One of the biggest games of the 2024 season is about to arrive for the Green Bay Packers. In Week 9, the Packers will host the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions — one of the top Super Bowl contenders — at Lambeau Field for a 3:25 p.m. CT kickoff. The winner on Sunday will take the lead in the division entering the second half.
Last year, the Packers and Lions split the series, with each team winning on the road.
Through eight weeks in 2024, the Lions look like one of the NFL’s best teams. Dan Campbell’s team has won five straight games and have scored 40 or more points in three of the last four.
Here’s a closer look at the Lions entering Week 9:
Last week (Win, 52-14 over Titans)
You’ve probably never seen a butt-kicking quite like this one. The Lions scored 52 points and won by 38 despite producing only 61 net passing yards and being outgained by the Titans by almost 200 yards. The Lions and Titans were actually tied at 14 at one point in the first half, but the Lions ripped off five straight touchdowns to break the game wide open. Detroit’s offense scored six touchdowns, including rushing scores from both David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, while the Lions defense produced four takeaways and the special teams created a 90-yard punt return touchdown. Overall, seven different players scored touchdowns for Dan Campbell’s team. Like all great teams, the Lions continue to prove that they can win in many different ways.
Quarterback play
Veteran quarterback Jared Goff leads the NFL in completion percentage (74.1) and yards per attempt (9.0), showcasing how well he’s operating one of the NFL’s most diverse and dynamic offenses. His passer rating is 115.8, and he has five straight games with a passer rating over 100.0. Over the last four games, Goff has thrown 10 touchdown passes and only 13 incompletions — a ridiculous stretch of accuracy and scoring plays. While he doesn’t have an elite arm or dangerous mobility, Goff plays calmly and confidently from the pocket and is devastatingly effective off play-action. He’s the perfect distributor for Ben Johnson’s scheme. Goff has been sacked 17 times, and he’ll occasionally put the ball in danger under pressure. The Packers have to pressure him on Sunday.
Line of scrimmage
Injuries have drastically affected the Lions’ talent level up front on defense, but Detroit’s offensive line is in the running for the best in football. All five up front on offense are talented veterans. If there’s a weak spot, it’s at left guard, where Graham Glasgow have allowed 15 pressures and committed four penalties this season. Left tackle Taylor Decker has allowed five sacks, but he’s been one of the NFL’s most consistent tackles over the last decade. Right tackle Penei Sewell is an elite player. On the defensive side, the Lions are trying to overcome the loss of Aidan Hutchinson, arguably the best pass-rusher in football. Defensive tackle Alim McNeil has 20 pressures and is a Kenny Clark-like interior disruptor. Last week, Levi Onwuzurike produced five pressures, including two hits. DJ Reader is a big, tough nose tackle in the middle. The Packers are in for a heavyweight fight along the line of scrimmage against the Lions.
Turnovers
The Lions are one of the elite teams in the turnover category to start this season. Detroit has turned the ball over only five times (fourth fewest) while taking away the ball 15 times (second most), creating a plus-10 turnover margin (second best). Jared Goff has thrown four interceptions in seven games, and the Lions have just one lost fumble. Defensively, defensive backs Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch have combined for nine interceptions. The Lions have lost the turnover battle just once this season — a 20-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. When winning the turnover battle, the Lions have an average win margin of 29.7 points (three games). Last year, the winner of the turnover battle won both games in this rivalry.
Injury situations
The Lions have 14 players already on injured reserve, including star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, defensive end John Cominsky, linebacker Derrick Barnes and defensive back Ifeatu Melifonwu. Receiver Jameson Williams isn’t injured, but he’s suspended for Week 9. Last week, defensive end Josh Paschal and offensive lineman Christian Mahogany were out with an illness. The first injury report for the Lions will arrive later Wednesday.
Players to know
RB Jahmyr Gibbs: He’s averaging 6.4 yards per attempt with a rushing success rate of 64.1 percent. Gibbs has turned 111 touches into 745 yards and seven scores. He’s officially emerged as one of the NFL’s elite runners.
TE Sam LaPorta: Amon-Ra St. Brown is the top target in the passing game, but LaPorta — a Pro Bowler as a rookie — is starting to heat up. He has a touchdown catch in two of the last three games and is averaging almost 12 yards per target.
DB Brian Branch: The Lions’ primary slot defender has four interceptions and seven other pass breakups through seven games. Branch vs. Jayden Reed — two picks from the 2023 draft — will be a top matchup.
LB Jack Campbell: The second-year linebacker leads the Lions in stops with 17. Campbell is good against the run and in coverage.
WR Kalif Raymond: The speedy receiver has scored two touchdowns on offense, and he’s turned 19 punt returns into 315 yards — including a 90-yard touchdown last week.
K Jake Bates: The rookie kicker and former UFL standout is 11-for-11 on field goals and 27-for-28 on extra points to start his career in Detroit. The Packers had interest this offseason, but Bates picked the Lions.