Four Reasons the Detroit Lions Can Win in Green Bay

Eric Ebron

I know, I know. He’s not been worth the No. 10 overall pick in 2014.

Get over it, haters.

Ebron has been the most reliable receiving option this year. He’s the only receiver who doesn’t have a drop. He was great against Tennessee, the bogus pass interference call that wiped out his touchdown catch included.

Through two games the Detroit Lions tight end has nine receptions on 12 targets for 99 yards and a TD. He’s also shown improvement as a blocker in space, helping to spring Theo Riddick and Ameer Abdullah to a few extra yards with nice blocks on second-level defenders.

The Packers had no answer for Jacksonville’s Julius Thomas in the opener, and Ebron is a faster version of the Jaguars tight end. With an injury to CB Sam Shields, expect Green Bay to use their safeties more on the outside to help try and contain Golden Tate and Marvin Jones. That should create opportunities for Ebron, and thus far in 2016 he has delivered.

And by the way, the player then-GM Martin Mayhew really wanted to draft in place of Ebron was Justin Gilbert, a corner who barely sees the field for Pittsburgh after being in real danger of not making the worst NFL team since the 2008 Detroit Lions went winless, this year’s Cleveland Browns. Be grateful for Ebron, folks…

Green Bay is banged up too

Detroit is struggling to keep 11 healthy players available to field a viable defense, but the enemy Packers are also in pretty rough shape…

Green Bay already pronounced starting CB Sam Shields out as well. That means the Packers will face a diverse Lions attack without half their starting secondary and the only viable outside pass rushing threat.

Pair this with a revamped Detroit Lions offensive line, where Riley Reiff at right tackle has spearheaded a rushing attack that ranks third (3^rd!?!) in yards per carry, and the Lions offense should find a lot of success at Lambeau Field.

Will it be enough? We’ll find out Sunday at 1 PM!