A win's a win's a win's a win... did the Packers get comically lucky on Sunday? Yes. Did Jordan Love play his best game as a Green Bay Packer? Also yes. Did they win and move into the 8 spot in the playoffs race? Yes x 3. Seeing this team score a few points, play good enough to be in the game, and then catch every single break possible is good enough to make this man happy on a Sunday and I'm all for it. But as the Packers are turning the page extra quick on a short week, we must do the same and look forward to the trip to my hometown, Detroit, on Thanksgiving.

So let's raise the periscope and look at the cornucopia (see what I did there?) of history between the Dee-troit Lions and our Green Bay Packers.

The Past

With September's loss, as well as the recent dominance from the Lions, the series moves ever-so-slightly closer to even with the Pack maintaining a 105-76-7 lead. Speaking of recent history, the Week 3 matchup at Lambeau Field was perhaps the Packers' worst game in a season that has its share of unimpressive performances. A terribly slow start, nonexistent defense and just the overall softness of a pillow resting on a cloud in the comfiest place in Heaven ultimately led to the Packers demise in a game worthy of a tape burning. But enough with September... let's do a little more enjoyable reflection, this time going back to a pivotal moment in the turnaround of the Ron Wolf- and Mike Holmgren-led Packers. 

In 1994, six days after losing at the Pontiac Silverdome to the very same Lions on January 2, Brett Favre and the Packers returned to the carpeted cathedral for the Wild Card round on January 8. Their first playoff appearance in 11 long years, the Packers were underdogs heading into the game. At 9-7, they scrapped into the playoffs, looking to make a little noise behind the young, up-and-coming quarterback. Down 3-0 after the first, Favre hit Sterling Sharpe to put the Packers up 7-3. But just before halftime, Erik Kramer hit Brett Perriman from a yard out to take a 10-7 lead into halftime. To open the third quarter scoring, Favre did a Favre thing and threw a pick-six to Melvin Jenkins to put Detroit up 17-7.  But Favre would connect with Sharpe again, this time from 28 yards, then linebacker George Teague picked Kramer for a 101-yard house call to put Green Bay up 21-17 entering the fourth. Lions' running back Derrick Moore scored from 5 yards out and then, with :55 left, this happened.

Rolling, looking and finally throwing deep, Favre nailed Sharpe for a third time, this time from 40 yards to seal the game and the first Packers playoff win since 1983. Favre runs off the field with his helmet in hand. Sharpe stares, focused with white pom-pons raining down over him soaking in what had just occurred. A truly amazing moment and one that ultimately set the tone for the rest of the 90s.

The Present

The Lions were in some major trouble on Sunday, down by 12 late to Justin Fields in the Bears. But as tough, good teams do, they fought back to eek out a win and improve to 8-2 and in full control of the North. And with Minnesota losing to Denver Sunday Night, the gap widened. The Lions now have a stranglehold on the division just past the halfway point. Which brings us to Thanksgiving. On a short week, without Aaron Jones and perhaps others, the Packers will be a bit shorthanded going into the game -- a common theme so far this season. And it's against a team whose style has been absolute Kryptonite to Matt LaFleur, one who tells you they're going to punch you, then punch you, then punch you one more time before dragging you out into the ocean. The Packers will absolutely need to bring increased toughness to have a shot on Thursday.

With Jones most likely out and on a short week, Jordan Love will once again need to perform well to have a decent chance. And last week was perhaps his best game - one certainly worth building on. But going on the road to an extremely tough environment against a more-than-formidable defense will present one of the biggest challenges the rest of the season. We'll really see how much this team is improving and how good they really are against a team with a legitimate shot to be the 1 seed in the playoffs.

The Future

11:30am Lambeau time, Ford Field, Detroit. Thanksgiving football is always special, but personally, I like it a lot more when the Packers aren't participating. But it should be a great opportunity for this team to continue taking steps, win or lose. The division race is all but over, but there is a chance to gain some more momentum for a late-season playoff push. The Packers go in as 7.5 point dogs, with an over/under of 46.5. I can see why many bettors would be laying the 7.5 in Detroit's favor given Green Bay's inconsistency and the Lions' stranglehold on the North, but Detroit didn't exactly play well on Sunday despite playing an inferior opponent at home. There is a bit of a chance here, but again, a no-show again will make for a messy exit from Motown.

In all, this is perhaps their toughest remaining game. But this team does seem like it's improving. And no better way to really showcase that improvement than on National TV against a very good opponent. I hope everyone reading has a safe and fantastic Thanksgiving, and I'm so very thankful for all of you for reading this every week. Happy Thanksgiving!