Detroit Lions versus Green Bay Packers: Story lines to watch for on Sunday
By Daniel
The division is on the line and the winner gets a home playoff game and possibly a first-round bye in the playoffs. The loser is a wildcard playoff team and must hope to get to the Super Bowl solely via the road. That is what is at stake when the Detroit Lions travel to Green Bay to face the Packers on Sunday. Although there is much more on the line in this game as well.
This game is flush with story lines and the historical context of this game is absolutely massive, as are its implications for this season. The winner will be riding high into the playoffs, the loser will be hanging their head and limping into the postseason. Lets take a peak at some of the story lines that exist inside this game.
Can the Lions win in the state of Wisconsin for the first time since 1991?
The Packers’ winning streak over the Lions in Wisconsin over the last two decades has to be more mental than anything else. Green Bay expects to win against the Lions at Lambeau Field and quite frankly, the Lions have expected to lose there. However I suspect that this Lions squad expects to win and win big on Sunday. Detroit boasts a dangerous and balanced team and the Packers have looked vulnerable over the last few weeks. Can the Lions jump this seemingly impossible hurdle and surpass the Packers as the NFC North’s top team for at least 2014?
This game will give us all the answers that we need. Will Aaron Rodgers solidify himself as a top MVP candidate with a big game against this strong Lions’ defense? Or will he continue to drop himself down the list of contenders for award given to the league’s top player?
What the Packers have going for them is the fact that they’re 7-0 at home this year and they just seem to find a near gear in front of their home crowd. The Lions are a confident group though and will not be intimidated by Lambeau like others have been in 2014. This game is worth watching for the insane winning streak alone, but this game means so much more than the streak.
Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Can the Lions win their first division title since 1993?
The Lions have never won the NFC North. In 2002 the division changed from the NFC Central to the North and they haven’t won the division in that time or anytime in the last 20 years. Is this going to be the year that they get this historic monkey off of their back? This team has some great individual players on it and in 2014 it finally looks like they’ve put it all together.
Detroit’s quarterback play has been a bit shaky from Matthew Stafford (19 TDs, 12 INTs). He’s inconsistent, but has led them to victory with regularity this year. To win in Green Bay (and in the playoffs) the Lions will need Stafford to be more than mediocre though. If he can win this game he’ll start building an actual legacy in Detroit. This could be a career-defining game for Stafford or just another notch on his “good but not great” belt.
Can the loser of this game make it through the tough NFC playoff landscape on the road?
The loser of this game will be a wildcard playoff and team and will have to win three road playoff games just to get to the Super Bowl. The teams the loser of this game will have to play on the road (if they go on a run in the playoffs) will be a combination of the Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals and perhaps the team that wins this game.
Seattle is 6-1 at home this year, Dallas is actually 4-4 at home, but they did just blow out Indianapolis in front of their home crowd. Arizona is 7-1 at home in 2014 and the Packers are 7-0 (heading into this game) and the Lions are 7-1. Being a wildcard team this year presents quite the challenge, like it does every year, so this game is of the utmost importance to both of these teams.
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Which will reign supreme: the Lions’ defense or the Packers’ offense?
This game essentially comes down to which one of these elite squads will impose their will on the other. The Lions’ defense is one of the best in the league, but the same can be said about the Packers’ offense. It will be interesting to see how these two squads match up. The Packers struggled mightily against a stingy Buffalo defense that features a similar structure to the Lions’ defensive attack. Can the Lions use their dominant defensive line and tough front seven to slow the Packers’ lethal passing attack?
The Packers are at their best when they are a balanced offense, but running back Eddie Lacy can only get going if the Lions’ defense respects the passing game. If Green Bay’s offensive line cannot handle Detroit’s pass rush then the Packers may have a tough time throwing the ball. If the Packers can’t throw the ball then Lacy becomes vastly less impactful. Although Packers fans shouldn’t fret too much because their offense is led by the best quarterback in the game, Aaron Rodgers. He’s been known to step up in the face of adversity.
Detroit is led by defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, linebacker DeAndre Levy and safety Glover Quin and more on defense The difference between this Lions defense and the ones in recent years is the passing defense. It is suddenly elite and is second in the league in interceptions (20) and that could pose problems for the Packers. That said, Detroit is leading the league in rushing defense (63.8 yards per game), too. Obviously scoring on this team is no easy task.
Clearly this game could go either way. It will be a treat to watch for all big-time NFL fans and especially for the fans of these two franchises.