The 3-1 Detroit Lions face the 1-2 Green Bay Packers Sunday, and it could be the matchup of the week. Aaron Rogers has had a sluggish start to the season, but said he does not plan to lose to the Lions at Lambeau.
The Packers have not lost to the Lions at home for 22 straight games. Rodgers said that he knows records and streaks are made to be broken, but also said “it would be nice not to let that happen while I’m at quarterback.”
However, a victory-hungry Lions team has the potential to advance to 4-1. Some major fantasy points could be produced by any Lions or Packers player in this shootout - what do the Lions need to do to take down the Packers and end the streak?
Rodgers is an elite quarterback and has proven to be tough to stop. The Lions defense must put pressure on Rodgers and force errors out of him. He is one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the league, and the Lions could have five touchdowns but Rodgers will have six if the defensive linemen and linebackers don't come out strong. Covering Green Bay's receivers tightly will also be crucial - they know how to read Rodgers and follow the ball to the right spot.
Avoid turnovers:
At all costs the Lions need to avoid, turning the ball over and giving Rodgers more possession. Matthew Stafford has a good-but-not-great 7-3 touchdown-interception ratio. The Packers are a team you can’t afford to lose the ball to, and if the Lions want to win, Reggie Bush must secure the ball and avoid fumbles and Stafford needs to be accurate. To help Stafford, the offensive line needs to protect the pocket and allow him time to read through his options.
Detroit needs to take advantage of their passing and running game. Handing the ball off to Reggie Bush will allow Johnson to get open more often. The Lions must use their assets - spreading the play calls out will keep the defense honest and will allow the Lions to get the upper hand they need while on offense. Stafford just relying on passing the ball will not allow the defense to stack the box as much, which will lead to less open players and more sacks. The more times Stafford gets sacked, the longer the distance the Lions will have to cover to get first downs, and the Lions will be forced to focus more on the pass. It can't turn into a never-ending circle.
This is going to be a big game for both teams.
The Lions want to prove what they are capable of, and stay on top of the NFC. The Packers want to continue their home winning streak against the Lions, and come out of the funk they've been in this season.
If the Lions are going to have a chance at winning, their eyes have to be on Rodgers. He's the team leader who has the ability to make up for mistakes the rest of his guys make. It should be a very close and high scoring game - both teams will likely put up monster numbers (on the scoreboard AND for your fantasy team), so fantasy managers should definitely be starting anyone playing in this game in their lineup.
My prediction - Green Bay wins by a touchdown.
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