Lombardiave.com predictions: Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions
Here we are heading into the Green Bay Packers Week 3 matchup against the NFC North Division rival Detroit Lions … and with it comes Lombardiave.com staffers predictions.
Take a look below and don’t forget to leave your own predictions in the comments below …
Kevin Gibson
Kevin Gibson: Here comes the first big test for the Green Bay Packers’ evolving defense.
Who will show up?
Will it be the whiff squad of Week 1 or the determined group from the second half of the Jets game? My guess is we’ll see flashes of both in this game, a tough division battle with an improved Lions team in Detroit (remember what happened last time?).
I think the whole world expects a barn burner, and I do as well. I’m going to play homer and call it the Packers in a wild one.
Packers 37 Lions 30
Tom Mrozla
Thomas Mrozla: This weekend the Packers will be tested once again.
It will be up to the defense to show they can stop the powerful Lions’ pass game. On the offensive side, Eddie Lacy will have to get something going on the ground in order to bring some balance to keep the Lions guessing.
This would sure be the game for Eddie to break out.
If the Packers can get a good run game going and the defense can get off the field on third down, the Packers can once again have a shot at their rightful spot as division leaders.
Packers 31 Lions 24
Darryl Krejci
Darryl Krejci: The Packers better come out with a chip on their shoulder because the sad offensive and defensive showings over the first two games have left a lot to be desired.
The Packers need to treat the Lions Lake pussycats and not the king of the jungle.
As long as the Packers do they will roll to victory.
Packers 40 Lions 3
Jerry Bulone
Jerry Bulone: In previous years (especially in the McCarthy/Rodgers era) the gap in talent between the Packers and Lions has been pretty apparent. The Packers are 15-2 their last 17 against the Lions. Unfortunately this may be one of those instances where you throw history out the window.
The Packers can’t stop anything on defense. Two OK quarters does not change my mind. Also they will not have coach Mornhinweg to save the day for them like last week. The Lions are a bit underrated right now because of a loss against the Panthers. Here is a bit of a news flash—the Panthers D is very good, and will give any offense fits. The Lions’ offense is primed for a bounce back today.
So Detroit will score their points, but can Green Bay match them? Usually I would say yes, but despite Sherrod “settling in” the line will still have trouble against Suh & Co.
Lacy has not been able to find traction this year, and I am still looking for a meaningful contribution from anyone not named Cobb and Nelson.
Lions 38 Packers 31
David Burdette
David Burdette: This Packers-Lions game is going to be like it always is – a heated divisional rivalry where the kid-brother Lions try again to prove they belong versus the big-brother Packers.
Eddie Lacy might be a key in this one to control the clock, but a tough Detroit front four aren’t going to make it easy.
Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford are going to duel it out, but from the tape we see two different quarterbacks, one who starts well and finishes bad, the other who starts bad and finishes great.
Any guess who the finisher is?
Packers 38 Lions 35
Kenn Korb
Kenn Korb: It is looking like a majority of people are expecting a shootout here, and everything looks lined up perfectly for that; the Packers’ lacking D, the lackluster secondary of the Lions, the abundance of skill among the pass catchers on both sides, and the QBs who can both light it up.
While I expect a hotly-contested game, I see this working a bit in the opposite fashion that games like this can tend to do: defenses play above their heads for most of the game, with each offense runs at not quite at full capacity – though a decent amount of plays will still be converted by each team’s offense – and ultimately things are decided by one of those defenses to finally make a major blunder just when it matters most.
In this case I see the Packers, behind some clutch plays by Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, making a few late plays that let Green Bay start its stretch of three division games with a win.
Green Bay 24 Detroit 20
Patrick Hughes
Patrick Hughes: The Packers go into the Motor City looking to keep the bit of momentum gained by defeating the New York Jets moving forward.
As most Packers v. Detroit matchups, I expect a scrappy and spirited contest. I also expect a shootout.
The Packers emerge victorious though the defensive backfield will give up points – they come away with a couple interceptions as well.
Packers 35 Lions 28
Davey Miller
Davey Miller: Packers in a shoot out.
Packers 34 Lions 31
Kyle Fellows
Kyle Fellows: This will be a great matchup to watch.
Green Bay and Detroit have both had explosive offenses for quite a while. However, two great passing attacks have now been complemented with powerful running games.
Eddie Lacy and Joique Bell will play determining roles in this game. The Packers need to show that they can stop the run.
On the other hand, the Packers will have to penetrate the Lions tough run defense. I expect Detroit’s running game to be more effective, but I also believe the Green Bay receivers will be too much for the Lions secondary to handle.
Look for Davante Adams to continue to grow in his role on offense and for a tight end to be used more frequently than they have been in the first two weeks of the season.
Packers win this shootout.
Packers 37 Lions 31
Kevin Dickens
Kevin Dickens: Everybody in Packers Nation is hoping last week was a fluke for the defense.
So am I.
But we can all expect that a Detroit Lions team will play better than we saw in Carolina. At the end of the day a win is going to be determined by the defenses.
Green Bay, of course, will face a talented front four and a very good set of linebackers. But the secondary is in serious question for the Lions.
On the other side the Lions will be facing a depleted and very shaky front four for the Packers. Julius Peppers has not been the type of asset the Packers were hoping so far. Guion, Boyd, and Pennel have failed to create the type of impact to replace Raji.
With a very talented secondary the Packers may be more equipped to deal with the Lions aerially than vice versa. I would expect Rodgers and company to prosper this week.
Packers 27 Lions 21
Josh McPeak
Josh McPeak: The Packers come out and try to win the time of possession riding the “Hammer” Eddie Lacy. The defense is able to stay fresh and continue to bend but not break against Calvin Johnson and the rest of the Lions.
After Jordy Nelson’s 209-yard performance he is blanketed most of the game allowing Randall Cobb to have a 10 reception 100-plus yard game.
Aaron Rodgers, as always, owns the Motor City and rolls out of Detroit with another great performance, as the offensive line continues to improve. Mike Daniels and Ndamukong Suh have to be separated following the game …
Packers 31 Lions 23
Ray Rivard
Ray Rivard: Fresh in our memories is the past Thanksgiving Day game when the Green Bay Packers were devoured by the Lions. We have to get that out of our head. The Packers, in Detroit, over the most recent past have had a lot of success against the lions. The Packers are something like 12-1 when Aaron Rodgers is the quarterback.
So, put to rest all the paranoia about playing in Detroit. This Lions team is improved, but so are the Packers.
I feel Aaron Rodgers will once again be spot-on today and the Packers come home with a well-earned victory.
Packers 38 Lions 32