The biggest game in the NFC North so far in 2024 will take place on Sunday at Lambeau Field. The Green Bay Packers, who have won four straight games, will face the Detroit Lions, winners of five straight games and current league leaders. The winner on Sunday will take control of the NFC North in Week 10.
The two teams split the series last year, with the Lions winning in primetime in Green Bay and the Packers returning the favor with a Thanksgiving victory in Detroit.
Of course, the main story on Sunday will be the status of Packers quarterback Jordan Love, who is trying to play after a groin injury. It is doubtful whether he will play after his latest injury.
Here are five things to watch and predict for Week 9:
September 28, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker Rashan Gary (52) will face Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) in the second quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory credit: Benny Sieu – USA TODAY Sports
Lions quarterback Jared Goff leads the NFL in completion percentage (74.1) and yards per attempt (9.0), and has thrown 10 touchdown passes in recent games and missed only 13 times four weeks. Could a rainy day at Lambeau Field sluggish him down? The Lions have not played outdoors yet this season. For his career, Goff has had a passer rating of over 100.0 indoors and 89.1 in outdoor games. The forecast for Sunday calls for temperatures around 50 degrees and rain in Green Bay. The Packers hope the elements will aid chilly down Goff and the passing game and give the secondary a chance – Evan Williams will be out and Jaire Alexander hasn’t practiced all week.
Green Bay Packers linebacker Rashan Gary tackles Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff in the first half at Ford Field in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023.
The Packers need to win on the offensive line defensively, especially with injuries to the backfield. Can Rashan Gary continue warming up? According to Next Gen Stats, Gary has 10 total pressures and five quick pressures over the last two weeks (vs. Texans and Jaguars) after struggling to get consistent pressure early in the season. Sunday will be the perfect time to break through. The Lions have two excellent offensive tackles and an overall good offensive line, but Jared Goff lacks mobility and was sacked 17 times in 2024. The Packers could employ some killer offense against Goff on Sunday.
September 28, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Detroit Lions linebacker David Montgomery (5) rushes for a first down in the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory credit: Benny Sieu – USA TODAY Sports
On Sunday, the three best runners in football will take the field. The strength of the Lions’ lineup is David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, who have combined for over 1,000 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns in just seven games this season. This is the top tandem in football – Montgomery is the breaker and Gibbs provides elite play and speed. Packers counter with Josh Jacobs racking up yards after contact and forced fumbles. Can Jacobs aid the Packers control the ball and dominate possession? Given the expected weather conditions and Jordan Love’s groin injury, the success of both teams in the run could determine the winner.
September 15, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney (29) celebrates with an interception in the first half of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lambeau Field. Compulsory passing: Wm. Glasheen Network/USA TODAY via Imagn Images
Last year, the Packers turned the ball over twice at home and lost by 14 to the Lions, but then went to Detroit and forced three takeaways in an upset victory. No wonder that on Sunday the fight for losses will be crucial. The Lions are plus-10 turnovers this year, partly because they rank second behind the Packers in takeaways (15), but also because they only have five turnovers. The Packers can’t turn the ball over on Sunday and expect to beat the Lions. Interceptions will be the focus – Jordan Love leads the NFL in interceptions (9), while Packers linebacker Xavier McKinney (6) and Lions linebackers Kerby Joseph (5) and Brian Branch (4) are among the leaders in interceptions. Can the choice change the fate of Sunday’s match?
October 27, 2024; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Tucker Kraft (85) celebrates a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fourth quarter at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
On Sunday, there will be a showcase of two of the best newborn NFL players. Tucker Kraft is second in touchdowns and yards after catch by tight ends this season, while Sam LaPorta – a Pro Bowler who caught 10 touchdown passes as a rookie – is starting to hit his stride again (touchdowns in two of the last three games) in 2024. Both Matt LaFleur and Ben Johnson know how to set up the right plays to account for tight ends, both on the field and in the red zone. Don’t be surprised if Kraft or LaPorta produce a game-changing play on Sunday.
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.
