The Green Bay Packers are diving right into the deep end to start the 2025 season, hosting the Detroit Lions for a Week 1 matchup. The Lions have been one of the best teams in the league the last two years, and have won the NFC North both seasons, so starting the year against them is certainly going straight into deep waters.
Fortunately, the Packers know how to swim. Green Bay won 11 games last season, and is expected to be a contender again this season. With the recent addition of Micah Parsons, the Packers are just as much of a threat to win the division as any team. They can prove that with a dominant performance in Week 1.
One player who could help Green Bay really dominate Detroit is second-year linebacker Edgerrin Cooper. All offseason, Cooper has been identified as a breakout candidate. If he starts that campaign in Week 1 with a strong outing, the Packers could pick up a commanding win over the Lions — something no one is expecting.
Edgerrin Cooper could be the key to a Packers win over the Lions in Week 1
Although Ben Johnson left Detroit for the Chicago Bears this offseason, and All-Pro center Frank Ragnow retired, the Lions are still expected to boast one of the top offenses in the NFL. Everything they do offensively is built around a dominant run game. If Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery get going, it’ll be a long day for whatever defense Detroit is facing.
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The Packers don’t want that to be the case in Week 1, and they have the players to prevent it from happening. While Kenny Clark is no longer in the middle of the defensive front, Green Bay does have Micah Parsons, who is a good run defense even though Dallas wasn’t a good run defense, and several other really good defenders in the box.
Cooper is one of those players, and he flashed elite potential as a rookie. In 14 games, he recorded 87 tackles, 13 for a loss, 3.5 sacks, four pass deflections, one forced fumble, and an interception. If he flies around on Sunday like everyone believes he’s capable of doing, he could disrupt Detroit’s plan to establish the run. Cooper also showcased his ability as a pass defender, and he could also impact the game that way.
If he shows out against the run and the pass on Sunday, the Packers should start the year 1-0, and Edgerrin Cooper would have people talking.