The Lions’ path to a win over the Packers starts where it usually does on defense: up front. Detroit’s pass rush has been the engine of the unit this season, and that isn’t just because there hasn’t been much else to lean on. The group has been a wrecking crew, sitting first in the NFL with 20 sacks, featuring one of the league’s strongest defensive tackle rotations and, of course, Aidan Hutchinson.
That edge could matter a lot when Green Bay comes to Detroit on Sunday afternoon. The Packers’ offensive line has been rough enough that, ahead of Week 6, PFF ranked it 31st in the league. Detroit, for the record, was first in that same ranking.
If the Lions can get to Jordan Love early and keep him uncomfortable, they put themselves in the best possible position to control this game.
Love has been getting rid of the ball in a hurry, averaging 2.57 seconds to throw, which is the third-shortest mark in the league. That quick release points straight back to the protection issues around him.
It has also helped explain why Green Bay has leaned on bigger throws and drawn DPI calls to move the ball. Even with that approach, Love has already thrown four interceptions this season, and the lack of time in the pocket has played a clear role.
Detroit’s front could shape the entire feel of the Packers’ offense. Green Bay will also have to deal with Josh Jacobs, who is active for this matchup, but if he looks rusty and can’t do much with what the line gives him, then the pressure falls squarely on the Lions’ defensive line to force Love into perfect throws. That kind of setup gives Detroit its best chance all year to create takeaways through the air.
Brian Branch’s return can make that picture even more dangerous for Green Bay. When the Lions’ line doesn’t reach the quarterback, the secondary has not consistently bailed them out. Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals was their best showing, and even that came against a passing attack that has not exactly been a major threat with Jacoby Brissett lacking explosiveness this season.
This game could be the first real look at Detroit’s “fully” healthy secondary, assuming Kerby Joseph does not suit up this season. Branch would give the Lions another layer against deeper throws, pairing with Chuck Clark and giving Green Bay more to think about if it tries to push the ball downfield against a patchwork Detroit secondary.
He also brings another turnover threat. Branch closes space, cleans up mistakes and can serve as the last line of defense if the linebacker group gets caught out in coverage. Put that together with the pass rush, and Detroit has a chance to force Love into errant throws and into Branch’s area.
In Other News...
Why The Lions Contender Hype Suddenly Looks A Lot More Real
Through six weeks, the Lions have started to look less like a team riding early-season momentum and more like one with a real path to staying in the NFC race. The numbers back up the eye test, too, with the offense and defense both showing meaningful improvement from where this group has been in recent seasons. Detroit has been efficient enough to keep pace with almost anybody, and the way the unit is functioning now suggests the ceiling is higher than many expected back in September.
A big part of the optimism is what still appears to be coming. The defensive front has shown more bite, the secondary has steadied in stretches, and the team is set up to get healthier after the bye with key pieces coming back into the mix. Add in a remaining schedule that does not look overwhelming, and the case for the Lions as a legitimate contender suddenly feels a lot less theoretical. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Suddenly Face A Packers Threat That Looks Much Worse
Green Bay has spent much of its recent stretch looking like a team trying to find its footing on the ground while leaning harder on the parts of its offense that can still stress a defense. The Packers have battled inconsistency in the run game, but they remain dangerous in the vertical passing game, and their safety play has given them a sturdy backbone as they head into a matchup with Detroit.
For the Lions, that creates a very specific kind of problem. Detroit has struggled to handle deep shots, and the Packers have shown they can punish teams in those areas while also targeting the middle of the field with confidence. A few personnel changes could shape how much balance Green Bay can bring back into the offense, and that is what makes this matchup worth watching closely as the week unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Campbell Sees Something Even Scarier In Penei Sewell
Penei Sewell has already built a rsum that would satisfy almost any lineman in the league, but the Lions still believe there is more room to grow. Since Detroit drafted him in 2021, Sewell has handled the move from right tackle to left tackle with ease, and coach Dan Campbell continues to talk about him like a player still on the rise rather than one who has peaked.
That is what makes Sewell such a fascinating piece of Detroits foundation. He is already a four-time Pro Bowler and three-time NFL All-Pro, yet both he and Campbell see more improvement ahead, and Sewell has pointed to his daily battles with Aidan Hutchinson as a big reason he keeps pushing his level higher. For a Lions offense and team identity built on toughness up front, that kind of internal competition is exactly the sort of thing that can keep getting scarier. [Read more 🡒]