant” hamstring injury. In McCarthyland, that generally means a trip to the Injured Reserve. Green Bay can’t afford more injuries to its offensive line if it wants to make a run at perfection.
Odds of Detroit remaining undefeated: 40 percent
Unlike the Packers, Detroit has a much harder schedule leading up to Thanksgiving. The Lions have just two free wins (at Denver and a home game against Carolina). I think they’ll be able to take out Atlanta in Week 7, but that game is definitely losable for Detroit.
The two biggest obstacles for Detroit are this week’s home game against San Francisco and a road game at Chicago.
San Francisco has been a defensive juggernaut for most of the season, and their running game is finally picking up steam after a pathetic start. However, I think Detroit can win this game, as it is in the middle of their three-game home stand.
Their road game at Chicago after the bye week is more problematic. They get more time to prepare for that game, but Chicago will be seeking revenge after suffering eight false start penalties on Monday at Detroit.
Also, all of this talk could come to a grinding halt with one huge hit on Matthew Stafford, who had only played in 13 games during the first two seasons of his career.
Therefore, the odds of both teams remaining undefeated until their Thanksgiving Battle Royale are at 32 percent. If you’re a betting fan, would you take those odds? Honestly, I probably wouldn’t.