The Green Bay Packers hope to be better prepared for their return game against the Detroit Lions scheduled for this Thursday evening. It will be both teams' third game in 11 days, with both teams coming off a win last Thursday on Thanksgiving.
The Packers did their business against the Miami Dolphins, defeating the unlikely AFC opponent 30-17 at turbulent Lambeau Field. Meanwhile, the Lions also escaped with a narrow 23-20 victory on Turkey Day over the Chicago Bears.
The last time these two teams met, Detroit took a 24-3 lead that Green Bay couldn't overcome. Fortunately, the Packers are expected to be much healthier and play their best football heading into this Week 14 rematch.
On the other hand, the Lions haven't slowed down since Week 2 and are still atop the NFC North at 11-1. A win for the Packers on Thursday will help them get back into contention, but to do so they will need to emerge victorious in these three key matchups.
The Packers selected Lukas Van Ness over Lions LT Dan Skipper
With Taylor Decker's status uncertain due to a knee injury, the Lions could be without their starting player for the second straight week. Skipper held his own well, protecting Jared Goff's blind side in Decker's absence. Last week, the 6-10, 330-pound former undrafted free agent allowed no sacks, one quarterback hit and three hurries, according to Pro Football Focus. This week he'll have to try to slow down a red-hot Van Ness, who has registered two sacks and five pressures in the last two weeks. In the first meeting, Van Ness only had one pressure in 12 pass-rushing snaps, but now he's presented with a much more advantageous matchup.
Packers Defense vs. Lions RBs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery
Overall, Green Bay's defense played well in the first meeting, holding Detroit to just 17 points and limiting Goff to just 145 yards through the air. But when it came time to stop the Lions' two-man backfield, the Packers struggled to contain Gibbs and Montgomery, who rushed for 172 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown. Detroit leaned on its running game in last week's win over the Bears, with Gibbs and Montgomery totaling 175 of the team's 194 rushing yards. Green Bay will have to have a much better game plan to stop arguably the best running back tandem in the NFL.
Packers WR Jayden Reed vs. Lions CB Amik Robertson
Detroit struggled to cover Reed in the first, allowing the second-year receiver to haul in five passes for 113 receiving yards. Reed tore up defenses all season and Robertson was vulnerable against opposing slot receivers. According to PFF, he gave up 433 receiving yards and a 60.3 receiving percentage against his coverage in 2024. When they faced each other early in the season, Roberston Reed allowed just one catch, a 41-yarder just before halftime. If Reed can repeat his performance from the first meeting while also building off his two-touchdown performance against Miami, the Packers should be in a good position offensively.
