The Green Bay Packers hope to be better equipped for their rematch against the Detroit Lions, scheduled for this Thursday night. It will be both team’s third game in 11 days, with each coming off a win this past Thursday on Thanksgiving.
The Packers handled their business against the Miami Dolphins, defeating the uncommon AFC opponent at a flurry-filled Lambeau Field 30-17. Meanwhile, the Lions also escaped with a narrow 23-20 win on Turkey Day over the Chicago Bears.
The last time these two teams faced, Detroit jumped out to a 24-3 lead that Green Bay could not overcome. Fortunately, leading up to this Week 14 rematch, the Packers are expected to be much healthier while playing some of their best football.
On the other hand, the Lions haven’t faltered since Week 2, sitting at 11-1 and still in the driver’s seat in the NFC North. A Packers win on Thursday will help them get back into the race, but to do that, they will need to come out on top of these three key matchups.
Packers edge Lukas Van Ness vs. Lions LT Dan Skipper
With Taylor Decker’s status up in the air with a knee injury, the Lions could be without their starting left tackle for a second straight week. Skipper has held up well in protecting Jared Goff’s blindside in Decker’s absence. Last week, the 6-10, 330-pound former undrafted free agent allowed zero sacks, one quarterback hit, and three hurries, according to Pro Football Focus. This week, he must try to slow down a red-hot Van Ness, who has registered two sacks and five pressures over the past two weeks. In the first meeting, Van Ness had just one pressure in 12 pass-rushing snaps, but he will now be presented with a much more advantageous matchup.
Packers Defense vs. Lions RBs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery
Overall, Green Bay’s defense played well in the first meeting, holding Detroit to only 17 points and limiting Goff to only 145 yards through the air. But when it came time to stop the Lions’ two-headed backfield, the Packers struggled to contain Gibbs and Montgomery, who combined for 172 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown. Detroit leaned on its run game in last week’s win over the Bears, with Gibbs and Montgomery totaling 175 of the team’s 194 rushing yards. Green Bay will have to have a much better game plan to stymie arguably the best running-back tandem in the NFL.
Packers WR Jayden Reed vs. Lions CB Amik Robertson
Detroit struggled to cover Reed in the first matchup, allowing the second-year receiver to haul in five passes for 113 receiving yards. Reed has been tearing up defenses all season, and Robertson has been susceptible against opposing slot receivers. According to PFF, he has surrendered 433 receiving yards and a 60.3 reception percentage against his coverage in 2024. When they faced off earlier in the season, Roberston allowed only one catch to Reed, a 41-yard prayer just before halftime. If Reed can duplicate his production from the first meeting while building off his two-touchdown performance against Miami, the Packers should be in a good position offensively.
