Nolan Bianchi, John Niyo, Richard Silva and Bob Wojnowski of The Detroit News offer predictions for Thursday’s Lions-Packers game at Ford Field in Detroit (8:15 p.m., Fox, Amazon Prime/97.1).

▶ Nolan Bianchi: It’s not often you see an 11-1 team in a must-win game, but if the Lions are to uphold their aspirations of capturing the No. 1 seed in the NFC, this game is as close to a must-win as it gets. Green Bay is feeling awfully good about itself after winning three straight — the last two by double digits — and the Packers believe they were the better team in a 24-14 Lions victory at Lambeau Field in Week 9. Under those circumstances, I can’t help but go with a Dan Campbell-led team. He’s had the number of Packers coach Matt LaFleur since the 2022 season, and I don’t see this being a situation where Green Bay pounces on Detroit like they did in the Thanksgiving matchup at Ford Field between these teams a season ago. Detroit will be more than ready for the challenge after a close call with the Bears last week. Pick: Lions, 30-27

▶ John Niyo: The Lions have won five of the last six against the division-rival Packers. But that loss last year came at Ford Field, when Green Bay spoiled Detroit’s Thanksgiving with a wire-to-wire victory.  This time, it’s a prime-time matchup with lots at stake and plenty of injury concerns for Dan Campbell’s team. That last part explains why Vegas has it essentially a toss-up aside from the home-field advantage. This looks like a different Green Bay squad than the one the Lions faced a month ago, as the Packers’ pass rush has emerged on one side of the ball, while Jordan Love has taken care of the football on the other. Unless Aaron Glenn’s crew finds a way to reverse that trend, their streak may be in jeopardy. Pick: Packers, 31-27

▶ Richard Silva: The Lions, despite their best start in franchise history, are far from a guarantee to win the NFC North, with the Packers and Vikings breathing down their necks. This matchup with Green Bay has obvious divisional implications, but it also matters in the race for the conference’s No. 1 overall seed; with a win, Detroit’s chances of earning the top spot will rise to 84%, per the New York Times’ playoff predictor. The question is whether this team can continue to overcome injury after injury. It’ll probably be close, but given the track record — Detroit is undefeated since losing Aidan Hutchinson, a feat that can’t be overstated — I’m not picking against head coach Dan Campbell’s squad. Pick: Lions 31, Packers 30

▶ Bob Wojnowski: It’s a blockbuster Thursday night game between two of the hottest teams in the league. The Lions have won 10 straight and the Packers have won seven of eight, with their only loss to the Lions. Difference is, Packers are among the healthiest and Lions are among the ouchiest (made-up word, I know). In the first meeting — the Lions’ 24-14 victory at Lambeau — Jordan Love was playing through a groin injury. In three straight wins since, he has a 69.1 completion percentage, five TD passes and one interception. Detroit’s injury-riddled defense will need all available resources, including the Ford Field noise. It starts with stopping Josh Jacobs, who’s rushed for 987 yards with a 4.5 per-carry average. The Lions certainly can match that with Jahmyr Gibbs (973 yards, 6.0) and David Montgomery (720 yards, 4.3). Jared Goff directs the NFL’s top-scoring offense, and improved red-zone efficiency will be paramount. Montgomery punches in two touchdowns and the Lions win a wild one. Pick: Lions, 32-29

DETROIT – The bailiff who fatally shot a man during an eviction will not be charged, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office announced.

After reviewing the case, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy determined that the bailiff acted in “lawful self-defense“ and the ”shooting was justified.”

“The alleged facts in this case are far too common and evinces a continued need for mental health crisis intervention teams,” said Worthy in a release. “The body worn camera footage shows the 36 District Court bailiff did try to deescalate the actions of Mr. Butler, and the police did call a crisis intervention team. However, prior to their arrival, the bailiff had to act in self-defense and defense of others, and as a result Mr. Butler is now deceased. The actions of the bailiff were not criminal given these circumstances.”

Case Background

At 10:53 a.m. on July 12, two officers responded to an apartment building in the 17650 block of Manderson to assist a 36th District Court bailiff who was trying to evict a resident.

The bailiff told officers that the tenant was being aggressive.

The officers and the bailiff breached the door and went into the apartment, and one of the officers explained to Sherman Butler, 44, that he was being evicted.

When that officer was given the order of eviction to read to Butler, he was sitting on the bed holding a box cutter to his neck.

“Mr. Butler was sitting on a bed in the bedroom with a box cutter in his right hand placed next to his neck,” according to the prosecutor’s office. He was highly agitated and refused to leave the apartment. He made multiple statements that the only way he was leaving was if the Officers used weapons and killed him. Mr. Butler was instructed numerous times to drop the box cutter. He was volatile and consistently refused to drop it.”

That officer and the bailiff decided it was necessary to tase Butler to try and get him to drop the box cutter. While this was happening, other Detroit officers arrived and called the Crisis Intervention Team to assist.

Both of the responding officers deployed their tasers, but they didn’t work.

When this happened, Butler allegedly got up off the bed and waved the box cutter toward the bailiff, which prompted the bailiff to fire shots at him.

Then, when Butler started moving toward one of the officers, the bailiff fired more shots.

Butler was struck multiple times and fell to the ground.

The officers rendered aid and called EMS before Butler was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

After reviewing the case the prosecutor said that Butler “quickly rose from the bed” moving toward the officer and the bailiff “with an outstretched arm” holding the box cutter, which at that point, could be considered a deadly weapon.

“Under Michigan law, an individual is allowed to use force, including deadly force, when necessary to protect themselves and in defense of others,” according to the release. “The person must honestly and reasonably believe that the use of deadly force was necessary to prevent imminent death or imminent great bodily harm to themselves or others.”