Pride of Detroit
This Week 1 matchup was already among the most intriguing on the schedule and got even juicier with Jerry Jones letting Micah Parsons don a Cheesehead. The Green Bay Packers are getting all the offseason hype, but it’s the Detroit Lions who own a three-game winning streak in Green Bay, with their last loss dating back to Jared Goff’s first road start as a Lion—the second game of the Dan Campbell era.
Two NFC contenders collide Sunday, so let’s take a look at the factors likely to impact the game plan.
Note: Unless otherwise indicated, all statistics are sourced from NFL Pro, TruMedia, FTN Fantasy, or Pro Football Reference.
Teeth of the Packers defense
Under then-first-year defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, the 2024 Packers were surprisingly stout against defending runs inside the tackles last season.
Outside the tackles, they were still top 12 across most run defense metrics.
Conversely, the Lions’ interior rushing attack offensively ranked third in yards/rush (4.8), first in +0.12 EPA/rush, and fourth in both success rate (49.8%) and yards before contact (1.75). Jahmyr Gibbs also led all running backs last season with both 5.9 yards per attempt and +0.25 EPA per attempt when rushing inside the tackles.
Based on last year’s numbers it would be a classic “iron sharpens iron” battle up the gut on the ground. However, both teams have seen turnover on their interior lines since last season.
The Packers’ biggest question marks come from the loss of primary nose tackles T.J. Slaton (Bengals) and more recently Kenny Clark (Cowboys). Devonte Wyatt and Karl Brooks remain productive but excel more as pass rushers than run defenders and line up primarily at 3-techniques or over tackles.
At nose tackle, the Packers are risking the biscuit on unproven Georgia rookies Warren Brinson (6th round), UDFA Nazir Stackhouse, and converted DT/DE Colby Wooden (6-foot-4, 273 pounds), a player with limited A-gap experience and a few biscuits short of the typical interior anchor. That could make it tough to keep blockers off linebackers like second-year standout Edgerrin Cooper and leave them vulnerable to bully ball.
On the Lions’ side, the revamped interior offensive line—Christian Mahogany, Graham Glasgow, and Tate Ratledge—has a prime opportunity to seize control. Success inside will help dictate tempo, dominate time of possession, and open up the rest of Detroit’s offense.
Love Lockdown
The Lions led the NFL last season by playing man coverage on 308 dropbacks—45% of all defensive dropbacks faced. They also blitzed on 231 dropbacks (33.7% of total), the league’s fourth-highest rate. While first-year coordinator Kelvin Sheppard may put his own stamp on the scheme, the Lions’ identity as an enforcing, man-heavy, blitz-happy...
