Packerlifer
Cheesehead
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2008
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I've felt since the schedule came out last spring that if the Packers are to repeat as NFC North champions and be assured of a return to the playoffs this year one of the things they would have to do is win all of their home games against divisional opponents and sweep at least one.
They took a big step toward making that first job with the Monday night win over Minnesota. Now they get the most likely "sweepable" rival at Detroit this week.
The Lions looked terrible in their opener at Atlanta last Sunday; giving up over 200 rushing yds. to Michael Turner, the former San Diego back-up to LaDainian Tomlinson, and falling to a rookie qb in his first game Matt Ryan and losing by 13. And it might also be mentioned the Falcons were under a rookie head coach as well.
But the Lions did go 4-0 in preseason and this game is at their home so the Packers had best beware of a "trap" game if they go in with the wrong attitude. Ford Field has generally been a favorable place for the Packers since its opening in '02. Green Bay won the inaugural there 37-31 and spanked the Lions there 38-10 '04, 31-24 in '06, and 37-26 on Thanksgiving last season.
They've also been tripped up there on Thanksgiving in'03 in a game that nearly cost them the division title and they started out the disastrous '05 campaign by getting stuffed 17-3 and losing all-pro wideout Javon Walker for the season with a knee injury early in that contest.
The danger is that the Lions, having looked so bad and been upset last week, could come out an angry and determined bunch. And knocking off the Packers has been a prime motivator for every one of the NFCN clubs for years.
The Packers win over Minnesota had plenty of rough edges to it so they can't afford any complacency here.
It certainly won't be easy taking the Vikings again at their place later in the season and the Bears served notice with their decisive win over the Colts that they can't be written off as a contender again. So if the Packers can win in Detroit to start 2-0 that will be huge. They'll not only be 2-0 on the season but in the all important division record. They haven't lost at Lambeau to the Lions since '91. A win this week and the Pack is already halfway to their minimum necessity of 4 wins within the division; which is what they did last year.
They took a big step toward making that first job with the Monday night win over Minnesota. Now they get the most likely "sweepable" rival at Detroit this week.
The Lions looked terrible in their opener at Atlanta last Sunday; giving up over 200 rushing yds. to Michael Turner, the former San Diego back-up to LaDainian Tomlinson, and falling to a rookie qb in his first game Matt Ryan and losing by 13. And it might also be mentioned the Falcons were under a rookie head coach as well.
But the Lions did go 4-0 in preseason and this game is at their home so the Packers had best beware of a "trap" game if they go in with the wrong attitude. Ford Field has generally been a favorable place for the Packers since its opening in '02. Green Bay won the inaugural there 37-31 and spanked the Lions there 38-10 '04, 31-24 in '06, and 37-26 on Thanksgiving last season.
They've also been tripped up there on Thanksgiving in'03 in a game that nearly cost them the division title and they started out the disastrous '05 campaign by getting stuffed 17-3 and losing all-pro wideout Javon Walker for the season with a knee injury early in that contest.
The danger is that the Lions, having looked so bad and been upset last week, could come out an angry and determined bunch. And knocking off the Packers has been a prime motivator for every one of the NFCN clubs for years.
The Packers win over Minnesota had plenty of rough edges to it so they can't afford any complacency here.
It certainly won't be easy taking the Vikings again at their place later in the season and the Bears served notice with their decisive win over the Colts that they can't be written off as a contender again. So if the Packers can win in Detroit to start 2-0 that will be huge. They'll not only be 2-0 on the season but in the all important division record. They haven't lost at Lambeau to the Lions since '91. A win this week and the Pack is already halfway to their minimum necessity of 4 wins within the division; which is what they did last year.
