Detroit Lions season starts to heat up: Forecasting the next 4 games

Mon. 10/14 @ Green Bay (4-1)

Lambeau Field of late hasn’t been the torture chamber that it once was for the Honolulu Blues. After winning on the road in this rivalry three of the past four years, any extra psychological barrier that Green Bay might have previously had seems to have passed.

The problem is, the Packers through the first month have been a lot better than people expected, and are winning games in a much different way than we’ve been accustomed to seeing. Rather than the age-old picture of the Aaron Rodgers bomb squadron outdueling opposing offenses, it’s two new guys named Smith (Za’Darius and Preston, combined 10.5 sacks) who are leading a resurgent defense.

Through five games, Rodgers is on pace for his worst statistical season (when staying healthy) since he became the Packers starter in 2008. The fact that Green Bay is 4-1 anyway (and all four wins against teams above .500) is scary. It probably goes without saying, but I highly doubt we’ll see any Matt Prater touchdown passes in this one either.

Outlook: If Green Bay wins, they’d already be 3-0 in division games, and have a 2.5 game lead over Detroit in the standings. With a Lions win, not only would it put them in first for the time being, but it might be necessary to keep the Pack from running away with the NFC North early.

Historically, a game like this equals a Lions loss, and of all the remaining opponents, history is by far the hardest one.