The Detroit Lions' NFC North games this year are expected to be fiercely competitive. Every team has a starting-caliber quarterback, with the Minnesota Vikings having gotten Kyler Murray this offseason, and every team is expected to post a record above .500 following a low-point in 2025.
Jared Goff will have an especially arduous road ahead of him this year, with the teams' final two contests coming on the road against the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers. He's improved with his play in cold weather contests since coming over to the Lions, but he'll really need to prove that he can bat that narrative down entirely in these critical matches.
Lombardi Ave. writer Freddie Boston also recognizes just how seriously the Packers, and Lions, must be taking both of their matchups this year, but Boston feels the Packers' road game at the Lions might be the more difficult of the two for Green Bay to dominate in. When asked which game would be the Packers' most difficult, Boston said:
"Week 7, at Lions. Trips to Ford Field are always daunting (despite the Packers winning there twice in the past three seasons, let's just point that out). It will be even tougher for Green Bay this year. Coming off two monumental matchups against the Bears and Cowboys, the weary Packers will travel to Detroit to face a Lions team coming off a bye week. That's challenging. Dan Campbell's team will have additional time to prepare and, crucially, get healthy. It will put the Packers behind the eight ball in a game with so much on the line."
Packers writer names surprising Lions game as one to be most weary of
Both games should be daunting, but the Lions' Week 7 game against the Packers could be their first (and only) opportunity in 2026 to get some revenge on Green Bay from their 2025 sweep. The teams' Thanksgiving win over the Lions was bad enough, but their Week 1 pumelling of Detroit should've been a sign of things to come.
Green Bay drafted solidly considering their lack of picks, taking a much-needed cornerback in Brandon Cisse at 52nd overall, in addition to a much-needed pass rusher in Dani Dennis-Sutton. They also did well to shore up their offensive line a bit in free agency, signing Sean Rhyan to add depth at the position.
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There's a world where the Packers and Lions are vying for a final spot in the NFC postseason picture with similar records, and after having beaten down on other NFC North competition. That's what makes these two games so huge for the Lions, not to state the obvious. Being able to take on a team like Green Bay - especially once Micah Parsons is healthy - would go a long way towards proving that this is a much-improved Lions unit.
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