Packers Wire sections personnel projections: Week 9 vs. Lions

The Green Bay Packers (6-2) and Detroit Lions (6-1) will face off at Lambeau Field on Sunday for first place in the NFC North. Can Matt LaFleur’s team extend their winning streak to five games before the bye week, or will the growing Lions cause the Packers to start 0-2 in the league?

Quarterback Jordan Love (groin) is questionable, but he practiced Thursday and Friday and appears likely to be available Sunday.

Here’s how the Packers Wire staff thinks the Week 9 matchup against the Lions will play out:

Zach Kruse: Packers 23, Lions 20 (4-4)

The Lions are a freight train, but the forecast weather conditions in Green Bay on Sunday give the Packers – who are dealing with several key injuries – a real chance to pull through. The Lions are on the outside for the first time this season, and Jared Goff isn’t the same playmaker on the field, which could reduce the somewhat absurd offensive efficiency the Lions have produced this season. Still, it’s a tough matchup. The Lions have an elite offense, and the concern at running back (Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch) is Jordan Love, who will likely be less than 100 percent effective. Can the Packers get a takeaway or two and consistently win at the line of scrimmage? Matt LaFleur’s team has won in so many different ways this season, and I think the experience of dealing with so much adversity will pay off on Sunday. After a sloppy game at a rainy Lambeau Field, the Packers are coming off a huge divisional bye win.

Brandon Carwile: Lions 28, Packers 23 (6-2)

For starters, I think the game will be close whether Jordan Love plays or not. However, this cannot change the result. Detroit is one of the best teams in the NFL and has won four of the last five games against Green Bay. And while the Packers defense has been a pleasant surprise this season, the back two of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery will pose a significant challenge. This will undoubtedly be the best double whammy Green Bay has faced this season, and Jared Goff is also playing some of the best football of his career. Offensively, if Love plays, he won’t be 100 percent. To keep pace with the Lions’ most capable offense, Josh Jacobs would need to have a gigantic game, but that won’t be simple against a top-five defense. I think the Packers are good enough to beat Detroit, but they’re a little too hard-hitting on both sides of the ball to win this week.

Brennen Rupp: Lions 23, Packers 20 (7-1)

Detroit is currently playing like the best team in the NFC. They have averaged 43 points per game over the last four games and have scored over 42 points in three of the four games. The Packers will need to limit their mistakes in this game if they are to have a chance, and after eight games, there is little indication that they will be able to do so. There are no moral victories at 1265 Lombardi Avenue, but if Jeff Hafley’s team can ponderous down Detroit’s offense (and I think they will), Green Bay will need to feel confident that they can finally have a defense that can aid them win games in December and January.