American Football: Detroit's bangers are no match for Packers.

Byline: Phil Agius

GREEN BAY can pile the pressure on Minnesota in the race for the NFC North by making turkeys out of Detroit in the first of tonight's Thanksgiving Day NFL clashes, writes Phil Agius.

As is customary for the holiday fixtures, the teams will be wearing traditional unforms and the Packers, who will be sporting their 1967 garb, are currently much closer to recreating their glory days than the Lions.

The visitors have won their last two Thanskgiving Day games against the Lions, including last year's contest, which was by a closer than expected margin of 37-31. Green Bay will need to better that to satisfy those taking the favourites on the handicap tonight but the evidence of Sunday's excellent victory over the 49ers suggests it is quite possible.

Green Bay won that contest 20-10 despite quarterback Brett Favre's continuing struggles with a broken thumb. He largely limited himself to short passes and handing the ball off to red-hot running back Ahman Green and repeat tactics should prove too much for the limping Lions.

Detroit are a disaster on the road, having lost all six away matches this year and their last 22 in all, but they have managed to win three of their five games at Ford Field this season.

None of their victims - Arizona, Oakland and Chicago - had a winning record though and none was desperate for victory in the race for the play-offs, as Green Bay are.

The teams' first contest ended in a 31-6 rout for the Packers in Week Two and home coach Steve Mariucci simply does not have enough fit and talented bodies to halt his side's run of six straight losses to the Pack.

Recommendation

Green Bay -5.5

3pts 5-6 (Ladbrokes)