When the Detroit Lions host the Green Bay Packers on Thursday at Ford Field, it will mark their second meeting of the season — and arguably the most important game of the year for both teams so far.
Earlier this week, the Lions opened with slim odds of beating the Packers, according to three popular sportsbooks.
The Packers (9-3) — along with the Minnesota Vikings (10-2) — are nipping at the heels of the surging Lions (11-1), who are not only off to a franchise-best start but also riding a 10-game win streak.
This season, the NFC North has emerged as the league’s toughest division, featuring three nine-win teams — the first occurrence of such within a single division since Week 13 of the 1985 season.