For the second year in a row, the Packers have a shot at going 2-0 in the NFC North Division race. In 2019, then rookie Head Coach Matt LaFleur and his Packers beat the Bears on the road and the Vikings at home to propel them to a division title and deep playoff run.
After opening the 2020 campaign with an offensive explosion at US Bank Stadium last Sunday, LaFleur’s Packers welcome the Detroit Lions to Lambeau Field this weekend for their first home contest on what will be an empty tundra for the 12:00 PM kickoff.
The Lions kicked off the season by kicking away a 16 point fourth quarter lead and falling to the Chicago Bears at Ford Field 27-23. But this is the same Lions team that gave the Packers fits a year ago, leading in both games until the final snap when Mason Crosby hit walk off field goals in the 23-22 and 23-20 victories. One game into his third season at the helm, former New England assistant Matt Patricia is 9-23-1 with six of those wins coming in his first season. A year ago, Detroit was derailed when Matthew Stafford dealt with a back injury that forced him to miss the final eight games in a lost cause 3-12-1 season. Stafford is healthy for his 12th NFL campaign and is eager to go toe to toe with Aaron Rodgers and the Pack. Here’s how I see the 180th regular season meeting (GB leads 100-72-7) matching up.
When the Packers have the ball.
It might be tough to duplicate the 43 point, 522 yard eruption from a week ago but the Packers might be able to attack another young secondary thinned by injury. Three defensive backs have been on Detroit’s injury report this week and starter Desmond Trufant hasn’t practiced because of a hamstring injury. Patricia’s base 4-3 scheme will almost certainly try to take away Davante Adams after his 14 catch afternoon in the Twin Cities. The extra attention should create space for Allen Lazard and Marquez Valdes-Scantling who both found the end zone as well last week. The Packers will also want to create space on the edge with another steady diet of wide plays from motion that will stress outside linebackers Christian Jones and Jamie Collins Sr.. Middle linebacker Jarrad Davis and former Patriot defensive end Trey Flowers are the two best players on that side of the ball but David Bakhtiari won’t need any help dealing with Flowers off the edge. Detroit’s defense came apart in the 4th quarter last week allowing the Bears to rally for three touchdowns, all through the air. My hunch is Detroit will overemphasize the back end and this could be a day for the running game to rev up against the visitors from the Motor City.
When the Lions have the ball.
Say what you will about Stafford’s propensity to throw balls from odd arm angles and on the run but he’s piled up over 40,000 yards in his career that way. He also has an uncanny ability to rally the troops late if they need a comeback or the game is close. The offense, now coordinated by Darrell Bevel, still spreads defenses out with three receivers and a downfield threat at tight end. Even though Kenny Golladay who hurt the Pack last year with 8 catches for nearly 200 yards in the two games, is dealing with a hamstring injury, Detroit still has burner Marvin Jones Jr. and crafty Danny Amendola along with former Badger draft pick Quintez Cephus on the perimeter. T.J. Hockenson, a former number one pick is developing into an excellent, defense stretching tight end and he found the end zone last week. The one thing Detroit’s offense has lacked for years is a running game. Enter 35 year old Adrian Peterson, signed days before the season opener and the longtime Viking piled up 93 yards on 14 carries in his Detroit debut. The Packers must start with him, easier said than done if Kenny Clark can’t go after injuring his groin against Minnesota. Controlling early run downs will allow the pressure off the edge to build and hopefully lead to a few more ill advised chances from Stafford. Before last year’s Green Bay sweep, Detroit beat the Packers four straight times, hitting at least 30 points in every game. Another shootout on what is essentially a neutral field with no fans in the stands is a real possibility.
Don’t forget the special teams.
Matt Prater’s been a solid kicker for Detroit over his 7 years with the team and he went five for five at Lambeau last October. Jamal Agnew was among the league leaders in both punt and kickoff returns a year ago and is dangerous. The Packer special teams already has had to deal with two rare situations, returning a free kick after a safety and recovering an onside kick. They handled both well, a sign they’ve been well coached this summer. They’ll be tested again on Sunday.
The bottom line.
The Lions went over 20 years without winning on Wisconsin soil but put that streak to bed back in 2015, going 3-2 in Green Bay since but the Packers have more top to bottom talent and they should parlay the momentum from opening weekend into another strong performance. Detroit will put up a fight but I like the Packers to make it 2-0 in the North two years running with a 29-17 final.
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