'The Packers Are a Train Wreck': Can Lions Take Advantage?
Bill Huber of Packer Central has covered the Packers since the 2008 NFL season.
He answered five questions heading into the Lions-Packers divisional matchup at Lambeau Field on Thursday Night Football.
1.) What has been your assessment of the play of quarterback Jordan Love through three games?
Bill Huber: Love’s been quite good. He’s certainly defied the expectations from the national pundits and probably most of us who’ve seen him day after day for the previous three years.
You look at the completion percentage and think, “Dang, that’s terrible.” But, he has been airing it out. With most young quarterbacks, you sort of assume a conservative gameplan and a bunch of dink-and-dunk passes to either build confidence or avoid mistakes. Not with Love. He leads the league in air yards per attempt by a mile.
He’s thrown only one interception – a deep shot on third-and-long that essentially served as a punt. His mobility has been a tremendous asset. Did he choke at Atlanta, when he was 0-for-6 in the fourth quarter and botched the call on a fourth-down quarterback sneak? Maybe. Was he as clutch as could be during the fourth-quarter rally vs. New Orleans? Absolutely.
I won’t go so far as to say the Packers have their next great quarterback, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they do, either.
2.) Through three games, what are the team's strengths and weaknesses?
Huber: Offensively, who the heck knows? They played against the Saints without their best running back (Aaron Jones), best receiver (Christian Watson) and their two best offensive linemen (David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins). Jones has played about two-and-a-half quarters. Watson hasn’t played at all. So, whatever plans coach Matt LaFleur might have had have been scrapped.
Defensively, it’s rushing the passer. Good luck making plays downfield before Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Kenny Clark and Devonte Wyatt get there. Coming off the torn ACL sustained last year at Detroit, Gary had three sacks against the Saints. The combo of strong pass rush and tight coverage – Jaire Alexander and Rasul Douglas are a top tandem at corner – is hard to beat.
That statement comes with the asterisk of you have to play good run defense to get the opponent into third-and-long. The Packers haven’t played good run defense since the Lombardi era.
3.) The injury bug hit the Lions early this season. What has been the injury situation like for the Packers? Is Aaron Jones likely to play this week?
Huber: The Packers are a train wreck. Against the Saints, Alexander and the aforementioned quartet of Jones, Watson, Bakhtiari and Jenkins were inactive. Linebacker De’Vondre Campbell exited in the first quarter with an ankle injury, and right tackle Zach Tom missed the final series with a knee injury. That’s not just seven starters, but seven of their top players.
I do think Jones will play on Thursday. He went through a pregame workout before the Saints game, and in my obviously nonmedical opinion, looked explosive. LaFleur would never admit it, but I’d assume they were being a bit cautious with Jones so he’d be ready for this game.
4.) What is a key matchup you are looking forward to watching in primetime?
Huber: I love physical football. Detroit’s offensive line is superb. Can the Packers’ defense go toe to toe with that unit and stop David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs? Obviously, the last time the Lions came to town, Week 18 last season, the Lions’ physicality ruled the day. Green Bay’s gone young on the defensive line. Is that group ready for the challenge?
To the other side of the ball, the youngest team in the NFL counts on a first-year quarterback throwing the ball to what might be the youngest pass-catching group in NFL history. Romeo Doubs is in his second season. Watson (if he plays) is in his second season. Receivers Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks and tight end Luke Musgrave are rookies. Let’s see if they’re ready for primetime.
5.) How do you see this NFC North rivalry game playing out?
Huber: The Lions were picked to win the division for a reason. They’re a veteran team that is built to win now.
Can Green Bay’s run defense handle the power of the Lions’ offensive line? Can Green Bay’s woeful rushing attack get anything done against a Lions defense that demolished the same Falcons offense that ran roughshod against Green Bay in Week 2?
The Lions are 1.5-point favorites. I think they’ll win and cover.
