Keys to the Game (Dec. 29)
The Green Bay Packers (12-3) travel to take on the Detroit Lions (3-11-1) at noon Sunday at Ford Field in Detroit. FOX televises the game.
Coaches
Green Bay — Matt LaFleur, first season (12-3). Detroit — Matt Patricia, seconds season (9-21-1).
History
Packers lead 99-72-7. The Lions, however, have won the last two games at Ford Field.
When the Packers have the ball
Both teams spent big money on their defenses in free agency. While the additions of Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith and Adrian Amos helped improve Green Bay’s defense, the signings of defensive end Trey Flowers and cornerback Justin Coleman have done little for the Lions.
Detroit enters the week ranked 26th in points allowed (26.7 per game), 29th in total defense (398.3 yards per game), 21st against the run (but 12th with 4.08 yards per carry) and 32nd against the pass (and 28th with 7.62 yards per attempt). Detroit has mounted no pass rush (30th in sack percentage), created precious few big plays (32nd in interception percentage) and can’t get off the field (29th on third down).
Flowers and Romeo Okwara are the defensive ends and Damon Harrison and A’Shawn Robinson are the defensive tackles. Flowers has had a strong season with seven sacks and 19 quarterback hits. Injuries have been a major issue. Robinson missed the last two games with a shoulder injury and might be out again.
Former Packers defensive tackle Mike Daniels, who played in only five games, and DaShawn Hand are on injured reserve.
Injuries have destroyed the linebacker corps, with starters Jarrad Davis and Christian Jones and promising rookie Jahlani Tavai on injured reserve. Davis leads the group with 63 tackles and three forced fumbles.
The only piece of stability is Devon Kennard, who frequently moves to the line of scrimmage on passing downs and has seven sacks. Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Steve Longa are the next men up; Reeves-Maybin had nine tackles off the bench last week against Denver.
“Two guys that just really study the game very well from that aspect of it,” Patricia said of Reeves-Maybin and Longa. “We know that when they go in there, the wheels are just going to keep moving forward. Certainly, from that aspect of it, I thought they did a really good job.”
At least the secondary is in place with Pro Bowler Darius Slay at one corner, Coleman in the slot and Rashaan Melvin at the other corner. Slay has a team-leading two interceptions and generally follows the opponents’ top receiver. According to Pro Football Focus, he has allowed a 78.8 passer rating.
All three corners are in double-digits in passes defensed. Coleman’s lone interception came against Green Bay. Safeties Tracy Walker (96 tackles) and Tavon Wilson (86 tackles) are the team’s leading tacklers.
When the Lions have the ball
Injuries have been a huge issue on offense, too. That clearly starts at quarterback, with prolific Matthew Stafford on injured reserve with a back injury. His backup, Jeff Driskell, is on injured reserve, too. That’s put the offense in the hands of undrafted rookie David Blough.
Detroit has scored just 61 points in Blough’s four starts. He’s completed only 56.6 percent of his passes with four touchdowns, five interceptions and a 68.8 rating.
The lack of weapons hasn’t helped. Big-play receiver Marvin Jones is on injured reserve, as is rookie tight end T.J. Hockenson. Jones is tied for the team lead with 62 receptions and has scored nine touchdowns. Hockenson is fifth on the team with 32 receptions.
The cupboard isn’t totally bare, though. Kenny Golladay is a legit star. He’s caught 62 passes for 1,118 yards and 11 touchdowns. He leads the NFL in touchdown receptions and 25-yard catches (16) and is third in average (18.0 yards per catch). One of those big plays came in Week 6 at Lambeau Field, when he had a 66-yard catch on the first play of the game. Danny Amendola mans the slot and has added 60 receptions.
“He’s been awesome,” Blough said of Golladay. “Kenny’s been great for all the quarterbacks. He’s had our back and made big plays all year — big time catches when we needed him. It makes it easy going out throwing to that guy.”
With a rookie quarterback and depleted perimeter group, Detroit might lean on its running game. Kerryon Johnson returned from an eight-week absence last week and carried 10 times for 42 yards. Even while missing half the season, he leads the team with 350 rushing yards.
Bo Scarbrough, who joined the team after Johnson’s knee injury, has added 335 yards. Green Bay’s run defense, which was terrible for most of the season, has allowed just 3.8 yards per carry during its four-game winning streak.
Up front, it’s left tackle Taylor Decker, left guard Oday Aboushi, center Frank Ragnow, right guard Graham Glasgow and right tackle Rick Wagner. Wagner was out last week with a knee injury and was replaced by rookie Tyrell Crosby. Aboushi is playing because starter Joe Dahl is on injured reserve. Decker has given up a team-worst seven sacks.
The Lions are 20th in scoring (21.4 points per game), 17th in total offense (349.6 yards per game), 22nd in rushing (and 23rd with 3.87 yards per carry) and eighth in passing. They’ve been OK on third down (14th) and in the red zone (15th). However, since Stafford went down, the Lions are 0-7 and 28th with 16.7 points per game and 31st with 4.71 yards per play.
Special teams
The Packers’ special teams have grown by leaps and bounds the last month but will be tested against the Lions’ best unit. Jamal Agnew is a difference-maker on kickoff returns (26.7-yard average, one touchdown) and punt returns (9.1 average, one touchdown).
For Green Bay, the pressure will be on Mason Crosby to boom the ball out of the end zone and for punter J.K. Scott to put his coverage unit in good spots.
That’s exactly what Lions punter Sam Martin has done this season. Of his 69 punts, only 27 have been returned for a feeble 4.2-yard average. Kicker Matt Prater is 24-of-29 on field goals and is one of the top long-distance kickers in NFL history. This year, he’s 6-of-7 from 50-plus yards.