The Lions are heading into Sunday with a chance to make a loud early statement, and a lot of that pressure falls on Detroit’s pass rush.
Green Bay is first up in the team’s stretch of back-to-back division games, and the matchup carries extra weight as the Lions chase their third division crown in four years. Detroit also enters Week 7 with a pass-rush profile that has stood out even while the defense has lagged in other areas.
The Lions are leading the league with 20 sacks, thanks in part to Aidan Hutchinson, D.J. Wonnum and Alim McNeill.
McNeill, in particular, has given Detroit a major lift after a rough 2025 season. He missed the start of last year while rehabbing a torn ACL, but after a full offseason he has looked like himself again. Through the first five games, he has already posted 3.5 sacks.
That production is why Sports Betting Dime’s Drew Ellis is eyeing McNeill for another impact performance against the Packers. Ellis told Lions OnSI that McNeill to record at least a half-sack is his best bet for the week, with the over on .25 sacks sitting at (+229).
“I’m getting a little risky this week. Green Bay has had arguably the worst offensive line play in the league," Ellis told Lions OnSI.
"Jordan Love has been sacked 13 times and pressured on nearly half of his drop backs. McNeill is already having one of his best seasons of his career.
His 3.5 sacks is tied for second-most in a season for the veteran defensive tackle.”
Green Bay does bring enough downfield passing ability to test Detroit, but the interior pressure McNeill can generate changes the equation. If he can get home on Love, it would ease the burden on the secondary and give the Lions a better shot at controlling the game.
Ellis also pointed to McNeill’s consistency in recent weeks. “He’s recorded at least half a sack in four of the Lions’ five games,” Ellis said.
“Coming into this game fresh off a bye, against a poor offensive line, I think McNeill is going to wreak havoc and create a lot of pressure, eventually getting at least another half of a sack. With the odds at more than 2-to-1, I really like this play as a chance to win bigger than the normal -110 plays.”
Gaming odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
In Other News...
Lions Face A Trade Deadline Temptation That Could Change Their Pass Rush
Even with the Lions leading the NFL in sacks, there is still room to wonder whether the pass rush can get even better before the trade deadline. ESPNs Bill Barnwell floated a deal that would send draft picks to the Chargers for edge-rusher Khalil Mack and cornerback Donte Jackson, a move aimed at helping Detroit in the two places it could most use extra support.
Aidan Hutchinson and DJ Wonnum have given the front a strong foundation, but the appeal of a proven veteran like Mack is obvious if Detroit wants to keep piling up pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Barnwells logic also ties into the state of the secondary, where injuries have left the Lions thin and made any upgrade at corner worth a look, which is why the idea has enough traction to linger as the deadline approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Depth Chart Shakeups Carry Extra Weight Against Green Bay
The Lions Week 7 depth chart arrived with the usual mix of lineup clues and roster housekeeping, but it also carried some added weight heading into Green Bay. Detroits latest chart lays out projected starters across offense, defense and special teams, while also reflecting the constant churn of injuries, reserve moves and recent additions that can shape how a game plan comes together in a hurry.
Among the updates, DeAndre Carter now shows up on the active roster, giving Detroit another option as it sorts through personnel for a divisional test. The chart also reflects movement at safety, where Brian Branch is back in the mix after being activated from the PUP list, while Kerby Joseph is still waiting on the same list and remains eligible to return later. [Read more 🡒]
Alim McNeill Is Giving Lions Fans A New Reason To Trust This D-Line
The Lions are heading into their matchup with the Packers with their inactive list already drawing attention, and it includes defensive end Ahmed Hassanein. While Detroit sorts through its weekly lineup decisions, the bigger defensive storyline has been Alim McNeill, who has turned in a strong season after working his way back from a torn ACL and looking like a stabilizing force up front.
Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard has singled out McNeill for the way he has influenced both the pass rush and the run defense, a welcome development for a unit that has needed more consistency on the interior. For a Lions front trying to establish trust week after week, McNeills impact has become one of the clearest reasons to believe this group can hold up when the games get tight. [Read more 🡒]