Four Reasons the Detroit Lions Can Win in Green Bay

Lack of Packer Weaponry

While the debate in Wisconsin rages over Aaron Rodgers’ perceived decline, what is fact is the great Green Bay QB doesn’t have a lot of help at his disposal. Even with Jordy Nelson back from his 2015 knee injury, the Packers lack a quality depth and variety of offensive weapons.

Nelson has been merely okay in his return, catching 11 passes for 105 yards and 2 TDs in his first two games back from ACL reconstruction. His hands look fine but the burst off the line and out of breaks isn’t quite what it used to be. Still, he’s a viable No. 1 wideout that will challenge the Detroit Lions hit-and-miss secondary.

Randall Cobb underwhelms as the second option. He’s a playmaking guy but just hasn’t made plays after the catch; only one of his 11 receptions tops 18 yards and he averages less than 2 yards after the catch so far.

The Detroit secondary has some coverage issues, but the corners–notably Nevin Lawson–do tackle well. And beyond Nelson and Cobb, Green Bay’s paucity of receiving options is dire. Davante Adams might be the most unreliable wideout in the league, but he’s the only other WR with more than one target all season. Tight ends Jared Cook and Richard Rodgers have one reception longer than 8 yards between them.

Then there are the running backs. Eddie Lacy runs like you would expect a guy pushing 250 pounds to run, powerful but not very elusive. Though he’s averaging 4.3 yards per carry, the figure is misleading. Just two of his runs account for 40 percent of those yards, and just four of his 28 carries gained more than 5 yards. Backup James Starks has been even less effective, gaining just 11 yards on 10 carries.