The Green Bay Packers open the season with the opportunity to get the Detroit Lions-sized monkey off their back immediately. Detroit is in a state of transition, having lost both of its coordinators and several pieces across its roster.
Green Bay, of course, is riding the high of acquiring Micah Parsons and the sensational summer of Matthew Golden. Along with other key moves this offseason, many believe the Packers are finally positioned to make a statement in the NFC. What better test than Detroit after getting swept by Dan Campbell’s squad in two of the past three seasons?
Still, the NFC North showdown figures to be one of the opening weekend’s most competitive matchups. That surely means that some things will go in Green Bay’s favor, while others will not, an aspect I respected in my bold predictions for the season opener.
Three swings at how the season opener unfolds for Packers
1. Packers hold Lions under 100 yards rushing
This one might be the hardest of the bunch for Green Bay to pull off, but I like the Packers’ linebackers a lot more than I like Detroit’s new interior offensive line. While Green Bay’s interior defensive line will have to step up in a huge way without Kenny Clark, defenses are usually ahead of the curve to start the season.
Of course, the Lions will run the ball, and they’ll do so arrogantly unless they feel a shootout is brewing. Last season, Detroit’s lone game without at least 100 yards on the ground came in the loss to Buffalo, in which Jared Goff threw 59 passes while Detroit ran with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery just 13 times for 35 yards.
I don’t think a shootout is brewing for Week 1, nor do I think Green Bay will hold the Lions under 50 yards on the ground like Buffalo did. But I do think the linebacking crew of Quay Walker, Edgerrin Cooper, and Isaiah McDuffie will clean up Detroit’s rushing attack and hold them to modest gains.
2. Matthew Golden tops 100 yards and gets his first NFL score
I, like many, was not totally sold on Matthew Golden’s projections as a No. 1 option in the NFL. He shut me and plenty others up this summer. Now he gets to do it in a game.
While 100-yard performances haven’t exactly been unattainable for rookie receivers in Green Bay, Christian Watson had three and Jayden Reed had one to close his rookie season, neither did so early in their first seasons.
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For all the talent the Lions have in their secondary, they have been more than susceptible to explosive plays in recent seasons, even at full strength. While I do think that the bulk of Golden’s production in his first game will come on one long scoring play, a huge box score from the Texas product will be nothing short of a dream come true for every Packers fan who begged for years to have a first-round talent at the position.
3. Micah Parsons goes without a sack in his Packers debut
Before you get out your torches and pitchforks, this is only due to his back injury. If Parsons isn’t able to play a full game, it’s hard to see him getting past Penei Sewell or Taylor Decker on just a handful of snaps.
While nothing would be sweeter for Packers fans than to see an immediate return on investment with Parsons formally reintroducing Jared Goff to the Lambeau turf, the reality of his back injury may put a pause on that daydream.
Sure, if Parsons were 100 percent healthy, the stance would be different. Parsons is one of the league’s most dominant pass rushers, and he’ll make his mark for Green Bay soon enough.