The Detroit Lions will face coach Matt LaFleur, quarterback Jordan Love, and the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, one week after their historic Thanksgiving victory over Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears.
The Lions’ 23-20 victory marked the end of former Bears coach Matt Eberflus’ stint in Chicago and sent a message to the rest of the NFC North that the first-place Lions are unlikely to fade, despite a slew of defensive injuries.
The Lions now have the lofty task of corralling a Packers attack that has become one of the most diverse and dangerous in the National Football League, coming off of 30 and 38-point efforts the previous two weeks.
Here are five keys to victory for the shorthanded Lions against Green Bay this Thursday at Ford Field:
RIDE THE LIGHTNING: The Lions’ home field advantage at Ford Field is as strong as any other team in the National Football League. The Lions should look to strike first against the Packers on Thursday to secure a lead and make things tougher on Love and the Packers from the opening quarter onward, the way they did against the Bears on Thanksgiving. Thursday’s game could have another Thanksgiving type of feel to it considering the big name opponent in front of coach Dan Campbell’s Lions. Expect emotions to run high, and Detroit’s patience and resolve to be tested.
GET PRESSURE ON JORDAN LOVE: The Packers’ passing game is explosive and talented. It could be the Lions’ downfall if they don’t get pressure on Love, especially considering the Lions’ recent defensive injury concerns. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has plenty of pass rushers at his disposal to get pressure on Love including defensive end Za’Darius Smith, who has been everything advertised and more since coming over from Cleveland. Smith, Alim McNeill and the rest of the Lions’ defensive line could be the key to this game. They can’t let Love get too comfortable in the pocket.
ESTABLISH THE RUN: The Lions’ running back duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery has quietly set numerous team and league records in pacing Detroit to an 11-1 record so far this season. Campbell said that the availability of left tackle Taylor Decker (knee injury) will come down to the wire of Thursday’s game. His backup, Dan Skipper, excels at run blocking, giving the Lions something to think about as they game plan for the Packers. Detroit must establish the run to take pressure off of Jared Goff as they seek a season sweep over coach LaFleur’s Packers.
PREPARE FOR WAR: Expect the Packers to sense blood in the water given Detroit’s recent injury concerns. Green Bay is still smarting from the Lions’ January 2023 loss to Detroit that knocked then-QB Aaron Rodgers and the Packers out of the playoffs and in search of revenge. Since then, the Lions have ruled the NFC North, a position historically reserved for the Packers. Detroit must be fully and completely prepared for the Green Bay’s best, and perhaps last, shot of the season on Thursday.
WEATHER THE STORMS: Detroit could find themselves down on the scoreboard at some point Thursday with the Packers in search of revenge. If the Lions get flustered and Goff turns in another shaky performance like he did vs. the Houston Texans, when he threw five interceptions before Detroit’s comeback, the Packers could walk out of Ford Field with a win. As last season’s playoff loss to San Francisco showed, Detroit must do everything in its power to secure homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. Thursday is their next great chance to move closer to coach Campbell’s Super Bowl dreams. Expect another close game at Ford Field on Thursday, with the Lions pulling out a hard-earned win at Ford Field.
