The offenses in Detroit and Green Bay start with the run first and foremost. Both clubs were a combined 9-0 last season when they had a 100-yard rusher in a game. Green Bay ranked fifth in average rushing yards per game at 146.8 and Detroit was right behind them at No. 6, averaging 146.4 per game on the ground.
Detroit’s defense was No. 5 in the NFL last season allowing on average 98.4 rushing yards per contest. Green Bay was seventh with 99.4 rushing yards allowed per game. When it comes to running and stopping the run, these are two very similar teams.
Who can establish the run more consistently and get their play-action pass game going? How will losing Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark in the Parsons trade affect Green Bay’s run defense?
Detroit swept the series against the Packers last season in large part because they were dominant on third down. Green Bay out-gained Detroit 411 yards to 261 in the first matchup in Green Bay Week 7 but were just 3-for-12 of third down, 1-for-4 in the red zone and had an interception by Kerby Joseph returned for a touchdown. Detroit won 24-14.
The Lions won the second matchup on Thanksgiving at Ford Field in a shootout, 34-31. Detroit had 391 yards of offense to Green Bay’s 298. Both teams were really good in the red zone going 4-for-5. The biggest difference in the contest was Detroit going 7-for-15 on third down and 4-for-5 on fourth down while the Packers were just 1-for-5 on third down.
Detroit’s defense was No. 1 in the NFL on third down last year allowing just a 32.4 percent conversion percentage. Green Bay’s offense converted 39.5 percent of the time on third down, tied with Pittsburgh for 15th in the league.
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