It may not tickle the fancy of football fanatics in places like Austin, San Diego or Walla Walla, but there is something familiar, comfortable and flat-out right about the Packers playing the Lions on Thanksgiving Day.

It's one of NFL's oldest rivalries. It has history and tradition on its side. Though the Packers are favored by 10 1/2 points and should win comfortably, fans will get to see how the defense responds after losing cornerback Al Harris and linebacker Aaron Kampman to season-ending knee injuries during a victory over San Francisco Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field.

The Packers have depth at the linebacker position -- and will welcome Brandon Chillar back from a hand injury -- but losing Harris is a big blow and could curtail the effectiveness of veteran safety Charles Woodson, who has been one of the team's better performers this year.

With Harris out, players like Tramon Williams, Jarrett Bush and Brandon Underwood will be asked to take on more prominent roles. While that may not be daunting against Detroit, which likely will be without offensive weapons in quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Charles Johnson, it will impact Green Bay's approach in the final five games of the season.

Here are 25 points to ponder as the Packers and Lions get ready for action on Thursday:

1. This is the fourth time this decade that the Packers and Lions have met on Thanksgiving.
2. This is the 33rd time the Packers have played on Thanksgiving. The Packers are 12-18-2 including 6-11-1 in Detroit.
3. Packers and Lions have played every year since 1932.
4. This is meeting No. 161 in the all-time series. The Packers lead, 87-64-7.
5. The Packers have won eight in a row against Detroit, the longest streak in 50 years.
6. The Lions won 11 in a row from 1949-54.
7. Mike McCarthy is 7-0 against Detroit.
8. The Packers have won 16 of the last 18 meetings with Detroit.
9. Joe Buck and Troy Aikman will be on the call of the game, with Pam Oliver working the sidelines.
10. The Packers' next game will also be on national TV. They host Baltimore Dec. 7 on ESPN's "Monday Night Football."
11. If the Packers qualify for the playoffs, the wild-card game will be held Jan. 9 or 10.
12. The Packers beat Detroit, 26-0, on Oct. 18 at Lambeau Field.
13. That was Green Bay's first shutout against Detroit since 1946.
14. Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson missed that game due to injury and are expected to be sidelined Thursday, too.
15. The Packers have four Michigan natives on their roster: Cullen Jenkins, Greg Jennings, Brad Jones and T.J. Lang
16. Jenkins set a career high in sacks (3) and tied his personal record in tackles (7) against Detroit on Dec. 17, 2006.
17. In three games at Ford Field, Jennings has 14 catches for 328 yards and three touchdowns.
18. Jim Schwartz, who spent 10 years as an assistant in Tennessee, is the 25th coach in Lions history.
19. Mike McCarthy is the 14th coach in Packers history.
20. The Packers have won 19 straight games against Detroit in the state of Wisconsin.
21. Green Bay has forced 22 turnovers this year, tied for third in the NFL behind New Orleans (29) and Philadelphia (23).
22. The Packers have turned the ball over eight times, the lowest figure in the league. Of Green Bay's five interceptions and three fumbles, all have come from the passing game.
23. Charles Woodson, who was a standout in college at Michigan, has 41 interceptions, which ranks sixth among active NFL players. He's picked off 24 passes in 56 games with Green Bay.
24. The Lions have lost five straight on the holiday, with all five defeats coming by double-digits. Detroit was a 47-10 loser against Tennessee on the holiday last season, and has also suffered defeats of 11, 17, 20, and 32 points since last winning on Thanksgiving back in 2003.
25. The Packers are going to win this game comfortably, probably with a score of about 38-20 or thereabouts.