Empty the Bench

Ranks Preview by Brian Spencer

This might be the last week you see the solid Green Bay Packers DEF rated this highly on our weekly board. A top-10 fantasy play coming into this week’s juicy Thanksgiving matchup against the battered Detroit Lions, the Packers endured two big blows against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday when both DL Aaron Kampman (third on the team in sacks with 3.5) and CB Al Harris (third in interceptions with 2) succumbed to season-ending injuries. While neither were having standout seasons, these losses still hurt and the unit should be downgraded come Week 13 against the Baltimore Ravens.

But not this week. Though back in the day the Lions were always dangerous on Turkey Day, regardless of their record, they’ve lost their last five Thanksgiving games by an average of 23.4 points (though it’s perhaps worth noting that their last victory, in ‘03, came at the Packers’ expense). As if the talent deck isn’t already stacked heavily in their opponents’ favor, Detroit will likely be without the services of Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson, the two pistons that power the offense. Without Stafford, they’ll turn to Daunte Culpepper. Without Johnson, they’ll turn to the dynamic trio of Bryant Johnson, Dennis Northcutt, and Derrick Williams.

We’ll let you put two and two together. By the way, random fact of the week (stop reading here, Lions fans): Sunday’s 38-37 come-from-behind win over the Cleveland Browns was only the second time since 1957 that a Detroit Lions team has come back from a 10+ point deficit to win.

See also:
- Week 12 QB Rankings
- Week 12 RB Rankings
- Week 12 WR Rankings
- Week 12 TE Rankings

1. Philadelphia Eagles vs. WSH
2. Green Bay Packers @ DET
3. Minnesota Vikings vs. CHI
4. Cincinnati Bengals vs. CLE
5. San Diego Chargers vs. KC
6. Dallas Cowboys vs. OAK
7. Baltimore Ravens vs. PIT
8. New York Giants @ DEN
9. Pittsburgh Steelers @ BAL
10. Miami Dolphins @ BUF
11. Carolina Panthers @ NYJ
12. New Orleans Saints vs. NE
13. Atlanta Falcons vs. TB
14. Denver Broncos vs. NYG
15. Seattle Seahawks @ STL

Green Bay Packers Defense Photo Credit: Icon SMI