Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers Look to ‘Give Thanks’ to Detroit Lions
By Jamie Wright
Thanksgiving 2013 showed such potential, early on in the season.
When Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers went down with a broken collarbone, all of Packers Nation held its collective breath.
We (unrealistically) thought that Rodgers might be able to make a go at the Thanksgiving Day game against the Detroit Lions. After all, Rodgers is 9-1 in games against the Lions in his career. His only loss came in 2010 when he left in the first half due to a concussion – and the Packers went on to win the Super Bowl.
Rodgers and his team of doctors remained comfortably patient, even though we all watched uncomfortably from home as the Lions picked apart the Packers on Thanksgiving Day, 40-10.
However, Rodgers and his team of doctors remained comfortably patient, even though we all watched uncomfortably from home as the Lions picked apart the Packers on Thanksgiving Day, 40-10.
It’s not so unreasonable to think that Rodgers is itching to get back and “give thanks” to the Lions this year, when they meet in week three for the first time in 2014.
After all, when we last saw the Detroit Lions, the entire Packers team looked lethargic and lost with Matt Flynn at the helm.
Rodgers is going to do his best to bring the heat this Sunday.
Aaron Rodgers looks to do damage to the Detroit Lions this Sunday. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports photograph
The Lions are still boasting a fierce front seven, led by Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley. Suh has been coming on strong as of late, but Fairley is battling a triceps injury that has held up in production in practice this week and could translate into a slower production rate when they face the Packers’ offensive line Sunday.
The Lions enter this week’s contest ranked second in total defense and run defense in the league. Where this might be a daunting statistic to some – Aaron Rodgers and his potent aerial attack aren’t likely to be worried, especially since they completely dismantled the number 1 ranked run, pass and overall defense last week in the New York Jets.
Rodgers and Co. had a rough start, but finished the first half strong and had a nearly complete second half, rallying from 18 points down to win the game.
Jordy Nelson is coming off his best career game (statistically speaking) and Randall Cobb looks to be in good form, hauling in two touchdowns last week.
With the secondary issues the Lions are facing, Rodgers looks to exploit those weaknesses with a potent group of receivers. The tight end position will be interesting to watch, as the middle of the field looks to be fairly open on Sunday; however, between Andrew Quarless and Richard Rodgers at tight end, only four passes have been registered this season.
Rodgers is going to need a big target this weekend to utilize all his weapons and take advantage of the middle of the field.
The last thing that needs shoring up? The run game.
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Eddie Lacy is a beast and has some success running against the Lions in the past. The offensive line has got to generate more run gaps to allow him some room to work.
Without the running game, the Packers become one-dimensional again and open themselves up to unnecessary hits and injuries, especially to key receivers and our prized quarterback hero.
If the Packers can find it in themselves to fuel the fires likely still burning from the beating we took last Thanksgiving – we could be giving back to the Lions what they so generously gave to us on Rodgers’ road to recovery.