Can the Detroit Lions dethrone the Green Bay Packers?
Sep 21, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback
Matthew Stafford(9) throws a pass during the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
The Detroit Lions were one win away from capturing their first NFC North championship in 2014, but fell on the road to the Green Bay Packers in Week 17. The Lions are a very good football team, and with a few improvements they can become the first team since 2010 to dethrone the Packers in the division.
In 2010, the Chicago Bears finished atop the division with an 11-5 record. But it was the Packers who stole the spotlight by defeating Chicago in the NFC Championship Game before winning Super Bowl XLV.
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The Lions hadn’t been much of a threat to the Aaron Rodgers-led Packers, but that all changed in 2014. Finishing the 2014 season with an 11-5 record, these Lions showed a ton of promise.
In Week 3, the Lions manhandled the Packers in a 19-7 victory at Ford Field. They held Rodgers to just 162 yards passing and made Eddie Lacy a non-factor, limiting him to only 36 yards on the ground.
Outside of that game, the Lions went missing against the elite teams.
Nov 23, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback
Tom Brady(12) makes a pass during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Gillette Stadium. The New England Patriots won 34-9. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
They were comprehensively beaten by the New England Patriots in Foxborough and disappointed in Arizona. In the return game with the Packers at Lambeau Field, a hobbling Rodgers still led Green Bay to a comfortable victory.
With the exception of the Week 3 victory over Green Bay, the Lions failed to beat a team finishing with a winning record.
This team isn’t a million miles away from a championship, but to finish higher than Rodgers and the Packers in the NFC North, there is little margin for error.
So what do the Lions need to do to finally leap over the hurdle?
Next: It all starts with the run...