The Packers weren’t quite playing their type of football until the second half of Week 2 when Aaron Rodgers and Co. finally began lighting up the scoreboard. In the Packers’ 31-24 victory over New York last week, the rest of the league saw just how productive Green Bay’s offense can be when all pieces are in-sync. The possibility of Bryan Bulaga’s return this week suggests that the offense could remain just as lethal in Detroit, which shifts the spotlight to the defensive side of the ball where the Packers face a tall task against Matthew Stafford and the Lions O.
The Lions haven’t been particularly effective running the ball in their first two regular season games, having been held to fewer than 80 yards rushing in each while halfback Joique Bell averaged less than four yards per carry. Not overly active in the Lions’ ground game thus far has been Reggie Bush, who tore apart Green Bay’s defense last Thanksgiving, both between the tackles and in the flat. Despite a knee injury that has kept Bush’s role limited, I expect No.21 to be used at least as a distraction against the Packers.
The Packers defense, however, will be more than preoccupied on the perimeter with Calvin Johnson, who has been a routine nightmare for the Green Bay secondary. The play of highly-paid cornerback Sam Shields could be a difference-maker in this contest, in addition to the support provided by safeties Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Micah Hyde and Morgan Burnett.
Of course, the secondary will require some help up front by Mike Daniels and Clay Matthews, who has been particularly quiet to begin the season, despite a sack last week. In two games as a Packer, Julius Peppers hasn’t been overly disruptive for opposing quarterbacks, evidenced by a higher-than-expected amount of playing time on passing downs for Nick Perry. The Packers will need to be quicker to the quarterback this week as they face a much better passer in Stafford than the pedestrian Geno Smith.
Mike McCarthy and the rest of the team may very well play with a chip on their shoulders after the embarrassing blow-out loss in Detroit last Thanksgiving. If one thing is for sure, it’s that Dom Capers must come out with something other than vanilla defensive schemes. The talent differential between the Lions offense and Packers defense gives Detroit a significant advantage at home that will be difficult for Rodgers to match for four straight quarters.
Why is everyone so down on our “D”?
Seattle game: We stopped them numerous times on third down, only to get penalties, which allowed Seattle’s drives to continue. Go back and look, we would have had the ball twice as much.Also, when we got the ball Rodgers looked gun shy, which was very weird. He looked so intimidated by Sherman he never even worked the right side of the field except maybe twice.
I didn’t get to see the Jets game, but it sounds like Rodgers woke up and the penalties stopped on defense all in the 2nd half. If I’m right, then we should be right back on track, with a significantly better defense and high potent offense being lead by the best QB-RB tandem in the league!
Go, you Packers Go, Fight Fight Fight!
The difference in this game from the last two are the QB’s Wilson and Smith uses their legs and that gives any defense trouble, Stafford is a pocket passer and very good at it so to beat them the Packers know right where he will be so get after him all day long. Bush is hurt so he will not be a factor and if they do get him involved like you said it will be a distraction for a pass play most likely! Key to this game will be the secondary sticking to their covers and pressure from the D line. If Daniels plays like he did with the Jets last week it will be a long day for Stafford. Pack wins this 35-28
If we get our o rolling with the no huddle our o will be fine they got a nice front 7 but those big guys will have a hard time catching a breath I think there will be alot of screens to make the big d line that the lions have make them run alot. I like our d very fast and athletic. I think it will be harder to score on us as the weeks go by. Burnett is playing well so is hyde williams and shields.also with Casey playing nickles man we will be okay. with jamari playing inside with aj I think we will be okay. But ilbs are the worst part of our d. And our o line is the worst part of our o. Even with Bulaga in I’m not happy with it