The Green Bay Packers will likely need to follow a familiar blueprint to beat the visiting Detroit Lions on Thursday night at Lambeau Field.
Win the pressure/protect battle. Avoid turnovers. Come up clutch in the big situations. Through three games, the Packers have just one turnover, are plus-six in sacks (three allowed, nine created) and rank in the top 11 in the NFL on both offense and defense on third down and in the red zone.
Buy Packers TicketsAs a result, the Packers are 2-1 entering Week 4 despite some inconsistent play in all three phases to start the season.
Can the Packers do all the little things right and knock off the Lions in primetime?
Here are the five keys to the Packers beating the Lions on Thursday night:
Keep Aidan Hutchinson from taking over
The Packers won’t have left tackle David Bakhtiari (out), and right tackle Zach Tom (questionable) will either be playing through a knee injury or not in the lineup. Although Rasheed Walker has filled in well at left tackle and Yosh Nijman provides an experienced backup behind Tom, the Packers would still prefer to be at full strength at offensive tackle ahead of a matchup against Aidan Hutchinson, a game-wrecking force and the NFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 3. He had three pressures and a pair of sacks at Lambeau Field in the season finale last year. And just last week, Hutchinson moved all over the defensive front to produce a couple of sacks and a forced fumble. Through three games, Hutchinson leads the NFL in pressures, and he has at least six pressures in all three appearances. Can the Packers patched up offensive line keep him from taking over on Thursday night? If Hutchinson is contained, the Lions lack other game-changing rushers.
Find Luke Musgrave and Aaron Jones in passing game
The Lions have allowed an NFL-high 25 catches to tight ends this season, creating a big opportunity for Luke Musgrave to have a breakout performance in the passing game. He’s been so close to big-time impact in all three games but his connection with Jordan Love has been a little off early on. Could this be the game it comes together? Love should also be looking for easy completions to Aaron Jones. Getting back Christian Watson should open up space in the passing game, and the Lions haven’t been good covering running backs so far in 2023. Sustaining drives and moving the football might require feeding Musgrave and Jones in the short to intermediate passing game. Don’t be surprised if the tight end and running back positions are crucial to the Packers converting on third down and in the red zone (see: the big situations) on Thursday night.
Pressure Jared Goff
Jared Goff is completing 75 percent of his passes and averaging 8.0 yards per attempt when kept clean in the pocket this season. Although better against pressure so far in 2023, Goff’s numbers when pressured last season were revealing: 41.9 completion percentage, 5.4 yards per attempt, 11 turnover worthy plays. If Goff is working from clean pockets on Thursday night, he’ll likely pick the Packers apart, especially if Jaire Alexander (back) can’t go. But the strength of the Packers defense is rushing the passer, and the Lions are dealing with injuries along the offensive line, so Joe Barry’s group has a chance. It’s possible Barry will use more blitzes (Quay Walker?) to hurry Goff up and help his secondary.
Fast start from Jordan Love
Across the board, Jordan Love’s numbers are better in the second half compared to the first half. He’s been a slow starter in games. More specifically, it appears it takes time for Love to get into a rhythm as a passer. While his in-game adjustments have helped Love flourish in the second half, Matt LaFleur must do a better job on Thursday night of getting Love going early. The Packers can’t afford to start slow — especially at home — and play from behind on a short week against a tough, physical Lions team. It’s possible Luke Musgrave and Aaron Jones could be the key to getting Love easy completions to open the contest. Another big factor: avoiding the self-inflicted wounds — such as penalties and unforced errors — that have hurt the Packers early in games. Can Love and the Packers come out executing right away?
Be the better play-action passing team
Through three games, Jordan Love is completing 57.7 percent of passes and averaging 9.5 yards per attempt off play action (26 attempts), while Jared Goff is completing 73.9 percent and averaging 11.9 yards per attempt off play action (23 attempts). Both teams feature excellent run-action passing games designed to create explosive plays down the field (Love, 10.7 average depth of target on play-action; Goff, 12.2). Can the Packers defense contain the run game while staying disciplined against play action? And can Matt LaFleur dial up some shots down the field — maybe to Christian Watson? — using run action? The team that creates more big plays through creative play design is going to be in the driver’s seat on Thursday night.
