NFL Game of the Week: Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers

Week 9 of the NFL season takes fans to Titletown to watch the red-hot Detroit Lions take on their longtime rival Green Bay Packers.

The Lions, who are off a 50-point dismantling of the Tennessee Titans, look to distance themselves from the Packers in the NFC North race.

Star quarterback Jared Goff is having an MVP-worthy campaign midway through the season, with an impressive 74.1% completion percentage and 13 touchdowns. He threw three touchdowns in last week’s win.

After losing superstar edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson in Week 6’s blowout win against the Cowboys, the Lions have still kept opposing offenses in check. However, the Packers are a different offensive workhorse than the Titans.

The Packers currently average 27 points a game. Jordan Love has 15 touchdowns this season despite missing two games early in the year and being replaced by Malik Willis. The Packers are also riding a four-game win streak, finding their footing midway through the year.

Green Bay tight end Tucker Kraft has also come into his own in his second NFL season. He has racked up 342 receiving yards and five touchdowns this season, which is good for second most in the league behind George Kittle.

Josh Jacobs has also lit up the league in his first season with Green Bay, joining them from the Raiders in free agency in the offseason. Jacobs has the fourth most rushing yards in the league with 667 and has become Green Bay’s x-factor on offense. However, both Love and Jacobs are listed as questionable for Sunday’s game as they deal with injuries, but are both confident they will play.

On the other hand, Lions standout third-year wideout Jameson Williams made more headlines last week as the NFL handed him a two-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing-substances policy. He was not available in the team’s win against the Titans and will once again sit for this week’s bout with the Packers. Williams previously served a six-game suspension in 2023 for violating the league’s gambling policy.

It is expected to be “breezy with periods of rain” for Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field according to AccuWeather. If the weather plays a factor, it will be interesting to see how both teams adapt. The Lions have found much success running the ball with both Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, as well as occasionally letting star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown get some rushing reps in.

With how dynamic Jacobs has been playing, the Packers shouldn’t be worried about letting him take on the offensive load throughout the game if need be. However, Green Bay is definitely a more pass-heavy team than Detroit. With Love’s groin injury and the chance of Detroit stuffing the run game, the Packers will have to be alert if the weather does deteriorate through the afternoon.

The winner of this star-studded battle will take first place in the NFC North for the time being. A classic matchup at Lambeau Field should make for another beautiful and wildly entertaining NFL Sunday.

Oscar Orellana is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email oko5122@psu.edu.