Detroit Lions (1-7) at Green Bay Packers (6-2)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisc. – TV: FOX
*TV announcers: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews
*Keys to the game: Like many freefalling teams that hit their midseason bye, the Lions return to the field following tumultuous “down time” that saw major upheaval in the front office. Coach Jim Caldwell remains for now, and the focus on the field is how to spur the league’s worst ground attack and better protect QB Matthews Stafford with the same offensive line personnel that hasn’t gotten the job done all season.
Stafford has been sacked 22 times and the reality is the Lions’ ability to be competitive boils down to whether he can attack a defense that has been torched for 1,140 passing yards over its past three games – and whether he can do it without significantly adding to his 11 interceptions on the season. The Lions are averaging a measly 3.7 yards per carry, so Stafford can’t bank on much ground support.
The Packers have slipped to 23rd in the NFL in total offense and passing yards per game – certainly not the standard QB Aaron Rodgers is accustomed to. It is clear just how much he misses WR Jordy Nelson, but he has had great success against Detroit – 6-0 career at home with a 114.9 passer rating. RB James Starks takes over the starting job from Eddie Lacy, and Rodgers specifically called out Starks’ ability to execute well on screen passes.
*Matchup to watch – Lions DE Ziggy Ansah vs. Packers LT David Bakhtiari: Ansah has 7.0 of the Lions 18 sacks on the season despite seeing a steady dose of double teams. No one else on the team has more than 2.5 sacks, so Bakhtiari is likely to receive some help in the way of chip blocks and double teams.
*Player spotlight – Lions TE Eric Ebron: The former first-round pick is quietly emerging as a consistent threat over the seam with defenses focused on WRs Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate. Despite missing two games to injury, Ebron is tied for the team lead with three touchdown catches and has four-plus catches in three of his four starts.
*Fast facts: The Packers have a 13-game home winning streak and have won 24 straight games in Wisconsin against the Lions, a league record against an individual opponent. Green Bay has 12 players on the current roster who were not born when Detroit last won in Wisconsin. … Green Bay will play four games in 19 days, all against NFC North rivals.
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
Packers QB Aaron Rodgers is frustrated, and he’s going to take it out on a Lions team he has owned over the years. The Lions will move the ball, but QB Matthew Stafford can’t go score-for-score for four quarters without making a few critical mistakes.
*Our pick: Packers 37-27.