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5 Early Keys to The Packers vs. Lions Matchup
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5 Early Keys to The Packers vs. Lions Matchup

Will he or won’t he?

That will be this week’s #1 question regarding Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers.

Love suffered a groin injury in the first quarter on Sunday, knocking him out of the Jacksonville game early in the third quarter. The Packers rallied without their quarterback and Defeated the Jaguars 30-27.

This kicks off a Week 9 matchup between the two best teams in the NFC at Lambeau Field.

Detroit, which leads the conference at 6-1, travels to Green Bay (6-2), which has the second-best mark in the NFC.

Here are five early keys to one of the biggest games of this NFL season.

1. Love on the rocks

Love’s groin injury will be on the air and dominating the headlines all week. After the Packers’ win over the Jaguars, Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur was asked about the extent of Love’s injury.

“I have no idea,” LaFleur said. “But obviously there is a high level of concern.

“Everyone could see that he was having trouble moving. And now we got to a point where he felt like he couldn’t protect himself.”

NFL Network reported that Love will undergo further testing on Monday but appears to have avoided a long-term injury. Green Bay has a bye week following its game against Detroit, which means if Love is left out, he will have a full three weeks to recover before the Packers travel to Chicago on Nov. 17.

If love can’t go, No.2 Malik Willis has proven to be an extremely talented backup. Willis went 2-0 earlier this year with Love out with an MCL sprain, then led the Packers to victory over Jacksonville on Sunday.

2. Great Goff

Detroit quarterback Jared Goff, the No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft, is having his best season.

Goff leads the NFL in passer rating with 115.3 and completion percentage with 74.1. Goff threw 13 touchdowns, four interceptions and threw for 242.1 yards per game.

“He distributes the ball,” Tennessee coach Brian Callahan said of Goff. “I think Jared is an underrated point guard. “He’s probably playing as good a position as anyone in football right now.”

During the Packers’ 29-22 win over the Lions on Thanksgiving last year, they showed that the way to slow Goff was to get him out of his spot. Goff was sacked three times and hit 12 times that day.

Green Bay will need similar pressure again to contain one of the NFL’s hottest quarterbacks.

3. Offensive fireworks

Goff is just one of the NFL’s best offensive linemen.

The Lions, who have won five games in a row, lead the league by scoring 33.4 points per game. And Detroit is averaging 43.0 points per game in its last four games.

Sophomore Jahmyr Gibbs is the NFL’s most explosive running back. Gibbs ranks sixth in the NFL in rushing (591 yards) and averages a whopping 6.4 yards per carry, but he’s splitting time with senior David Montgomery to keep both backs fresh.

Together, the duo combined for 1,006 rushing yards and 14 total touchdowns.

The offensive line is the best in the NFL; Right tackle Penei Sewell, right guard Kevin Zeitler and center Frank Ragnow are all Pro Bowlers.

Wide Amon-Ra St. The receiving corps is deep and talented, led by Brown (41-408-5) and tight end Sam LaPorta (20-272-2). However, the Packers noticed that speedster Jameson Williams was serving the second of his two-game suspension for “violating the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy.”

4. Defense has claws

It’s been a decade since the Lions were ranked in the top 10 defensively. In fact, Detroit’s highest rating over the last five seasons has been 23.third and average finish 28he.

But Detroit’s roster is loaded and the Lions rank eighth defensively, allowing 19.1 points per game.

The Lions’ strength is their run defense, which ranks fifth and allows 101.9 yards per game. Although Detroit certainly misses Aidan Hutchinson (broken leg), its depth allowed it to go 2-0 without a Pro Bowl defensive back.

Linebackers Jack Campbell and Alex Anzalone are difference makers, while safeties Kerby Joseph (five tackles) and Brian Branch (four INTs) are in the midst of terrific seasons.

Green Bay could have success pursuing corners Carlton Davis (30 catches allowed) and Terrion Arnold (22 catches allowed), who allowed a combined 52 catches and no interceptions.

5. All three stages

The Lions’ special teams were extremely good this year as well.

Kalif Raymond had a 90-yard punt return for a touchdown on Sunday and averaged 16.6 yards on catches on 19 punt returns.

Detroit has only attempted six kickoff returns, but is averaging 35.5 yards per attempt; this is highlighted by a 72-yard return by cornerback Khalil Dorsey.

Kicker Jake Bates is 11-of-11 from the field and 27-of-28 on extra points, while punter Jack Fox is among the league leaders in gross (52.5) ​​and net (47.3).

There’s very little these Leos don’t do well.

“We play with three units, and a couple of them when humming at the right time can save one of your units,” Detroit coach Dan Campbell said.