The Green Bay Packers were loaded for bear, but they’ll have to settle for lions.
The Packers host the road-challenged Detroit Lions on Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field after one of their most frustrating losses in franchise history.
Green Bay (2-1) committed a franchise-record 18 penalties, including two that nullified interceptions and another one that took away a touchdown. Yet another flag set up the winning field goal after a Packers fumble.
All of those mistakes allowed the Chicago Bears to sneak out of Soldier Field with a 20-17 win last Monday night and into first place in the NFC North despite being outgained 379-276.
The Packers now take aim on the Lions (0-3), who have lost nine straight in this series and 18 straight on the road against Green Bay. Furthermore, their 22 consecutive losses on the road are third most in NFL history. Green Bay shut out visiting Detroit 26-0 last season.
Detroit is coming off a 24-10 loss to the previously winless Minnesota Vikings. Adrian Peterson ran for 160 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown run, and the Lions could only score one TD – after an interception by defensive tackle Corey Williams set them up at the Minnesota 12.
The vaunted Detroit pass rush sacked Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre just once, but they battered him pretty good and had two takeaways nullified by penalties.
Detroit’s pass rush will have to disrupt the timing and flow of Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers if the Lions are going to have a shot against a riled-up Packers squad coming off a short week. Detroit is third in the NFL with 11 sacks but 30th in total yards allowed at 413.7.
Rodgers threw for 316 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score last week. He has completed 69 percent of his tosses this season for 759 yards and five TDs against three picks. He has found tight end Jermichael Finley 13 times for 218 yards the last two weeks and will also seek out Donald Driver, who has 559 yards and three scores in his last five contests against the Lions.
Rodgers is 4-0 against the Lions and torched them for 348 yards and three scores in a 34-12 demolition in the last meeting between the clubs in Detroit last Nov. 26.
The Green Bay signal caller will have a close eye on Detroit linebacker Julian Peterson, who has 4.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in his last three games of this series. Second overall pick Ndamukong Suh has provided a force in the middle of the line for the Lions and he also has recorded two sacks – tied for first among rookies.
The Green Bay defense enters No. 1 in the NFL (260.7 ypg) and has the top sacker in linebacker Clay Matthews, who has reached the quarterback six times already.
Green Bay will be focused on wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who has five TDs in the past three games against the Packers, but just one so far this season. However, cornerback Charles Woodson and safety Nick Collins have combined for eight interceptions, including three returned for TDs, in the last four games against Detroit.
Lions running back Jahvid Best provides a dual threat. The first-rounder leads the NFL with five TDs and all rookies with 124 yards rushing and 307 total yards. However, he’s averaging only 3.4 yards per carry and will find it tough sledding against the Green Bay front. Best injured his big toe against Minnesota but is expected to play.
Shaun Hill, filling in for injured Lions starting QB Matthew Stafford, has thrown for 660 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions since replacing Stafford for the second half of a Week 1 loss to Chicago. Hill has thrown for 572 yards in his two starts.
The Packers lead the all-time series 88-64-7.