Not much went right for the Detroit Lions in Week 1. They lost 27–13 to the Green Bay Packers, falling behind early and never really threatening to climb back into it. Things won’t get any easier either, as they now turn around for another divisional showdown in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears.
Despite running nearly 20 more plays than Green Bay, Detroit finished with 20 fewer total yards.
Jared Goff’s final stat line looks clean on the surface—31 completions on 39 attempts for a sparkling 79.5 percent completion rate. The problem was that those completions only netted 200 yards, a measly 4.7 yards per attempt. The Lions moved the ball in small chunks but failed to generate explosive plays.
The run game was even worse. Detroit gained just 46 yards on 22 attempts, a paltry 2.1 yards per carry. For an offense built around balance and versatility, the lack of juice was glaring.
But amid all the offensive struggles, Sam LaPorta stood out as the silver lining.
Sam LaPorta Was the Biggest Silver Lining for the Lions on Sunday
The third-year tight end reminded everyone why he was so highly regarded coming out of Iowa and why he earned Pro Bowl honors as a rookie.
Taken with the 34th overall pick in the 2023 draft, LaPorta set the NFL rookie record for receptions by a tight end with 86 (since obliterated by Brock Bowers), totaling 889 yards and 10 touchdowns that year. It was good enough to make him only the second rookie tight end in Lions history to earn a Pro Bowl nod.
His encore in 2024 wasn’t as electric—60 catches, 726 yards, and seven touchdowns. That dip was partly due to the Lions’ embarrassment of riches on offense, with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Jahmyr Gibbs all demanding touches. LaPorta became more of a complementary piece than a featured weapon.
But against the Packers, he looked like a player determined to reclaim center stage.
LaPorta finished with six catches for 79 yards, leading both teams in receiving. His biggest moment came early in the third quarter when he lined up on the left side, broke across the field on a deep crosser, and slipped free through the coverage. Once he secured the ball, he rumbled another 20 yards after the catch for a 38-yard gain—by far Detroit’s longest play of the game.
That chunk gain was a breath of fresh air for an offense that had been stuck in neutral all afternoon. Beyond the big play, LaPorta consistently found soft spots in Green Bay’s zone and turned short catches into meaningful gains.
For Detroit, his performance was more than just empty numbers in a loss. It was a reminder of how dynamic he can be when he’s a focal point in the passing game. If the Lions are going to get their offense humming again, LaPorta needs to be at the heart of it—not just as a safety valve, but as a playmaker who forces defenses to account for him.
After a down year, LaPorta appears poised to reestablish himself as one of the league’s top young tight ends. If Sunday was any indication, he’s well on his way to recapturing that rookie-year magic.
For a Lions team in search of positives, their Pro Bowl tight end provided the biggest silver lining.