The December drive continues in a Ford, as in Ford Field Sunday for the Packers as they take on the Detroit Lions for a second time.   The record may say 2-10, but the Lions have been a tough out for nearly everyone this season, Packers included.  Detroit put up more yards and points on the Packers than any other team this year.  Green Bay held off Detroit 28-26 at Lambeau on October 3, giving up 431 yards of offense. 

     On the medical front, Green Bay will be without fullback Korey Hall (knee) and Cullen Jenkins (calf).  Chad Clifton appears to have recovered from concussion-like symptoms earlier in the week but Charles Woodson may still be questionable after spraining his ankle at practice Wednesday.   Detroit will be without one of their best pass rushers in Kyle Vandenbosch.  He was placed on injured reserve Thursday with a neck injury.

     The key matchup is the Packers passing game against the Lions secondary.  Aaron Rodgers is on a roll, he's the reigning NFC offensive player of the week and his passer rating over the past month is a glittering 131.  Detroit's defensive backs have been treated for third degree burns most of the season and unless they get a fierce pass rush, it's going to get very warm again trying to defend Green Bay's perimeter game.

     Things have to start turning in Detroit's favor soon.  The stench of the Matt Millen era has been hard to disinfect but high draft picks over the last several years has delivered bona fide talent like Calvin Johnson, Jahvid Best and Ndomakong Suh.  The Lions haven't posted a winning season since 2000, they've dropped 27 straight on the road and even more improbable, have lost 19 consecutive games against their NFC North bretheren.   Mike McCarthy is a Lion tamer, a perfect 9-0 and Green Bay seeks it's 11th straight win in the series.  Jim Schwartz has the patience to see this through and it'll be good for the division to have the Lions become even more competitive, just not this Sunday.  I like the Packers to put up some pretty offensive numbers in a 31-20 victory.

     Here's what the players and coaches are saying about this Sunday's game at Ford Field.