Packers have perfect answer to Za'Darius Smith revenge game on TNF

Much has changed since the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions last met.

Jordan Love could barely move around a rainy Lambeau Field due to a groin injury he suffered the previous week in Jacksonville. It limited the Packers' offense to shotgun and pistol snaps, while Love couldn't extend plays with his legs.

Now fully healthy, Love is showing signs of the MVP form he reached during the Packers' playoff run last season. However, Green Bay's offense faces a new challenge from the first matchup five weeks ago.

Za'Darius Smith.

A two-time Pro Bowler in Green Bay, Smith now wears the Lions' blue and silver colors after a deadline-day trade last month. He has made a fast start to life in Detroit, registering 17 pressures and three sacks in just three games, per PFF.

The Lions move Smith around to find favorable matchups, and it's clear he is still an excellent pass-rusher. However, the Packers have the perfect solution to prevent him from enjoying a revenge game on Thursday Night Football.

Packers have the answer to Za'Darius Smith and Lions' pass rush in Week 14

The Lions haven't just lost Aidan Hutchinson. They could be without several of their preferred starters along the defensive line. According to PFF, the Lions' defense has made 249 pressures this season, but they could be missing the players who have accounted for 147 of them. Josh Paschal, DJ Reader, and Levi Onwuzurike are on the injury report, and the Lions have 18 players on injured reserve.

Smith is the Lions' best pass-rusher, but he runs into a tough matchup against the Packers this week.

While defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn moves Smith around, and he can play inside, most of his work comes against the two tackles. That plays into the Packers' strengths, as Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom have offered next to nothing to pass-rushers.

You can look at just about any metric or statistic, and it tells the same story.

Walker and Tom have allowed a combined three sacks all season, and over the past five games, they have given up just 13 pressures and zero sacks. They are among PFF's top-14 offensive tackles for pass-blocking grades (Tom 12th, Walker 14th).

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As a team, Green Bay has PFF's highest pass-blocking grade this season, and the group has allowed just 15 sacks all year, the second-fewest in football. Just 10 were on Love, who is among the best at buying time in the pocket and avoiding sacks.

The Packers have one of the best tackle duos in the NFL, and the Lions' injury problems could factor into their game plan.

If Paschal, Reader, and Onwuzurike don't play (they haven't practiced yet this week), the Packers' main concern will come from Smith and Alim McNeil. If Matt LaFleur feels it's necessary, he can provide additional support to the side Smith is on.

Packers should run Josh Jacobs at Za'Darius Smith

Smith loves to rush the passer, but he is far less consistent as a run defender. He has PFF's 17th-best pass-rush grade among edge defenders but is just 72nd in run defense.

The Packers should use that to their advantage.

A great way to cool a pass rush is to run the ball. That's easier said than done against the No. 5-ranked run defense, but the Packers found success on the ground against the Lions at Lambeau Field. They averaged six yards per carry, with Josh Jacobs turning 13 attempts into 95 yards at a 7.3 average.

Jacobs wasn't fully healthy in that game and the Packers fell behind by multiple scores, but if they commit to the rushing attack, it will open up opportunities in the play-action game and limit Smith's potential to take over the game.

Love barely played under center against Detroit in Week 9 due to injury. That can change on Thursday Night Football.

The Packers know how talented Smith is, but they also know his weaknesses. They should run in his direction, and this offensive line has the talent at tackle to limit his success as a pass-rusher.

Revenge game? It's the Packers' turn to get revenge on the Lions.

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