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NFC Game Of The Week
Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions
Packers (4-2):
Sometimes, it takes just one game to wake you up, and I think that game for the green and yellow came in Week 4 against the Chicago Bears. It’s the oldest rivalry in our game, and the fans can’t stand each other. I also knew the Packers would have a little extra motivation because they lost to the Bears twice last season, with one of those matchups taking place in the Wild Card Round of the NFL playoffs in January. With that being said, you knew they’d enter that game with a serious chip on their shoulder. I remember previewing that game, and the opening sentence I wrote was, “Who are they?” The beginning of the year looked ugly. They had no real offensive identity and truly struggled to run the football, let alone move the ball consistently as a whole. That Week 4 showdown was the best I had seen Jordan Love look since his playoff debut against the Dallas Cowboys a few weeks earlier, and anything he wanted, he got. It was almost as if the Bears knew the deep pass was coming, yet they simply couldn’t stop it! Since the loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3, the Packers have won their last three games, and I’d like to talk about what I’ve seen from them. First, the defense has gotten back to setting the tone. They’re using coverage schemes to disrupt opposing quarterbacks and have allowed 14 points or fewer in each of their last three games. Offensively, Jordan has a nice tandem developing with Christian Watson and Matthew Golden. Plus, the Packers are attacking defenses in multiple ways instead of relying on one guy to carry the passing attack. Lastly, this offensive line has improved dramatically. Better protection allows the quarterback to buy time and make plays downfield. This Sunday, the Packers will bring their winning streak into Motown for a divisional showdown.
Lions (3-2):
I’m still trying to figure out who they are and where to place them in the NFC. I’ll admit that, over the last few years, it’s been nice seeing them become relevant once again. They’ve won the NFC North two years in a row, but to me, they haven’t improved or ascended since the season in which they reached the NFC Championship Game. I had no doubts about their offense entering this season. Jared Goff has had tremendous command and control of this unit and operates in a way that only he can. Amon-Ra St. Brown is one of the ten best wide receivers in the game today and has given Jared a truly reliable No. 1 receiving option. However, the piece that puts this entire offense together is running back Jahmyr Gibbs. If you told me he was the best at his position, I wouldn’t disagree with you, although what that guy in Atlanta, Bijan Robinson, is doing has been quite impressive. This Lions offense is averaging 32 points per game and can score in bunches when the opportunity presents itself. Here’s why I don’t consider this Detroit team a Super Bowl contender: its defense. For as many points as the Lions score, they give up just as many. So far this season, they’ve scored 31 points three times, along with 26 and 45 points in their other two games. That shows the offense is producing and doing all it can to keep the team in games. But let’s look at the points they’ve allowed: 30 to the Saints, 41 to Buffalo, 24 to the Jets, 32 to Carolina, and 21 to Arizona. This pass rush struggles to create pressure without exposing the secondary, which is the most glaring weakness on this team. The defense is hands down the biggest question mark, especially when it comes to pass defense. The Lions return from their bye week for a big divisional showdown.
Packers X-Factor: Xavier McKinney
I was so excited when the Packers signed him, and he’s turned into a solid piece of this defense. Xavier is one of those guys you must know where he is at all times because he can make you pay for your mistakes if he’s hovering around the football. This Green Bay defense leads the league in interceptions with nine, and Xavier has three of them. Will he be able to read Jared Goff’s eyes, jump a route, and create a game-changing turnover? He’s a ball hawk who can consistently disguise his coverage looks. If the Packers are generating pressure up front, Xavier can capitalize on that and attack the passing lanes.
Lions X-Factor: Sam LaPorta
This is another one of Goff’s key weapons in the passing attack, and if St. Brown is taken out of the equation, Sam is usually Jared’s next read. The middle of the field has been a weakness for the Packers’ defense, and this is where No. 87 comes into the picture. Sam is a reliable third-down weapon and a consistent target in the red zone. If he can force Green Bay to account for him, it will open up opportunities for everyone else on the Lions’ offense. I look for him to take full advantage of those opportunities, and he should get his targets.
Final Thoughts:
This is an important game for both teams. The Packers enter this matchup on a three-game winning streak, while the Lions are attempting to keep pace. Last season, the Packers swept the season series between these two teams. The Lions are expected to get a boost in their secondary with the return of Brian Branch, which is massive for them, while Green Bay is expected to have Josh Jacobs on the field for the first time this season. The Packers’ offensive line must continue to play the way it has been playing and allow Love to buy time to throw downfield. Give him time to identify coverages and deliver accurate passes. Green Bay must attack the Lions’ secondary, which has been their biggest weakness. I expect Watson and Golden to stretch the field vertically. Lastly, the Packers must contain Gibbs and get him down as soon as the ball touches his hands. The Lions, on the other hand, must feed Gibbs the ball and allow him to run against a Green Bay run defense that has struggled at times this year. They must also create opportunities for Sam LaPorta and limit Jordan Love’s opportunities to attack downfield. These are always close battles, especially in Detroit, and that’s exactly what I think we’ll see on Sunday.
