The Detroit Lions look to beat the Green Bay Packers this Sunday for the first time since 2018.
The Detroit Lions (5-7) host the Green Bay Packers (9-3) this Sunday at Ford Field. The Lions are looking to bounce back after an embarrassing 42-21 loss earlier this season at Lambeau Field against the Pack. Detroit is coming off a thrilling late-game comeback win over a division rival; the Chicago Bears and the Packers are coming off a blowout win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
As crazy as this may seem, the Lions are still in the wild card race and have a slim chance to make the playoffs. One step at a time though, they need to win this week. New interim head coach, Darrell Bevell seems to have a good grasp of the locker room as the team played with a different intensity last week and are 1-0 post-Matt Patricia era.
Let’s look at the top two things the Lions need to do to beat the Packers this weekend. As always, it is easier said than done, but with this newfound energy, it is possible.
1. Contain Aaron Rodgers
MVP front runner Aaron Rodgers and his state farm insurance commercials have been an unstoppable force, for the most part, this year. He is boasting 37 total touchdowns, only 4 interceptions, 3,476 total yards, and a completion percentage of 69%.
The Lions need to slow Rodgers down this time. The last time they played, Rodgers and the Packers’ offense went for 488 total yards, averaged 7.4 yards per play, and only punted three times. That kind of performance on the defensive side of the ball for the Lions is not going to win them a football game, ever.
The defense is going to need to step up to have the Packers punt more than three times on Sunday to even give quarterback Matthew Stafford and the offense a chance to get in a rhythm.
2. No Turnovers, again!
Same story, different day for Detroit’s offense. The turnovers this year have been brutal and have cost them multiple games. Stafford has 9 interceptions so far this year, all of which have come at pretty bad times in the game.
Three out of five of the Lions victories have come when the offense has not had a turnover. If they want a legitimate shot to win on Sunday then they need to protect the football at all costs. Back to the fundamentals of no interceptions, no fumbles, no muffed punts, etc.
The bottom line is, they need to contain #12 on the Packers and protect the football and go out and play with the same looseness, intensity, heart, and passion that they played with last week. Let’s see if the Lions can put it all together in back to back weeks and move to 6-7 on the season, while interim head coach Darrell Bevell will look to move his head coaching record to 2-0 this Sunday.