NFL: GREEN BAY (9-1) at DETROIT (6-4) <h3>Packers, Lions renew Thanksgiving tradition</h3> Green Bay (9-1) at Detroit (6-4) 12:30 pm EST DETROIT (Ticker) -- Excluding a break for World War II, theDetroit Lions have hosted a game on Thanksgiving every yearsince 1934. The Green Bay Packers have been a part of thattradition more than any other team. Thursday's clash between the NFC North Division rivals marks the18th time they have played on Thanksgiving. The Lions have a11-5-1 edge. Two weeks ago, this year's battle was shaping up as a showdownfor first place. But since then, the Packers (9-1) have takencontrol of the division while the Lions (6-4) are looking tostop the bleeding. With a win, Green Bay can virtually wrap up the division, as itwould own a four-game lead with five to play. The Lions, who have dropped two a row following a 6-2 start, mayneed a win to hold on to a playoff spot. They are one gameahead of the Arizona Cardinals, Washington Redskins andPhiladelphia Eagles in the battle for the second wild card. Thursday's contest is the second of three games in a 12-day spanfor the Packers, who will try to avoid looking ahead to nextweek's showdown against the Dallas Cowboys (9-1). That game,also to be played on a Thursday, could decide home-fieldadvantage in the NFC. Playing like the quarterback of 10 years ago, 38-year-old BrettFavre has led the Packers to their first 9-1 start since 1962,when Green Bay finished 13-1 en route to its eight NFL title.The one loss that season came to the Lions on Thanksgiving. The Packers defeated the Carolina Panthers, 31-17, last week fortheir fifth straight victory. Favre tossed three touchdownpasses for the 62nd time in his career, tying Dan Marino's NFLrecord. Tight end Donald Lee is becoming a viable part of the Packers'offense, catching a pair of TD passes against Carolina, whichgives him three in the last two games. Also, Ryan Grant has sparked Green Bay's rushing attack, whichno longer ranks last in the league. Grant ran for 88 yards lastweek, falling just short of his third 100-yard game in threeweeks. "If everybody continues to grind, work, continue to preparethemselves for the very next game and not worry about anythingelse after that, this team can go as far as we want to go,"Packers cornerback Charles Woodson said. Suddenly, the Lions' rushing attack has become non-existent. <div class="pre">In last week's 16-10 loss to the New York Giants Detroit's</div><div class="pre">first defeat at home this season the Lions rushed for only 25</div>yards. That came one game after they rushed for a net of minus-18 yardsin a 31-21 loss at Arizona, the lowest total in the modern era. <div class="pre">"We didn't execute," Lions coach Rod Marinelli said "I show</div>them (his players) that. When we execute, when we do the thingswe are supposed to do on a consistent basis, we'll win." Detroit still needs one victory to avoid double-figure defeatsfor the first time since 2001. The Lions have dropped three in a row on Thanksgiving to fall to33-32-2 overall on the day. Their last Thanksgiving Day win wasa 22-14 victory over the Packers in 2003.
NFL: GREEN BAY at DETROIT <div class="pre">NFL GREEN BAY 0 DETROIT 0 14:56 LEFT, 1ST QTR DET BALL ON DET 19 YD LINE 1ST AND 10</div>
NFL: GREEN BAY at DETROIT <div class="pre">NFL FG DET JASON HANSON 47 YD GREEN BAY 0 DETROIT 3 7:11 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>
NFL: GREEN BAY at DETROIT <div class="pre">NFL GREEN BAY 0 DETROIT 3 6:58 LEFT, 1ST QTR GNB BALL ON GNB 33 YD LINE 1ST AND 10</div>
NFL: GREEN BAY at DETROIT <div class="pre">NFL GREEN BAY 0 DETROIT 3 6:53 LEFT, 1ST QTR DET BALL ON GNB 25 YD LINE 1ST AND 10</div>
NFL: GREEN BAY at DETROIT <div class="pre">NFL FG DET JASON HANSON 41 YD GREEN BAY 0 DETROIT 6 6:04 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>
NFL: GREEN BAY at DETROIT <div class="pre">NFL GREEN BAY 0 DETROIT 6 5:56 LEFT, 1ST QTR GNB BALL ON GNB 27 YD LINE 1ST AND 10</div>
NFL: GREEN BAY at DETROIT <div class="pre">NFL GREEN BAY 0 DETROIT 6 4:19 LEFT, 1ST QTR DET BALL ON DET 26 YD LINE 1ST AND 10</div>
NFL: GREEN BAY at DETROIT <div class="pre">NFL GREEN BAY 0 DETROIT 6 0:57 LEFT, 1ST QTR GNB BALL ON GNB 46 YD LINE 1ST AND 10</div>
NFL: GREEN BAY at DETROIT <div class="pre">NFL GREEN BAY 0 DETROIT 6 0:04 LEFT, 1ST QTR DET BALL ON DET 20 YD LINE 1ST AND 10</div>
