5 Detroit Lions who must play well in Week 9 against the Packers
4. WR Kalif Raymond
Raymond has stepped into a bigger role lately. He has at least 75 yards in each of the last two games, with a target share north of 16 percent over the Lions’ last four games.
With DJ Chark on IR, Josh Reynolds landing on the injury report with a new injury seemingly every week, Raymond has become a reliable target for Jared Goff. And one of the others, tight end T.J. Hockenson, was traded this week.
Raymond may see a fair amount of targets on Sunday, but volume isn’t so important. If he can make a big play or two within whatever opportunities he gets, it will be big for the Lions’ offense.
3. QB Jared Goff
Obvious, but true. Goff had a better outing in Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins (321 yards, one touchdown, no interception, 108.1 passer rating), not that he could’ve been much worse than he was in the previous two games.
Green Bay’s defense is much better than Miami’s, so they will be a greater challenge more along the lines of the New England and Dallas defenses that stifled Goff. Being at home will be helpful for the Lions’ signal caller, but he can’t have a game with an avalanche of mistakes on Sunday if the team will have any chance to win.