Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers: Week 2 game preview

The Detroit Lions will look to win their first game of the season on the road

Before every game each week, I’ll write a preview article about the Detroit Lions upcoming matchup. The article will take a look at the history between the two teams, what occurred during their last matchup, what to watch for, the key thing to the game/what the Lions will need to do to win and to end off, a prediction.

For Week 2, the Lions head to Lambeau Field to face the Green Bay Packers, the first of two matchups between the longtime division rivals.

Matchup history

The Lions and Packers have played each other 181 times where Green Bay has the advantage with a 102-72-7 record. The Packers have a two game win streak against the Lions that dates back to last season.

Last matchup

The last time these two teams faced off was in the last week of the 2019 season where the Packers won 23-20. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw for 323 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Running back Aaron Jones rushed for 100 yards on 24 attempts and wide receiver Davante Adams caught seven passes for 93 yards and a touchdown. The other touchdown went to wide receiver Allen Lazard.

This time around, the Lions had David Blough at quarterback where he was disastrous in this matchup as he threw for 122 yards with a touchdown. The Lions ran a wildcat play where wide receiver Danny Amendola acted as a quarterback and threw for 19 yards. Running back Ty Johnson got 65 yards on just three carries. In the passing attack, wide receiver Kenny Golladay caught three catches for 72 yards.

What to watch for

Two things to watch for in the Packers offense. Will the Lions defense, specifically the secondary, be able to track Rodgers throws? Rodgers is one of the best quarterbacks in the game who’s destined for the Hall of Fame when he’s eligible and had a career completion rate of 64.6%.

Another thing in regards to the Lions defense, who’s going to cover Adams? Will it be cornerback Desmond Trufant? Perhaps cornerback Jeff Okudah who has yet to make his season debut? The cornerback department is already down a guy as Justin Coleman is out for at least the next three weeks.

On the offensive side of things, how will rookie running back D’Andre Swift bounce back mentally after dropping the game winning catch? The Lions fans and media bashed Swift for what occurred and the team needs for that to not to get to him.

Keys to the game/What the Lions need to do to win the game

The biggest thing for the Lions is to find a way to contain Adams. Whether that is putting an experienced corner in Trufant, a dynamic, high upside player in Okudah or to double team him. Whatever it is, they need to find a way to stop Adams.

Prediction 

As the Lions defense is still shaky, which they showed so in the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears, they’ll have problems stopping Rodgers.

Even if they are able to stop Adams, the Packers have Lazard who’s a solid second option. Last week, he caught all four of his targets for 63 yards and a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings. With the Lions defense being weaker than the Vikings, Lazard will put up a better game than he did last week which will get the Packers a win.

Meanwhile, the Lions get handed their second straight loss and the media keeps laughing at them for the laughingstock they are. Two straight losses. 0-2.