NFC Game Of The Week
Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
Lions: What a story they have been. It looked like it was another long year in Michigan, especially with how they started the season as they lost five of their first six games. The turning point came on November 6th, and they started to turn the page. Since then, they’ve been winners of eight of their last ten games and on the outside looking in of the NFC Playoff Picture. I can admit Dan Campbell has said some wild things since becoming the team’s Head Coach. However, that doesn’t erase the passion he has for his players and this team. He’s one of the few coaches I’d run through a brick wall for if I were still playing today. Dan is a player’s coach and knows the ups and downs, ins and outs along with everything that comes with being a player. Now, let’s be realistic here. The Detroit Lions are eliminated by this time of the season. Say what you want, but they play hard and once again, this reflects the Head Coach. Jared Goff has been a question mark these last few years, but this has been the best I’ve seen him look in his career and that’s because the Lions have been running the football. The future is bright for them. They have two young Wide Receiver in Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams then on the defensive side, Aidan Hutchinson is a star in the making. He’s going to be that consistent problem for Offensive Lines soon. On Sunday night, they will make a trip to Green Bay.
Packers: This is the NFL where anything can happen. This was a team that sat at 4-8 with five games remaining. There was no way they could get back in the playoff hunt, right? That’s where you’re wrong. Since that loss in Philadelphia, they’ve regrouped nicely and have been winning football games. They’ve also been playing the offense I’ve been calling for them to use since the Summer which is establishing the scheme around Aaron Jones because he’s your best player. The group of receivers they have now aren’t as strong as what we’ve seen in the past but look at what running the ball can do. Aaron Rodgers hasn’t had to take games over as we’ve been accustomed to seeing because the ground game has taken over. Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings was the best I’ve seen the Green Bay Packers look all season long in each phase of the game. All they needed from Aaron was to control things and he only threw for 159 yards on the day. The tandem of Jones and Dillon carried the Green Bay offense and the defense, where has this effort been all year? If they played like this earlier in the season, they would be taken more seriously. They intercepted Kirk Cousins three times and held Justin Jefferson to a single catch. Anytime the Packers go on a streak such as this when they’re winning games, I often think of the message Aaron sent to the media. Remember “R-E-L-A-X”, everything will be just fine? Now, look at them. From try again next season to they are still in this race. They wrap up the regular season on Sunday with a showdown against the Lions.
Lions X-Factor: Jamaal Williams– The former Packer himself! He’s had a renaissance season with the Lions and has been the focal point of the offense. Jamaal has been a threat not just in the running game, but in the passing game as well as a receiver. In this league today as a Running Back, you must be able to display your versatility to help the offense and most importantly, what can you do without the ball in your hands? Jamaal has been a godsend to this Detroit offense, and he leads the league in rushing touchdowns with 15.
Packers X-Factor: Kenny Clark– He’s been so underrated to me in my opinion. Kenny has been one of the shining points on some Green Bay defenses that have struggled over the years. So many think because he plays on the inside of the defensive line that he’s a big body only, but that’s not the case. Kenny is an underrated athlete with solid footwork, the quickness to get off the snap of the ball and uses strong hand and foot technique to get by people. He’s strong at stopping the run and rushing the passer.
Final Thoughts: Who saw this game being played on Sunday night? When they last played, the Lions shut down a Packers offense that was really struggling to find their identity and they intercepted Rodgers three times and kept that offense to nine points. Weeks later, here we are with a trip to the playoffs on the line potentially. Here’s the scenario. If the Seattle Seahawks win their game against the Los Angeles Rams, the Lions will be eliminated from playoff contention and if the Rams beat Seattle, the Lions and Packers showdown becomes a win and you’re in contest. What Lions defense shows up? The one that shut down Saquon Barkley back in November. Or the one we saw that gave up too many rushing yards against the Carolina Panthers? On the other side, I’m watching the Packers run defense and they will need to be on it trying to limit Williams who’s a downhill runner. This is a different Green Bay team we’ll be seeing compared to that November 6th meeting. There’s nothing like Football in January!
Prediction: Packers 27, Lions 21
