Detroit Lions look to make it five straight over the rival Packers

Wins are hard to come by in Lambeau Field.  The Detroit Lions head to the cheese factory with a shredder in hand, hoping to win a third straight game in Green Bay.  Not just a third straight in Packerland, but also a win tonight would mark five straight wins overall.

At one time, when the Detroit Lions locked up with Green Bay, it was nearly an automatic loss.  I remember watching Brett Favre on many occasions, just going through the motions and still coming away with wins. He’d turn and hand the ball off to Ahman Green sporting those huge white elbow pads to close out a multi-score lead.

Favre always sticks in my mind.  He appeared to ‘own’ the Lions, so I needed to check out his career record against the Lions, and my memory has served me correct.  Favre was 26-9 throughout his career against Detroit.  That brought me to wonder, how has Aaron Rodgers fared against the Lions?

Well, it’s much of the same.  Rodgers has made 18 starts against the Detroit Lions and owns a 13-5 record.  That being said, he’d lost his last two starts; he was injured in 2017 when the Lions swept the series.

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I just can’t help but remember all those lean years, but this is a different team.  Tonight won’t be a walk in the park for Rodgers and company.  It’s an inspired Detroit Lions team.  I wouldn’t predict that kicker Matt Prater will throw a touchdown or anything, but this Lions team coming off of a bye should be ready to roll into Lambeau and shock the Pack.

The Packers will be missing a massive piece on offense.  Davante Adams will remain sidelined after battling a turf toe injury.  At this point, we expect Pro Bowl corner Darius Slay to play; he will be locked up with either Geronimo Allison or Marquez Valdes-Scantling; whoever trots out to his side of the football field.  The other will draw the assignment of trying to beat Justin Coleman, another match-up that favors the Lions.

Unfortunately, Mike Daniels won’t be ready to go tonight for Detroit.  It was a game Daniels surely had circled on the calendar after Green Bay decided to part ways with the veteran interior defensive lineman. The Lions will also be missing Da’Shawn Hand, who remains out with an elbow injury. A’Shawn Robinson also did not participate this week in practice.  Safety Quantre Diggs was limited.

On offense Danny Amendola, T.J. Hockenson were both limited during the week and both figure to play tonight.  Both will provide Matthew Stafford with a viable option in the mid-range passing game.  The Packers have a tremendous corner in Jaire Alexander. The good news is he can only be matched up with one receiver.  If they decide to shadow Kenny Golladay with Alexander, Marvin Jones should be poised for a huge night.  If Alexander just plays the left corner position where Jones is regularly found, expect Kenny Golladay to have the big night.

Kerryon Johnson will look to keep things going on the ground.  If he’s running the ball effectively and the Detroit Lions are controlling the clock, in turn, keeping Rodgers on the sideline, the Lions should win the football game.

Green Bay enters the night as the divisions’ top team with a record of 4-1 that already includes wins over the Bears and Vikings.  Tonight will be Detroit’s first matchup within the NFC North.  They will look to improve on their 2-1-1 record.