Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions: Week 17 Keys to Victory
Dec 7, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) celebrates his touchdown with running back Joique Bell (35) during the first quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
2. Calvin Johnson and Joique Bell
The Detroit Lions have an offense, too, and a good one, let’s not forget that. Matthews Stafford has been high, low, left and right this season, but his pure physical abilities and gamesmanship make him a huge threat in high-stakes games such as these. In their Week 3 matchup, Stafford completed 22 of 34 passes for 246 yards and 2 INT.
Green Bay’s focus on Sunday, however, should be squarely on Calvin Johnson and Joique Bell. The Packers did a great ob of limiting these two in their first matchup, but I hesitate to put much stock into one game from September.
Bell was the weaker back for Detroit during the last meeting, rushing 15 times for just 33 yards, but I expect him to receive the majority of the work over Reggie Bush this time around. In Week 17 in freezing temperatures, I want a thumper, not a dancer.
With four TD’s over the past four games, Bell is really putting his foot on the gas, and his running style has posed problems for the Packers throughout this season. I’ll point most notably to the Packers’ game against the New England Patriots. Although LeGarrette Blount didn’t break the game wide open, several Linebackers and Safeties on the Packers had a great deal of trouble bringing him down around the line of scrimmage. The maturation of Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and sudden surge from Morgan Burnett will be crucial.
With Calvin Johnson, there is the obvious, ever-present threat. Given that Golden Tate is the only target behind Johnson that I would classify as “dangerous”, don’t be surprised to see Dom Capers keep a safety on top of Johnson. Megatron makes his money deep and across the middle, too, so this game could be ripe for the Packers to jump on a pass downfield from Stafford.
If the Packers are able to continue their dominant pass rush from last week, getting to Stafford early will surely help in these endeavours. Green Bay will gladly take a repeat of Johnson’s 6 catch, 82 yard performance from September. It’s the big play that will hurt them, and that is what must be prevented.