Lombardiave: Staffers predict today’s Packers vs. Lions game
Aaron Rodgers has had great success over his career against the Detroit Lions. Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports photograph
Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions … today’s game is huge; it’s an NFC North tilt; it will have huge implications down the road on both teams’ playoff aspirations.
So, who will win? Well, our staffers at Lombardiave.com have their own view of the game.
Here’s how we all feel the game will turn out – let us know if you agree or disagree:
Davey Miller
Davey Miller: Eddie Lacy finally makes his presence felt, and A-Rod comes back strong after a dismal showing (by his standards) his last game against the Bengals. Clay Matthews, Morgan Burnett and Lacy all appear to be penciled in to play against the Lions.
Reggie Bush adds a special element to an already potent offensive attack so this should be a high scoring game.
Packers 34 Lions 31
Kevin Gibson
Kevin Gibson: The Lions are 3-1 and looking every bit the part of a contender; the Packers are 1-2 and licking their many wounds following a loss to the Bengals and a bye week. I also get the feeling the Packers will come into this game pretty pissed off. I expect a sloppy, high scoring affair with a lot of activity after the whistle and turnovers on both sides of the ball. In the end, the Packers win a thriller as they all but abandon the run in the second half and air out a victory, as Rodgers closes in on 400 yards passing and registers four touchdowns.
Packers 37 Lions 30
Eric Balkman
Eric Balkman: This game should be one of the highest-scoring games of Week Five. In their last six meetings, these two teams have failed to put up at least a combined 42 points only once. And I don’t see why this week’s game will be any different. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense should be all systems go with Eddie Lacy and Jermichael Finley back from concussions. And given that Detroit fails to stop anyone unless their front four are getting consistent pressure, Rodgers should be able to have a banner day.
The return of Morgan Burnett is huge because it’s going to allow Dom Capers to roll more coverage towards Calvin Johnson and force guys like Kris Durham, Patrick Edwards, Ryan Broyles and Brandon Pettigrew to make plays (something that they have not been able to do with much frequency in 2013). But like any good Lions/Packers tilt, I have a sneaking suspicion that Green Bay will let Detroit come back and make it a game in the fourth quarter.
Packers 31 Lions 24
Dave Burdette
Dave Burdette: Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers get to welcome the 3-1 Detroit Lions to Lambeau field with a big chip on their shoulder after going 1-2. They’ve had a bye week to prepare and get healthy. And did I mention they have the best quarterback in the game (hint, he doesn’t implode like Jay Cutler), and a suddenly good running game?
On the other hand, Detroit has looked good running the ball with Reggie Bush, and the front 4 is formidable with Suh, Fairley, and Ansah. The defense has been forcing other teams to make mistakes and capitalizing on them. In the end I think it will be a high scoring game, but Rodgers takes advantage of a still questionable Detroit secondary and walks away with it.
Packers 35 Detroit 27
Darryl Krejci
Darryl Krejci: I have attempted to read tea leaves, consult astrological signs, count the lumps on my head and utilize a multitude of other resources to determine the outcome of the Packers/Lions game. The frustrating result is that I don’t know which way to go with this game. What Packer team will show up? How will the defense play? Will Aaron Rodgers be the A-Rod of old and throw for a gazillion yards and 23 touchdowns or will he just be an everyday quarterback that does enough to keep the team in the game but not enough to win? More importantly, who else is going to get hurt?
So with that in mind I consulted my Magic Eight ball and asked it if the packers were going to win. The response was … Maybe. Go Figure! I will take the Packers by three with Rodgers throwing one touchdown to Jordy Nelson and the rookie running backs each scoring a touchdown of their own.
Patrick Hughes
Patrick Hughes: The last time the Lions beat the Packers at Lambeau Field I was a sophomore in high school. Personally I don’t like these streaks, because inevitably they must come to an end and the end typically comes at a less than opportune time.
The 2013 Detroit Lions are a good team with many premiere players on both sides of the ball. But the Lions have yet to prove they are mature enough team to not beat themselves. I am concerned about this game because Packers really need a win on Sunday. A loss, although not devastating, a loss would create quite a hole for the Pack to climb out of. With that said, no holes …
Packers 35 Lions 24
Tom Mrozla
Tom Mrozla: With the Packers getting Lacy back, I look to see a continuation of a reliable run game from the Pack. I think the Packers offense will have no trouble putting points on the board as long as the O-line can provide some protection. The challenge I see will come in the Packers’ secondary. I will be looking for Sam Shields to play tight coverage on Calvin Johnson as well as the other secondary players to provide help when needed. Matt Stafford throws his fourth, and maybe fifth pick of the season.
Packers 38 Lions 27
Mark Gladney: The Lions have not won in Green Bay since 1991 and the signs tend to point to a Packers win. However, the Lions have been playing well this season and winning streaks do not last forever. I do, however, believe that the Lions are susceptible to mental mistakes and intimidation so the streak may be weighing heavily on them. The Packers should win and raise them to the .500 mark.
For the Lions, they will be missing only WR Nate Burleson. The game should be interesting with a revived Reggie Bush at RB and the usually efficient Calvin Johnson causing problems for a suspect Packers secondary. The Packers defense will need to pick their poison in this game. I would rather force the Lions to have Reggie Bush beat them than to allow Calvin Johnson to go wild in the secondary. Look for defensive coordinator Dom Capers to throw some different looks at Lions QB Matthew Stafford to think and hesitate long enough for the Packers pass rush to have a chance at him.
Packers 30 Lions 23
Andrew Davy
Andrew Davey: The Week 4 media darlings award goes to the Detroit Lions. Two year ago it was Tim Tebow. He is currently jobless. Last year Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos were media darlings. Manning and Denver failed to win a playoff game. This week, the Lions inconsistent running back Reggie Bush and the Detroit Lions were awarded copious amounts of hype on ESPN and NFL Network.
Detroit hasn’t beaten Green Bay in their last 22 attempts at Lambeau Field, Matthew Stafford has never beaten the Packers in any venue, and the Packers got healthier than they’ve been all year following the bye week. Add to this Aaron Rodgers uncanny ability to bounce back from regular season losses and Mike McCarthy’s ability to win games following bye weeks. The Packers will win.
Detroit’s best chance is to take advantage of the Packers weak offensive pass protection. I’ll be keeping an eye on rookie left tackle David Bakhtiari‘s play. To be nice to Bakhtiari and his family, he looked like a rookie in Week 3. Evan Dietrich-Smith will also have a chance to prove whether he can or can’t compete with the NFL’s best as he goes against Ndamukong Suh.
I expect the Packers to give Eddie Lacy at least 20 carries. This should allow Rodgers to set up play-action and keep Detroit’s defense guessing.
The bottom line: Between Rodgers, Lacy, Cobb, Nelson, Finley, and Jones, the Packers have more playmakers than Detroit can keep up with. Combine that with a stout run defense (7th overall at 93.3 yards per game), and a proven history of inconsistency from Reggie Bush.
The Packers will continue their NFC North dominance.
Packers 31 Lions 20
Kevin Dickens
Kevin Dickens: Yes I know Detroit has Reggie Bush. And yes I know they have Calvin Johnson. And yes I know they are 3-1 and atop the North division but at the end of the day I just don’t think it matters.
The kings of the North have been awarded an early bye week to get healthy. Not only are they healthier but they are hungry. The Packers are salivating at the chance to get back to their winning ways. The defense is out to prove themselves Sunday with leader Morgan Burnett back and most dangerous of all, Aaron Rodgers has a chip on his shoulder. He has heard for two weeks he might be slipping from his throne. Watch out Detroit. Sunday he plays to reclaim the throne.
Packers 38 Lions 28
Ray Rivard
Ray Rivard: I feel this game will come down to Aaron Rodgers vs. Matthew Stafford. Frankly, I have to put my money on Rodgers every time. I feel that when crunch time rolls around, it will be Rodgers making the plays and Stafford throwing the picks.
The Packers also get their run game going late to run the clock late in the game. However, expect a track meet before then …
Packers win a shootout …
Packers 38 Lions 24
Luke Hanish
Luke Hanish: Historically, Aaron Rodgers has always bounced back from a poor outing the following week. With an extra week to let the salt settle in the wound expect Rodgers to be downright sharp. Coupled with the fact that Green Bay is the underdog, this team is itching to right the Cincinnati wrong. Morgan Burnett will certainly help the defensive backfield against a pass happy Matthew Stafford. If the offensive line can withstand the powerful Detroit pass rush expect Green Bay to run away with this one.
Packers 37 Lions 28
Bill Walton and his family
Bill Walton: The Packers will need to be in top form to beat the Lions- even in the friendly confines of Lambeau Field. The offensive line in particular will need to be nearly flawless in their execution if they expect to get good work done against the Lions D line. They’ll also have to resist the temptation to retaliate when the Detroit defense pushes things beyond normal play into questionable conduct, which they are almost certain to do at some piont in this game. The best revenge is a W, and the Packers need one badly. While this is not really a “must win” game, a loss would put the Packers in a place they don’t want to be so early in this promising season. Wife Deneen sees the Packers having too much to win for at home and too many weapons, coming out on top 28-21. Son John thinks the game will be a little bit more explosive but in the end the Packers will get the W 35-28. I think the Packers will find a way to right their 1-2 ship and pull out a victory. Go Pack GO!
Packers 38 Lions 24
Dan Dahlke
Dan Dahlke: I’ve been going back and forth on this one all week. The Lions look like a hot team coming to Green Bay. They have the front four to get pressure on Rodgers without blitzing, and they have the weapons in the passing game to put up some yards on the Packers secondary.
If this game was being played in Detroit and the Packers weren’t coming off a bye this week, I would definitely pick the Lions to win. The Packers are still getting healthy and trying to figure things out this season. However, I’ve been encouraged by the recent news that Clay Matthews, Jermichael Finley, John Kuhn, and Morgan Burnett will all be back and ready to play this week.
Typically, McCarthy’s teams play well coming off the bye week, and with some key players back for Green Bay, I have to pick the Pack to win at home this week.
Packers 31 Lions 28