It’s a huge game. The Green Bay Packers’ hopes of winning the NFC North require a victory at Ford Field on Thursday Night Football.
At 9-3, the Packers don’t have too many concerns about their chances of making the playoffs. They already have as many wins as they achieved last season, and just one or two more will likely clinch their spot in the postseason. However, Matt LaFleur’s team has loftier ambitions, which begins with taking back the NFC North title, which hasn’t belonged to the Packers in almost three years.
The Packers enter Week 14 two games behind the division-leading Detroit Lions and one behind the Minnesota Vikings. With a chance to play both of them, Green Bay still has a great opportunity to take the division if it can win out. Going 5-0 from here would leave the Packers with a 14-3 record—it’s hard to believe that still wouldn’t guarantee the division title.
But if the Packers have any hopes of regaining the NFC North crown, they must replicate last season’s performance at Ford Field and hand the Lions their first defeat since Week 2.
Green Bay has a chance. Detroit has 18 players on injured reserve and ruled out four more for Thursday Night Football, including starting defensive linemen Josh Paschal and DJ Reader and left tackle Taylor Decker.
Announcers for Packers vs. Lions
Network: Amazon Prime Video
Lead play-by-play announcer: Al Michaels
Color commentator: Kirk Herbstreit
Sideline reporter: Kaylee Hartung
Referees for Packers vs. Lions
Head referee: John Hussey
It’s a rare occasion for John Hussey to officiate a Packers game. It’s only his second since Green Bay’s NFC Championship Game loss to the San Francisco 49ers in 2020. His past Packers game was the win over the Los Angeles Chargers at Lambeau Field last season.
And there’s good news. Per NFL Penalties, Hussey’s crew has thrown an average of 12.7 flags per game, the second-fewest in the league.
Full officiating crew
Referee: John Hussey
Umpire: Tony Michalek
Down Judge: Max Causey
Line Judge: Carl Johnson
Field Judge: Anthony Flemming
Side Judge: Allen Baynes
Back Judge: Matt Edwards
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