The Green Bay Packers head to the Motor City to face the Detroit Lions in an important NFC North clash. The Packers are 9-3 on the season while the Lions are 11-1. Green Bay defeated the Miami Dolphins 30-17 last Thursday. Meanwhile, the Lions edged the Chicago Bears 23-20. Both games were played on Thanksgiving so neither team has an advantage coming into a rare back-to-back Thursday schedule. Here are the keys to victory for the Packers in their Week 14 matchup with the Detroit Lions.

The Packers lead the all-time series between these two teams 104-77-7 in the regular season. The two teams first met in 1930 when the Lions were known as the Portsmouth Spartans. The Packers won both playoff meetings between the teams back in 1993 and 1994.

Here are the keys to victory for Thursday night’s game in Detroit:

Packers Keys to Victory vs Lions, Number One: Get Pressure on Jared Goff

Jared Goff wins because he’s efficient and doesn’t make mistakes. The best way to force him into making mistakes is to put pressure on him.

Goff has a quarterback rating of 109.0. He thrown 22 touchdowns and nine picks while completing 71.8 percent of his passes.

The Lions offensive line has allowed 23 sacks through 12 games. Left tackle Taylor Decker missed practice Monday and Tuesday due to a knee injury. He would be a big loss to the Lions if he can’t go.

The Packers have started to get a bit more pressure on quarterbacks in the past few games. They still need Jeff Hafley to use stunts and blitz packages to create pressure and mix things up.

The Packers will need Rashan Gary, Kingsley Enagbare, Lukas Van Ness and Brenton Cox to create pressure off the edge. Kenny Clark, Karl Brooks, and Devonte Wyatt provide inside pressure.

If Goff has time to throw, the Lions quarterback is dangerous. Detroit is ranked fifth in the NFL with 240.8 yards per game through the air. Getting pressure on Goff will be a big key to this game.

Number Two: Stop the Lions Running Game

As a team, the Lions rank 4th in the NFL with 154.4 yards on the ground per game. Detroit has a thunder and lightning backfield combination. Jahmyr Gibbs provides the speed while David Montgomery adds power.

Gibbs has already gained 973 yards this season and has run for 10 touchdowns. He averages a healthy 6.0-yards per rush. Montgomery averages 4.3-yards per rush and has run for 11 scores. He has gained 720 yards rushing this season. If the duo stays healthy, the Lions could have two 1,000-yard rushers this season.

The Packers run defense has been more effective recently. They rank eighth in the league by allowing 106.6-yards per game. The Packers have done a better job of keeping contain and making tackles. They will need to slow down the Lions rushing attack if they hope to win the game.

Packers Keys to Victory vs Lions, Number Three: Contain Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, and Jameson Williams

The Lions have three receivers who are dangerous weapons, and each has a different skill set. Amon-Ra St. Brown may be the best slot receiver in the NFL today. He already has 76 catches for 820 yards and nine touchdowns. St. Brown is Goff’s favorite target in the middle of the field and on short and intermediate routes.

Sam LaPorta is a big tight end who creates a size issue over the middle. The Packers have had issues covering both St. Brown and LaPorta in the past and both players have been productive against Green Bay.

Jameson Williams missed the first meeting between these two teams due to a suspension. He is the best deep threat on the Lions and is averaging a healthy 18.5-yards per catch.

The Packers may not have Jaire Alexander available for Thursday’s game. He has missed a lot of games recently due to a knee injury and was limited in practice Monday and Tuesday.

The Green Bay defense managed to contain the Dolphins speedy deep threats last week by using deep zone coverage in the middle and pressing the speedy receivers at the line. They will need to contain this trio and prevent big plays, so the Lions need to go on long drives to score.

The Packers will need strong performances from Javon Bullard in the slot and Evan Williams. How the Packers utilize Xavier McKinney, who the Lions will probably try to avoid, will also be important.

Number Four: Protect the Quarterback

The Lions front seven has been decimated by injuries. The Packers offensive line has done a great job of protecting the quarterback almost all season. Green Bay will need to protect Jordan Love. If he has time to throw, Love should be able to exploit the Lions 25th-ranked pass defense.

Aiden Hutchinson was lost for the season in Week 5, but he still leads the team with 7.5 sacks. Alim McNeil is next with 3.5, followed by DJ Reader with three.

This matchup strong favors the Packers and they need to exploit it. Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and Tucker Kraft should be able to get open. They will need to avoid the dangerous Kerby Joseph who had a pick six in the first meeting between the teams and is tied with McKinney for the league lead in interceptions.

Packers Keys to Victory vs Lions, Number Five: Run the Football Early and Often

The Packers offense relies on the running game to make it go. That means they will need to get Josh Jacobs going against the Lions fifth-ranked run defense. Opponents are only gaining 93.5 yards per game against Detroit, although the fact that the Lions are usually in the lead often forces opponents to pass.

Injuries have hurt the Lions defensive line. Starters Josh Paschal and DJ Reader did not practice Monday or Tuesday. Paschal has a knee injury, Reader a shoulder. Backup Levi Onwuzurlke has also not practiced this week due to a hamstring injury.

The Packers offensive line must take advantage of these injuries and win the battle in the trenches. If Jacobs, Emanual Wilson, and Chris Brooks have room to run, the Packers can stay ahead of the sticks and keep the explosive Lions offense off the field.

Packers Keys to Victory vs Lions, Number Six: Win in the Red Zone

The Packers red zone offense has struggled for most of the season but has been better in the last two games. Running the ball with Jacobs and utilizing Kraft in the passing game have been part of the reason for the recent success along with better decision making by Love.

The Lions red zone offense is sixth in the NFL in touchdown percentage with 66 percent. They are aggressive and always trying to score. Defensively, Detroit is second in the league, allowing opponents to score a touchdown just 41.9 percent of the time.

Green Bay, on the other hand, are 15th now in the red zone on offense and 20th on defense.

The Packers will need to win the battle in the red zone and score touchdowns when they get there and hold the Lions to field goals whenever possible.

Prediction:

This is a must-win for the Packers if they hope to win the NFC North. They are catching the Lions at a good time with regard to injuries, but now they need to take advantage.

The Packers will likely be without Edgerrin Cooper who would have been a big help on defense with his speed and ability to rush the passer.

The Lions are confident despite the injuries, and they are on a roll, having lost only one game all season.

This will be a measuring stick game for the Packers. If they win it, or even come close, they will know they can play with any team in the league. So far, the Pack has lost to the three best teams they’ve faced this season in Philadelphia, Minnesota and Detroit.

The Packers need to execute, cut down on the penalties and turnovers and play their best football. They will go toe-to-toe with the Lions, but likely fall just short.

 

Lions 35, Packers 33

 

 

 

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