Keeping Stafford in check will be difficult for Packers

It would be inaccurate to say tonight’s game against the Detroit Lions will make or break the Green Bay Packers’ season.

It would be accurate, however, to say it’ll be an extremely important one for them.

The Packers enter the game with a 4-3 record and a loss would drop them two games behind first-place Minnesota in the NFC North Division with eight games remaining.

Among the opponents still on the Packers’ schedule are Pittsburgh (6-2), Carolina (6-3) and Minnesota (6-2). The Packers will face Pittsburgh and Carolina on the road and will undoubtedly be the underdogs against all three of the aforementioned foes.

So, assuming the Packers lose to the Lions tonight and then fall to the Steelers, Panthers and Vikings, they could finish the regular season with a 9-7 record. That would make the green and gold’s chances of advancing to the playoffs slim, at best.

Being without all-world Aaron Rodgers obviously doesn’t help the Packers’ cause of taming the Lions. What’s more, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is on a roll. He passed for 312 yards against New Orleans Oct. 15 and then, after a bye week, followed with a monstrous 423-yard performance against Pittsburgh.

Considering the Packers’ secondary, and defense in general, has been a train wreck for most of the season, Stafford could have field day.

Prediction: Lions 27, Packers 24.

Photo by Ronald Woelfel