Green Bay Packers: 3 Players who need to play well to beat Lions in Week 2

The Green Bay Packers look to extend their recent winning ways in this series as they host the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football.

The Green Bay Packers (38) and Detroit Lions (41) combined to give up 79 points in their Week 1 losses. Now the defending NFC North champions host Dan Campbell’s team looking to not only extend their winning ways in this longtime rivalry but erase the memory of a 35-point loss to the Saints in Week 1.

It’s worth noting that while the Packers have prevailed in the last four meetings between the teams, the wins in 2019 were by one and three points, respectively. A year ago, Green Bay was down 14-3 in the first quarter before rolling to a 42-21 triumph. And when the clubs last clashed, Rodgers and company came away with a 31-24 victory.

So is the idea that Matt LaFleur’s team is about to get well soon might simply be a case of wishful thinking? Regardless, these three Packers must perform up to standards if the Pack is to avoid a 0-2 start.

3. LT Elgton Jenkins

With standout left tackle Dave Bakhtiari on injured reserve, the team opted to move talented Elgton Jenkins into his spot. Via Zach Kruse of PackersWire.com, he performed extremely well and earned solid grades from Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Tonight’s foe is the Lions. And it still remains to be seen if Detroit’s defense has made major strides from a year ago. The 2020 Lions surrendered 519 points, the second-highest single-season total in NFL history. And while all of it wasn’t on coordinator Aaron Glenn’s unit, Dan Campbell’s team was on the short end of a 41-33 score vs. San Francisco.

Jenkins will battle edge-rusher Trey Flowers, who finished with four tackles and a forced fumble in the loss to the 49ers.