close
close

Association-anemone

Bite-sized brilliance in every update

The NFC North matchup features the Lions’ potent offense against the Packers’ run-of-the-ball defense
asane

The NFC North matchup features the Lions’ potent offense against the Packers’ run-of-the-ball defense

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Detroit Lions have a big offense.

The Green Bay Packers specialize in taking the ball.

The NFL’s top-scoring offense and the league’s leader in sacks will square off on Sunday when the NFC North-leading Lions (6-1) visit the Packers (6-2).

The game features the two hottest teams in the NFC as the Lions have won five straight while the Packers have won four straight.

“It’s going to be a playoff game,” Packers linebacker Josh Jacobs said.

The Packers come into this game with one uncertain quarterback situation.

Jordan Love has left the Packers 30-27 win at Jacksonville in the third quarter Sunday with a groin strain, though he said Wednesday there was a “realistic” chance of being able to play against the Lions. He did not practice Wednesday, but did practice on a limited basis Thursday in the rain.

Backup quarterback Malik Willis started two games in Love’s place this season, and the Packers won both games. He also threw a 51-yard completion to Jacksonville’s Jayden Reed that led to Brandon McManus’ field goal as time expired.

“I think we have a pretty good idea of ​​what we’re going to get, no matter who’s out there,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “And they are both very good athletes. They can both run. Both can cause problems in the pocket.”

Green Bay may need to score a lot to keep up with the Lions, who are averaging 33.4 points per game this season. They have averaged 43 points over their last four games.

The Lions have been hard to slow down on offense because they are versatile and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is adept at making changes in the game.

“Nobody corrects better than us,” tight end Sam LaPorta said Johnson tells the team. “No one adapts better than us.”

Detroit’s high-scoring offense has the Lions off to their fastest start since 1956, when they won seven of their first eight games.

That offense will have to be careful against the Packers, who have a record 19 takeaways. Green Bay’s Xavier McKinney has six interceptions and seven total as he also recovered a fumble.

Discussion of turnover

Although the Packers have the most takeaways in the league, the Lions have a better turnover margin.

Detroit’s plus-10 turnover differential puts the Lions in a tie for second in the league, behind only Buffalo’s plus-11. The Lions have committed just five turnovers this season, while the Packers have 12.

Detroit’s Kerby Joseph has five interceptions to rank second in the league, behind only McKinney. Detroit’s Brian Branch is tied for third with four interceptions.

Secondary concerns

Green Bay’s secondary could be less than full strength as it tries to contain the Lions.

Cornerback Jaire Alexander injured his knee late in the Jaguars game, and rookie safety Evan Williams is dealing with a hamstring injury that leaves both players’ status up in the air for Sunday’s game.

Detroit will be without wide receiver Jameson Williams, who fills in for his two game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.

on the run

The Lions averaged 175.5 yards over the two games against the Packers last season and are running efficiently again with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Gibbs ran for 591 yards and six touchdowns, while Montgomery ran for 415 yards and seven touchdowns.

Montgomery rushed for 121 yards and three touchdowns to help Lions win 34-20 on their previous trip to Green Bay.

The Packers actually gain slightly more rushing yards per game than the Lions: 156.9-156.7. Jacobs rushed for 667 yards to rank fourth in the league.

intending

Detroit has more players in reserve and continues to win.

The Lions had two players at defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and linebacker Derrick Barnes on a key play early in last week’s game against Tennessee.

Defensive end Levi Onwuzurike hit Titans quarterback Mason Rudolph as he passed, and linebacker Trevor Nowaske capitalized on the ill-advised throw with an interception.

“They know they’re not just there to be a stand-in,” Campbell said.

Clutch strikers

McManus he was with the Packers for just two games and hit a game-winning field goal in the final game of both. He made a 45-yarder as time expired in one 24-22 win over the Houston Texans and had a 24-yard touchdown run to end the Jaguars game.

Detroit’s Jake Bates is a perfect 11-of-11 on field goal attempts this season. He is 27-of-28 on extra points.