In the past two seasons, the Detroit Lions have become the class of the NFC North. The Lions have won division titles in each of the past two seasons under Dan Campbell and haven’t lost a divisional game since a 28-13 loss to the Chicago Bears on Dec. 10, 2023.
In other words, if the other teams in the division want to take the crown, they’ll have to go through Detroit to do it. One rival playmaker in particular admitted he can’t get the Lions out of his head and it could play a key role in the season opener when Detroit travels to take on the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 7.
Has Keisean Nixon started watching tape of the Lions ahead of Week 1?
— Zach Kruse (@zachkruse2) August 19, 2025
"I never stopped. I've been watching film (on them) since we got back, honestly. Just seeing what we did wrong last year and how to fix it."
The Lions Are Living Rent-Free in the Packers’ Heads ahead of Week 1
Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon will have a pivotal role in the season opener as he looks to stop a passing attack led by Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. When asked if he’s already started watching tape ahead of the season-opening showdown, Nixon basically revealed that the Lions haven’t left his thoughts since the end of last season.
“I never stopped. I’ve been watching film [on them] since we got back, honestly,” Nixon said. “Just seeing what we did wrong last year and how to fix it.”
Nixon may just be doing his due diligence on his Week 1 opponent, but the Lions, as the kids say, may be living rent-free in his head.
The Packers have been a stepping stone for the Lions in their rise to an NFC power and used to be where Detroit is now, winning three straight division titles from 2019 to 2021. One of the biggest events that caused a shift of power was the Lions’ 20-16 upset at the end of the 2022 season. Campbell’s aggressive playcalling took center stage in a game where Detroit had already been eliminated from playoff contention, but the game still had a butterfly effect for both teams.
The Lions have gone 29-8 (including playoffs) since that upset win at Lambeau Field while the Packers went 20-15. That game also signaled the end to the Aaron Rodgers era as he was traded to the New York Jets the following spring and Detroit has won the last three meetings between the two teams.
With this in mind, it wouldn’t be surprising if Nixon saw Campbell serving him an Applebee’s Ultimate Trio in his dreams. But it’s just a reminder that the Lions will have teams gunning for them as they aim for a third straight NFC North crown.