Lions running back Kevin Smith scores during a 31-21 loss at Green Bay last December. (Daniel Mears / The Detroit News)
When the Lions go on the road to play the Green Bay Packers, it's like skiing up the Swiss Alps -- on rollerblades. Or walking a tightrope across Niagara Falls, without a net, umbrella or balance pole.
They're headed for a fall.
But some glimmers of hope are emanating from the NFL's cognoscenti as the Lions prepare to invade Green Bay for Sunday's game. They don't change the recent history of the Lions' road failures against the Packers, though.
Since their 21-17 win at Lambeau Field in Green Bay in 1991, they've lost 18 straight road games to the Packers.
There have been 17 losses in the regular season and one in the playoffs -- a 16-12 defeat in 1994. That loss was memorable for how the Packers' defense crushed Barry Sanders, holding him to minus-one yard rushing on 13 carries.
Of the 18 losses, 15 have been in Green Bay and three in Milwaukee. Oshkosh and LaCrosse must have been booked for conventions, or the Lions would have lost there, too.
This has been a season of streak-busting for the Lions. In Game 3, they ended a 19-game losing streak with a 19-14 victory over Washington.
Another week, another streak.
The Lions are 13.5-point underdogs, but they're hearing some encouraging words about their performance, despite a 1-4 won-lost record.
Bob McGinn covers the Packers for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Each week, McGinn polls league personnel executives and assistant coaches for their opinion on the Packers' upcoming opponent.
McGinn quoted two unidentified assistants on teams that have played the Lions this season, and both said the Packers should anticipate a tough game.
"I think the Lions are much improved," one assistant told McGinn. "You could definitely feel that on the field. The confidence. They're competin'. That Pittsburgh game (a 28-20 loss last week), that was impressive.
"They had a lot of reasons to fold it up and they kept on comin' and had a chance at the end."
Said another assistant, quoted by McGinn:
"They've got a lot of guys from other teams. They tried to bring in guys who have no link to the past. I don't think they're the 2008 Detroit Lions (who went 0-16). They might be able to get after (Aaron) Rodgers and keep it a close game. Do they have a shot? Yeah."
Said a third assistant: "I would go with Green Bay. Detroit played a very emotional game against (the Steelers). When you come off an emotional game like they played and you're traveling, it takes a lot out of you."
Added a fourth: "I would think Green Bay would win the game, but I think Detroit will give everybody a battle. I don't think you should fall asleep on them, that's for sure."
It is clear that nobody is picking the Lions to win Sunday. But if they compete hard -- which they will -- keep it close and get a bounce here and there, who knows?
Here are the picks for Week 6. Last week's record was a sizzling 9-4-1.
Sunday's games
At Lambeau, Culpepper threw 10 TD passes against four interceptions. In his last two games at Lambeau with the Vikings, he had seven TD passes without an interception. Both games were losses -- 30-25 in 2003 and 34-31 in '04.
The Packers have had trouble protecting QB Aaron Rodgers. They have allowed a league-worst 20 sacks in four games. For whatever reason -- inconsistent pressure, soft coverage -- pass defense is the Lions' weakness. The Packers can be had, but probably not by the Lions this week, especially without Calvin Johnson. Look for them to battle.
Betting favorite: Packers by 13.5.
Pick: Packers 26, Lions 20. No moral victory, but they cover the spread.
Betting favorite: Redskins by 6.5.
Pick: Redskins.
Betting favorite: Bengals by 5.5.
Pick: Bengals.
Betting favorite: Steelers by 14.
Pick: Steelers.
Betting favorite: Vikings by 3.
Pick: Vikings.
Betting favorite: Jaguars by 9.5.
Pick: Jaguars.
Betting favorite: Saints by 3.
Pick: Saints.
Betting favorite: Panthers by 3.5.
Pick: Panthers.
Betting favorite: Eagles by 14.
Pick: Eagles.
Betting favorite: Cardinals by 2.5.
Pick: Seahawks.
What an emotional decline for Bills owner Ralph Wilson, one of the good guys in sports. He was inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August, but the Bills are on the skids. After last week's 6-3 loss to the Browns, Wilson was asked about the future of coach Dick Jauron. Wilson told reporters: "I'm not going to make any decisions during the middle of the season right now. At least right now."
Reading between the lines, the middle of the season comes in another two weeks.
Betting favorite: Jets by 9.5.
Pick: Jets.
Jevon Kearse, one of the Titans' most popular players, created a stir for leaving the stadium last week after being told he was not active. He has only one sack in four games.
Kearse was unrepentant.
"First off, I wanted to hang out with my family and friends that I had in town," Kearse told reporters. "And second of all, I didn't think one person not on the sideline was going to make a difference in this game. I used that time to hang out with my family and not get stuck in traffic leaving the game."
Betting favorite: Patriots by 9.
Pick: Patriots.
Monday night
Betting favorite: Chargers by 3.5.
Pick: Broncos.
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