The Detroit Lions are back from their Week 6 bye with a divisional heavyweight waiting at Ford Field, and the timing of this matchup makes it feel like an early measuring stick. On Sunday afternoon, they’ll face a Green Bay Packers team that has ripped off three straight wins and is coming off a 23-13 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.
Detroit, meanwhile, went into the break riding the momentum of a 45-21 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 5. Now the Lions open NFC North play against a Packers squad that looks equipped to stress one of their biggest problems.
Jordan Love has been willing to attack downfield, and that puts pressure on Detroit to get after him before he can uncork throws to Christian Watson and Matthew Golden. That pass rush battle feels central here, because if Love gets time, Green Bay has the kind of weapons that can make life miserable for the Lions’ coverage units.
At the same time, Detroit will need to get Jahmyr Gibbs involved after Green Bay did a strong job against him in both meetings last year. Jared Goff, who has yet to throw an interception through five games, has to keep that streak intact if the Lions want to put themselves in position to win.
The Packers also arrive with a potential boost on the ground, as Josh Jacobs is set to return and give Green Bay another layer on offense. That only adds to the challenge for Kelvin Sheppard’s defense, especially with Watson and Golden both playing some of the best football of their NFL careers.
Still, Detroit’s defense should look different with Brian Branch back in the lineup. His return gives the secondary a better chance to handle Green Bay’s passing game, even if the issues at boundary corner remain a major concern. There’s also the possibility of a busy afternoon for Tucker Kraft, while Sam LaPorta could be in line for production of his own after creating noise around a lucrative new contract.
The week off may have helped the Lions take a step toward fixing a porous secondary, but the real answer will come Sunday. Green Bay is tough to pin down, divisional games have their own edge, and the Packers have the kind of pieces that can expose Detroit if the game turns into a track meet.
Even so, the Lions come in rested, energized and with Ford Field behind them. With Brian Branch back, Jared Goff staying clean, and the offense carrying the momentum from the first month of the season, Detroit can make enough plays late to start this stretch with a win.
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Lions Depth Chart Shakeups Carry Extra Weight Against Green Bay
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Among the updates, DeAndre Carter now shows up on the active roster, giving Detroit another option as it sorts through personnel for a divisional test. The chart also reflects movement at safety, where Brian Branch is back in the mix after being activated from the PUP list, while Kerby Joseph is still waiting on the same list and remains eligible to return later. [Read more 🡒]
Alim McNeill Is Giving Lions Fans A New Reason To Trust This D-Line
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Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard has singled out McNeill for the way he has influenced both the pass rush and the run defense, a welcome development for a unit that has needed more consistency on the interior. For a Lions front trying to establish trust week after week, McNeills impact has become one of the clearest reasons to believe this group can hold up when the games get tight. [Read more 🡒]