{"id":1023,"date":"2024-11-02T15:27:28","date_gmt":"2024-11-02T15:27:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=1023"},"modified":"2024-11-02T15:27:28","modified_gmt":"2024-11-02T15:27:28","slug":"sunday-showdown-packers-ball-hawking-defense-faces-lions-high-powered-offense-at-lambeau-field","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=1023","title":{"rendered":"Sunday showdown: Packers’ ball-hawking defense faces Lions’ high-powered offense at Lambeau field"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

\"Packers<\/p>\n

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) \u2014 The Detroit Lions have a big-time offense.<\/p>\n

The Green Bay Packers specialize in taking the ball away.<\/p>\n

The NFL\u2019s highest-scoring offense and the league leader in takeaways will face off Sunday when the NFC North-leading Lions (6-1) visit the Packers (6-2).<\/p>\n

The game features the NFC\u2019s two hottest teams, as the Lions have reeled off five consecutive victories while the Packers have won four straight.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to be a playoff-type game,\u201d Packers running back Josh Jacobs said.<\/p>\n

\"Lions'<\/p>\n

The Packers enter this game with an uncertain quarterback situation.<\/p>\n

Jordan Love left the Packers\u2019 30-27 victory at Jacksonville on Sunday in the third quarter with a groin strain and is listed as questionable for this game. He didn\u2019t practice Wednesday but worked out on a limited basis Thursday and Friday.<\/p>\n

Backup quarterback Malik Willis has started two games in Love\u2019s place this season, and the Packers won both games. He also threw a 51-yard completion to Jayden Reed in Jacksonville that led to Brandon McManus\u2019 tiebreaking field goal as time expired.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we have a pretty good idea of what we\u2019re going to get no matter who\u2019s in there,\u201d Lions coach Dan Campbell said. \u201cAnd they\u2019re both very good athletes. They both can run. They both can create issues in the pocket.”<\/p>\n

Green Bay may need to score plenty to keep up with the Lions, who are averaging 33.4 points per game this season. They have averaged 43 points over their past four games.<\/p>\n

The Lions have been tough to slow down on offense because they are versatile, and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is adept at making in-game changes.<\/p>\n

\u201cNobody corrects better than us,\u201d tight end Sam LaPorta said Johnson tells the team. \u201cNobody adjusts better than us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Packers<\/p>\n

Detroit\u2019s high-scoring attack has the Lions off to their fastest start since 1956 when they won seven of their first eight games.<\/p>\n

That offense will have to be careful against the Packers, who have a league-high 19 takeaways. Green Bay\u2019s Xavier McKinney has a league-leading six interceptions and seven total takeaways, as he also has recovered a fumble.<\/p>\n

Turnover talk<\/h4>\n

Although the Packers have the most takeaways in the league, the Lions have the better turnover margin.<\/p>\n

Detroit\u2019s plus-10 turnover differential puts the Lions in a tie for second in the league, behind only Buffalo\u2019s plus-11. The Lions have committed just five turnovers this season, while the Packers have 12.<\/p>\n

Detroit\u2019s Kerby Joseph has five interceptions to rank second in the league, behind only McKinney. Detroit\u2019s Brian Branch is tied for third with four interceptions.<\/p>\n

Secondary concerns<\/h4>\n

Green Bay\u2019s secondary could be at less than full strength as it tries containing the Lions.<\/p>\n

Safety Evan Williams won’t play due to a hamstring injury. Cornerback Jaire Alexander, who hurt his knee late in the Jaguars game, didn’t practice all week and is listed as questionable.<\/p>\n

Detroit won\u2019t have wide receiver Jameson Williams, who is completing his two-game suspension for violating the NFL\u2019s performance-enhancing substance policy.<\/p>\n

On the run<\/h4>\n

The Lions averaged 175.5 yards rushing in their two games against the Packers last season and are running effectively again with the tandem of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Gibbs has rushed for 591 yards and six touchdowns, while Montgomery has run for 415 yards and seven touchdowns.<\/p>\n

Montgomery rushed for 121 yards and three touchdowns to help the Lions win 34-20 in their previous trip to Green Bay.<\/p>\n

The Packers actually are gaining slightly more rushing yards per game than the Lions: 156.9-156.7. Jacobs has rushed for 667 yards to rank fourth in the league.<\/p>\n

Stepping up<\/h4>\n

Detroit has several players on injured reserve and keeps winning.<\/p>\n

The Lions had two players filling in for defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and linebacker Derrick Barnes on a key play early in last week\u2019s rout against Tennessee.<\/p>\n

Defensive end Levi Onwuzurike hit Titans quarterback Mason Rudolph as he passed, and linebacker Trevor Nowaske took advantage of the ill-advised throw with an interception.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey know that they\u2019re not just there to be a placeholder,\u201d Campbell said.<\/p>\n

Clutch kickers<\/h4>\n

McManus has been with the Packers for just two games and has kicked a game-winning field goal in the final play of both. He made a 45-yarder as time expired in a 24-22 victory over the Houston Texans and had a tiebreaking 24-yarder to end the Jaguars game.<\/p>\n

Detroit\u2019s Jake Bates is a perfect 11 of 11 on field-goal attempts this season. He\u2019s 27 of 28 on extra points.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The NFL\u2019s highest-scoring offense and the league leader in takeaways will face off Sunday when the NFC North-leading Lions (6-1) visit the Packers (6-2).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1024,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[82],"class_list":["post-1023","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-green-bay-packers","tag-tmj4-news"],"yoast_head":"\nSunday showdown: Packers' ball-hawking defense faces Lions' high-powered offense at Lambeau field - Breaking News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=1023\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Sunday showdown: Packers' ball-hawking defense faces Lions' high-powered offense at Lambeau field - 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