Four losing Sundays in a row has riled up the Green Bay Packers and their fans as they turn the page to the second half of the 2022 season by visiting their long time neighbors to the east, the Detroit Lions. At 3-5, it’s obvious the Pack needs a win, against a division rival no less. About that rivalry. the only team the Packers have played more often is the Chicago Bears, the granddaddy of NFL rivalries. The Minnesota Vikings might be the most intense rival, considering the vitriol among fans on either side of the border and the fact they’ve battled for division supremacy in recent years. Detroit? It’s like the third rivalry. The friendly neighbor you see twice a year. As anxious as Packer fans are about the direction this season might go, consider the Lion faithful and what they’ve had to endure for what, 65 years? It was 1957 when Bobby Layne led Detroit to the NFL title, their third and last of that decade. The Lions stayed feisty into the 60’s against Lombardi’s Packers but that franchise has known nothing but misery pretty much since. Their last playoff victory was in 1991, their last division title was 1993, Detroit went nearly 30 years without winning on Wisconsin soil and they had to endure an 0-16 season in 2008. This year, it’s 1-6 for second year head coach Dan Campbell. He’s 4-19-1 in his tenure. The Pack might have a rough season now and then….but it could be Detroit. Count your blessings.
So will the GB skid end Sunday at Ford Field?
When the Packers have the ball.
Offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said it best this week, “The only consistency, has been our inconsistency.” That goes from execution to personnel. Last minute scratches of David Bakhtiari one week and Elgton Jenkins the next has kept the offensive line in flux. Wide receiver has been another revolving door. The Packers are crossing fingers the two linemen will be back. Both, along with receivers Allen Lazard and Christian Watson who returned to practice this week, are all listed as questionable going into the ball game.
This might be the perfect game to get the band back together and start executing better together. Detroit’s defense in a word…. is awful. Dead last in yards allowed per game (421.3). Next to last in rushing yards allowed (154.9). Back on the bottom of the league in points allowed per game (32.1).
While not perfect (see 4th and 1 in Buffalo), the Packers run game blocking showed marked improvement last week (208 yards). Getting that kind of production from Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon again at Ford Field should create opportunities for downfield explosion, sorely lacking. Detroit’s secondary will have a new voice leading the room after assistant Aubrey Pleasant was sacrificed last week by Campbell. Winnable matchups must be exploited. The Packers haven’t scored 30 points but once this season, needing a full overtime to do it. They’ll have that chance Sunday.
When the Lions have the ball.
At Ford Field, Detroit has been high flying on offense. Lots of points, more explosive plays than anyone and a former Packer leading the cheerleading. Jamaal Williams leads the team in rushing (464) and touchdowns scored (8). Jared Goff has Amon-Ra St. Brown and Josh Reynolds making plays downfield. It will be interesting to see how the departure of tight end T.J. Hockenson will impact the play calling. The Lions will stress the entire field.
De’Vondre Campbell has already been ruled out with his knee injury. First round pick Quay Walker will assume the play calling management duties. The Packers activated Krys Barnes off injured reserve on Saturday and he’ll be available for sub snaps behind Walker’s expected early running mate in Isaiah McDuffie.
The Lions will take their shots regardless of field position or circumstance and don’t be surprised to see a few trick plays from Campbell who has little to lose, other than a 7th game in 8 starts. The Packers have to force Detroit to drive for points, rather than giving them chunk plays that bring them to scoring range easily.
The bottom line.
Heaven forbid it goes the other way but the Packers have had enough. The month long crash will end.
I like the Pack 27-24.
