The Green Bay Packers will face one of the most vital games of the 2024 season. In week 9, the Packers will host the NFC-leading Detroit Lions – one of the leading contenders for the Super Bowl – at Lambeau Field at 3:25 p.m. Polish time. The winner of Sunday’s competition will take the lead in the league entering the second half.
Last year, the Packers and Lions split the series, with each team winning on the road.
For eight weeks in 2024, the Lions will look like one of the NFL’s best teams. Dan Campbell’s team has won five straight games and scored 40 or more points in three of the last four.
Here’s a closer look at the Lions entering Week 9:
Last week (win, 52-14 over Titans)
You’ve probably never seen ass kicking like this. The Lions scored 52 points and won by 38 despite only gaining 61 yards passing and being outscored by the Titans by almost 200 yards. At one point in the first half, the Lions and Titans each had 14 touchdowns, but the Lions scored five straight touchdowns to break the game open. The Detroit offense scored six touchdowns, including rushing scores by David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, while the Lions defense scored four touchdowns and the special teams team had a 90-yard punt return touchdown. In total, seven different players scored tries for Dan Campbell’s team. Like all great teams, the Lions continue to prove they can win in many different ways.
Playing quarterback
Veteran quarterback Jared Goff leads the NFL in completion percentage (74.1) and yards per attempt (9.0), showing how well he can handle one of the most diverse and vigorous offenses in the NFL. He has a passer rating of 115.8 and has scored over 100.0 in five straight games. Over the last four games, Goff has thrown 10 touchdown passes and only missed 13 times, an absurd feat in terms of accuracy and scoring. While he doesn’t have a great arm or risky mobility, Goff plays calmly and confidently in the pocket and is devastatingly effective outside the game. He’s the perfect distributor for Ben Johnson’s plan. Goff has been sacked 17 times and at times puts the ball in danger under pressure. The Packers will need to put pressure on him on Sunday.
Line of scrimmage
Injuries have drastically impacted the Lions’ talent level on defense, but Detroit’s offensive line is among the best in football. All five attackers are talented veterans. If there is one faint spot, it is at left-back, where Graham Glasgow has allowed 15 tackles and committed four penalties this season. Left tackle Taylor Decker allowed five sacks but was one of the most consistent tackles in the NFL over the last decade. Right tackle Penei Sewell is an elite player. Defensively, the Lions are trying to overcome the loss of Aidan Hutchinson, arguably the best pass rusher in football. Defensive tackle Alim McNeil has 20 pressures and can disrupt the peace like Kenny Clark. Last week, Levi Onwuzurike had five tackles, including two hits. The DJ Reader is a massive, powerful piece of equipment inside. The Packers will have a heavyweight battle in the style of the offense against the Lions.
Turnover
The Lions are one of the elite teams in the loss category to start the season. Detroit gave the ball up just five times (fourth-most) while turning the ball over 15 times (second-most), creating a 10-point turnover advantage (second-most). Jared Goff threw four interceptions in seven games and the Lions had just one loss. Defensively, defensemen Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch combined for nine interceptions. The Lions have only lost a turnover once this season – a 20-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. When winning the turnover battle, the Lions have an average winning margin of 29.7 points (three games). Last year, the winner of the turnover battle won both games in this competition.
Injury situations
The Lions already have 14 injured players, including star guard Aidan Hutchinson, linebacker John Cominsky, linebacker Derrick Barnes and linebacker Ifeatu Melifonwu. Receiver Jameson Williams is not injured, but is suspended for Week 9. Last week, defensive end Josh Paschal and offensive lineman Christian Mahogany were sidelined due to illness. The Lions will receive their first injury report on Wednesday.
Players worth knowing
RB Jahmyr Gibbs: He averages 6.4 yards per attempt and has a 64.1% success rate. Gibbs turned 111 touches into 745 yards and seven scores. He has officially become one of the NFL’s elite running backs.
TE Sam LaPorta: Amon-Ra St. Brown is the primary target in the passing game, but LaPorta – a Pro Bowler as a rookie – is starting to gain some momentum. He has had a touchdown catch in two of his last three games and is averaging nearly 12 yards per target.
DB Branch Brian: The Lions’ starting defender recorded four interceptions and seven other pass breakups in seven games. Branch vs. Jayden Reed – two 2023 draft picks – will be the biggest matchup.
LB Jack Campbell: The second-year guard leads the Lions in stops with 17. Campbell is good at running and covering.
WR Calif Raymond: The speedy receiver scored two offensive touchdowns and converted 19 punt returns for 315 yards, including 90 last week.
Jake Bates: The rookie kicker and former UFL standout is 11-of-11 on field goals and 27-of-28 on extra points to start his career in Detroit. The Packers had interest in the offseason, but Bates chose the Lions.
