Green Bay Packers vs Detroit Lions: 5 matchups to watch

5. Packers defensive front vs Lions offensive line

“Duh! Tell us something new.” – Most of you right now. When the Packers have been beaten or picked apart this season, the opposing quarterback has had plenty of time in the pocket to find the open receiver. While the Lions front is not an elite group, they have mostly played up to snuff all year. Unfortunately for the Packers, injuries have ravaged this group to where they are starting backups across the whole front group.

Clay Matthews has flashed a couple of times this season, but he is a shadow of his former self. With free agency upcoming for he and Reggie Gilbert, they’ll be looking to make some statement plays this weekend. Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine does a great job of generating pressure from the outside with blitzes, but the group hasn’t been able to generate much up front. Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford makes mistakes when pressured, but the Pack have to get to him.

Another major weak point for this Packers group has been their run defense. Players like Frank Gore, Adrian Peterson and a slew of others have all run effectively against the Packers this season. While rookie Kerryon Johnson is out for this game, the Lions have multiple running backs that can give the Packers fits. LeGarrette Blount and Zach Zenner are both large backs that can cause issues for a team that struggles to bring the ball carrier down and break open a lead.