Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions picks, predictions: Who wins NFL Week 18 game?
The Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions play Sunday in a Week 18 NFL game.
Which team will get the victory?
Check out these NFL Week 18 picks and predictions for the game, which can be seen at 11 a.m. MST.
There is no line currently set for the game.
Pro Football Network: Packers 20, Lions 17
Ben Rolfe writes: "The Packers will face that age-old debate of what to do with their starters in this game. Rest them and everyone criticizes the coach because the team might be rusty with the bye week coming as well. However, if Matt LaFleur plays them and someone gets hurt, the coach will be on the firing line. The Lions will likely fight with everything they have, and it is hard not to like them covering the spread regardless. A possible scenario is we see the Packers’ starters for a quarter before they hand it over to the backups to take them home. If you have to bet on this game, lean the Lions to cover (depending on the line)."
Sportsnaut: Packers 24, Lions 20
The site predicts that the Packers will get a 4-point win over the Lions in the NFL Week 18 game in Detroit.
More: NFL Week 18 odds: Money lines, point spreads, over/unders for Week 18 NFL games
Fansided: Will Aaron Rodgers play against Lions?
Alicia de Artola writes: "The only argument for playing has to do with keeping up a rhythm. Green Bay has won four games in a row and they could be tempted to keep the winning ways going. Still, there is always the possibility of injuries. If Rodgers were to get injured in that meaningless game, LaFleur would never hear the end of it. Rodgers has sat out an end-of-season matchup with Detroit before. Matt Flynn stepped in to lead the Packers to a win in 2012 with the starter resting for the playoffs. The only impact the result of this year’s game might have is on the draft order. The Jaguars are in line for the No. 1 overall pick but the Lions could still get that pick if they lose to Green Bay while Jacksonville pulls off a win over the Colts."
CBS Sports: Lions attractive option vs. Packers in Week 18
Tyler Sullivan writes: "The Packers don't have much of anything to play for after they clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC in Week 17, so you could see them rest several key players in the regular-season finale, which will bring this spread down quite a bit from its opening number of Packers -11. The Lions have been a scrappy team all season with a 10-6 ATS record that includes a 5-2 ATS mark at home, making them an attractive look in this final slate."
More: NFL Week 18 schedule, television information: How to watch Week 18 NFL games
SB Nation: Biggest question for Packers is playing time vs. Lions
It writes: "Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and receiver Davante Adams, two of the team’s three Pro Bowlers, have stated that they would like to play some against the Lions in Week 18. Rodgers is the leader in the Most Valuable Player Award race at the moment and Adams is approaching the franchise’s season-long receiving yards record. When head coach Matt LaFleur was asked about sitting starters against the Lions, he stated that he hadn’t really given it thought until after the Packers had locked up the top seed in the NFC and that his “gut is these guys are gonna play at least a little bit next week.” It sounds like the Packers will play their starters, but the question is just how much. Does his gut say a quarter? A half? Enough to get Adams the receiving record?"
Sportsnaut: Lions 23, Packers 17
The site predicts that the Lions will beat the Packers in the final week of the regular season.
More: NFL playoff picture: Green Bay Packers clinch NFC top seed, Tennessee Titans close in AFC
FiveThirtyEight.com: Packers have a 57% win probability
The site gives the Lions a 43% win probability in the NFL Week 18 game.
ESPN: Packers have a 79.6% chance to win
The site's Football Power Index gives the Lions a 20.2% chance to win the Week 18 NFL game.
More: NFL power rankings: Arizona Cardinals make statement in win over Dallas Cowboys
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions picks, predictions NFL Week 18
