Lions Playoff Odds Long With Rodgers, Lambeau, Sunday Night Football Looming

The Detroit Lions will end their 2022-23 NFL season on national television.

With a potential playoff spot at stake, the Lions will face the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Week 18.

On Monday, the NFL announced it was flexing the division rivalry game to the NBC Sunday Night Football slot. That means it will kickoff at 8:20 p.m.

History has not been on the Lions side when it comes to high-stakes games. The same can be said about facing the Packers on the road, and Sunday Night Football.

Can Dan Campbell and the Lions exorcise all these demons in one night?

Lions vs. Packers odds at Michigan sportsbooks

Detroit finds itself as a road underdog as it takes on the Packers this Sunday.

Oddsmakers at Michigan sportsbooks are listing the Lions as a 4.5-point underdog in Green Bay.

Money lines have Detroit ranging from +175 to +190. The Packers range from -235 to -210.

Most of the sportsbooks have this game listed with a 49.5-point total.

Both teams come into the game at 8-8 on the season. The Lions are 11-5 against the spread while the Packers are 8-8 ATS.

Detroit owns a 15-9 win over the Packers this season from back in Week 9.

Detroit Lions playoff odds

Even though they head into Week 18 with a chance to make the playoffs, the Detroit Lions odds still aren’t great.

The Lions, Packers and Seattle Seahawks find themselves all contending for the seventh and final spot in the NFC playoffs. All three are also 8-8.

However, Detroit needs the most help to make it in this scenario.

Green Bay has the simplest path. If Green Bay beats Detroit, the Packers get the seventh seed.

If Detroit beats Green Bay, Seattle has the edge on the Lions. Due to the Seahawks beating Detroit in Week 4, Seattle would get in over the Lions if both are tied.

So, the Lions need L.A. Rams to upset the Seahawks at 4:25 p.m. on Sunday to have a shot at the playoffs when they kickoff with the Packers.

Seattle is listed as a 6.5-point favorite against the Rams currently.

FanDuel Sportsbook MI lists the Lions at +820 to make the playoffs. Seattle is listed at +250. Green Bay isn’t listed.

Adding to the odd intrigue of the Rams vs. Seahawks game is that the Lions also own the Rams draft pick, so a win would push that back. However, I’m sure most Lions fans will be once again cheering for L.A. this weekend.

Rodgers, Lambeau have tormented Lions fans

It’s no secret that Lambeau Field has been unkind to the Detroit Lions.

Detroit is just 27-62-4 all-time in road games at Green Bay.

Following a 1991 victory at Lambeau, the Lions lost 24 consecutive games at that stadium.

That streak was ended in 2015 with an 18-16 victory when the Lions were just 1-7 at the time.

The Lions also picked up wins at Lambeau in 2017 and 2018, but have lost three straight since.

Aaron Rodgers has also had Detroit’s number, for the most part. The longtime starting quarterback for the Packers is 18-7 against the Lions as a starter.

Over the 25 games, Rodgers averages 253.8 yards and 2.1 touchdown passes against the Lions.

Rodgers has had nine games with 300 yards passing or more. He has 53 touchdown passes to just 11 interceptions against Detroit.

In the Nov. 6 meeting at Ford Field, Rodgers had one of his worst outings against Detroit. He was 23 of 43 passing for 291 yards with three interceptions and one touchdown.

Lions Sunday Night Football history

You likely won’t be surprised to find out that Sunday Night Football isn’t great for the Detroit Lions.

The game is typically reserved for bigger matchups in the league, which the Lions haven’t been part of much over the last few decades.

Since moving to NBC in 2006, the Lions have appeared on SNF seven times. They are just 1-6.

Even worse is the lone win comes under Matt Patricia. That was a 26-10 win for the Lions over the New England Patriots and Tom Brady. That was also Detroit’s last appearance

Among the losses are two to the Packers. That includes a season finale, 31-24 loss, at home in 2016 with the NFC North title at stake.

Here’s a full rundown of Detroit’s SNF on NBC history:

• Dec. 4, 2011: Lions lose 31-17 at New Orleans Saints
• Sept. 16, 2012: Lions lose 27-19 at San Francisco 49ers
• Dec. 16, 2012: Lions lose 20-27 at Green Bay Packers
• Sept. 27, 2015: Lions lose 24-12 at home to Denver Broncos
• Jan. 1, 2016: Lions lose 31-24 at home to Green Bay Packers
• Oct. 29, 2017: Lions lose 20-15 at home to Pittsburgh Steelers
• Sept. 23, 2018: Lions win 26-10 at home vs. New England Patriots

This week’s game is Detroit’s first primetime kickoff of the season. All other games have been 1 p.m. kickoffs, aside from Thanksgiving Day’s annual 12:30 p.m. start.