Green Bay Packers v. Lions: 3 Key X-Factors for Week 14

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Dec 6, 2020; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jalen Reagor (18) returns a punt for a touchdown as Green Bay Packers punter JK Scott (6) chases from behind during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

Green Bay Packers’ Special Teams

Earlier this week, I wrote about how this entire unit is on a rapid decline, so that is why no one player is listed. As we’ve seen from the Packers in recent weeks, do you know one of the best ways to let a team hang around in a football game? That’s right, special teams mistakes.

Related Story. Packers Special Teams Unit on a Rapid Decline. light

There were the punt return touchdowns given up against Jacksonville and Philadelphia that cut Green Bay’s leads to just one score. Then there was also the fumbled kick return in Indianapolis that took a possession away from the Packer offense in what ended up being a one-score overtime loss.

As I mentioned in the beginning, there have been some weird games between these two teams, and some funky things happen when the Packers travel to Detroit. All it could take is one special team’s error — like the several that we’ve seen over the last six weeks — to make this game much closer than what it should be. Hopefully, Tavon Austin provides the return units with a boost, but J.K. Scott and the coverage units have to be better.

DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 13: Detroit Lions defense coordinator Cory Undlin watches the action during the fourth quarter of the game against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field on September 13, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. Chicago defeated Detroit 27-23. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

Cory Undlin – Lions Defensive Coordinator

The Green Bay Packers’ offense against the Detroit Lions’ defense is a recipe for a big day for Aaron Rodgers and company. The last time these two teams met in Week 2, the Packers put up 42 points, 488 total yards, with Aaron Jones going for 168 on the ground.

Since then, the Lion defense hasn’t improved much, ranking 28th in run defense, giving up the second-most points per game — just under 30 — and they rank dead last by Football Outsiders’ DVOA metric. They’ve been gashed between the tackles in the run game, which means good things for Jones and Williams, and I have no clue who is going to cover Davante Adams.

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I don’t believe that there is some magic elixir that will all of a sudden turn this unit around, but defensive coordinator Cory Undlin needs to come up with something, or this red-hot Green Bay Packers’ offense led by Rodgers and Matt LaFleur could very well drop another 40 points on this Lions team. And if they do that, Detroit isn’t good enough on offense to keep up.

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