Green Bay Packers v. Lions: Week 2 Staff Predictions

It’s Week 2, and our Dairyland Express crew make their predictions for the Green Bay Packers’ matchup with the Detroit Lions.

Week 2 of the NFL season is here, and the Green Bay Packers will be hosting the Detroit Lions at an empty Lambeau Field. This is a series that the Packers have dominated for most of this century up until recent years.

At one point, the Lions had beaten Green Bay in four straight games – albeit Aaron Rodgers wasn’t available for all of those games, however – and even though the Packers won both matchups in 2019, it took two game-winning field goals from Mason Crosby to do so.

This week, the Lions are coming off a tough, tough loss to the Chicago Bears and will be without several key players, including Kenny Golladay, Desmond Trufant, Justin Coleman, Joe Dahl, and potentially their starting right tackle, Hala Vaitai. Meanwhile, the Packers are coming off a relatively easy win in Minnesota but will be without Kenny Clark for at least this week.

As we will be doing every week here at Dairyland Express, Brian Sampson, Kenny Jilek, and myself will be making our predictions for the game and keeping a running tally so we can crown our own champion at the end of the season.

So without further ado, let’s dive on in!

Brian Sampson (0-1)

Oouu, boy, was I way off last week or what? I was the only one to predict a Packers’ loss, which puts me in an early-season hole. I hope to redeem myself this time around, as I’m going with Green bay in this one.

Their offense looked nearly unstoppable, with Matt LaFleur beautifully weaving in motion with nearly every play. He also did a great job getting the ball into the hands of his playmakers early and often. Hopefully, the defense has a better showing. Without Kenny Clark, the defensive line will be even thinner, and they’ll be hard-pressed to stop the Lions’ three-headed running back trio. Their secondary should fare better than a week ago.

Prediction: Lions 20 – Packers 31

Kenny Jilek (1-0)

Last week, Davante Adams took advantage of young corners and carved them up all day, leaving them spinning in circles with 14 catches for 156 yards and two touchdowns. This week should be no different with Desmond Trufant likely out and two of their other corners Jeff Okudah and Darryl Roberts, also on the injury report and Justin Coleman on IR. None of them would be good enough to stop Davante if they were healthy, but at least they’d put up more of a fight than Minnesota. Expect Adams to be eating again and another big day for Aaron Rodgers.

The Packers run defense was exposed early in week one when the Vikings scored on their first drive with only two passing plays and six running plays. The Vikings’ running backs averaged 5.6 yards per carry on 18 attempts, and the Green Bay Packers were lucky they were ahead, so the Vikings had to pass a lot more.

Linebackers Christian Kirksey and Krys Barnes were encouraging in their Packers’ debuts, but run defense concerns remain. Meanwhile, Adrian Peterson ran the ball 14 times for 93 yards, a 6.6-yard average, against a good Bears defense, and he’ll be looking to put up similar numbers. The Packers will give up rushing yards for sure, but it won’t be enough for the Lions to overcome the Packers’ well-oiled machine of an offense.

Prediction: Lions 24 – Packers 34

Paul Bretl (1-0)

I see this game being another high scoring affair for the Green Bay Packers, and I expect the Lions to find some success on offense as well. Aaron Rodgers and this offense will be up against a depleted Lions’ secondary that will be without Desmond Trufant and Justin Coleman; meanwhile, rookie Jeff Okudah will be making his NFL debut against Davante Adams. Good luck, rookie.

We also saw Detroit struggle to slow the Chicago rushing attack last week, so it’s hard to envision them having any luck with Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams, and A.J. Dillon.

Defensively, Green Bay won’t have to face Kenny Golladay, but this is still an explosive offense with Matthew Stafford under center, and it’s a Packer defense that is prone to giving up the big play. And, of course, with no Kenny Clark, the run defense is going to be even more susceptible against the run – yikes – especially with having to face Kerryon Johnson, Adrian Peterson, and D’Andre Swift.

As I said, I expect the offenses to dominate the game, but the Green Bay Packers’ defense will come up with enough stops just as they usually do. Green Bay is clearly the better team, and they should win by two scores.

Prediction: Lions 27 – Packers 38