Detroit Lions fans have been able to flex on the Packers more in recent years than they had in a long time. Last year, unfortunately, was not a year where they could really do so, as Green Bay made the playoffs while the Lions failed to qualify for the first time since 2022.
The good news is that the Lions face a favorable schedule in 2026 and should be the favorites to win the NFC North and get back into the postseason where they belong. As for the Packers, an issue that plagued them more often than not last year is still lingering in training camp.
Green Bay suffered tremendously at the kicker spot a season ago, with Brandon McManus struggling in the big moments. The Packers thought they fixed the issue in the offseason by drafting Florida's Trey Smack in the sixth round of this year's draft but, to Lions fans' delight, so far, that doesn't appear to be going well.
Packers’ kicking nightmare continues and Lions fans love it
Rob Demovsky of ESPN reported that during Sunday's practice, Smack missed two of his five field goal attempts, with the two misses coming from 38 yards and 45 yards out. Both went wide left.
That might not seem too bad on the surface but, according to Freddie Boston of Lombardi Ave, the Packers' kicker woes is something that should worry the fan base. The reason why is that Smack is currently the only kicker on Green Bay's roster. That's right - Despite Smack being a rookie, the Packers don't have any competition for him in training camp as of this writing.
"Smack got his first real opportunity to kick at training camp on Sunday, and it followed a concerning pattern from the offseason program," Boston wrote. "Smack may be the long-term solution, but after a rocky few months, the team can't be as all-in on their rookie kicker as they'd like to be. It's time to add competition. Real competition."
It's pretty ballsy to not give a rookie kicker any competition and to just hand him the job. Boston did discuss how the Packers could end up doing so but, as of now, it's just Smack at kicker.
Lions fans certainly hope that the Packers continue to let Smack be their only option and that he continues to struggle. It was quite entertaining to see McManus struggle mightily in Green Bay a season ago and Detroit would love it if the Packers kept missing crucial field goals. That just makes their path to the NFC North title that much easier.
Add us as a preferred source on Google