Lions at Packers
▶ Kickoff: 4:25 p.m. Sunday, Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
▶ TV/radio: CBS/97.1 FM
▶ Records: Season opener for both teams
▶ Line: Packers by 2½
▶ Series history: Packers lead 106-78-7 (Last meeting: Dec. 5, 2024 — (at) Lions 34, Packers 31)
Richard Silva of The Detroit News breaks down the Lions’ season opener at the Green Bay Packers.
Key matchup
LIONS’ NEW-LOOK OFFENSIVE LINE VS. PACKERS’ DEFENSIVE FRONT
Speaking strictly about personnel, the Lions only have one position group with legitimate questions: The interior of the offensive line. To say with confidence the unit is going to be a weakness would be foolish — we have no idea how the trio of Christian Mahogany, Graham Glasgow and Tate Ratledge will hold up — but losing an All-Pro center like Frank Ragnow would be devastating for any team, and Kevin Zeitler’s exit doesn’t help, either.
Opening against the Packers is tough, too. Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley proved to be a conservative blitzer in his first season in Green Bay in 2024, but his defensive front, often sending fewer than five rushers, was able to break through at an healthy rate, collecting 45 sacks in the regular season. For reference, the Lions, who blitzed 125 times more than the Packers, finished with 37 sacks. The Lions dealt with a level of attrition the Packers didn’t, of course, but the discrepancy between those numbers illustrates just how impressive members of Green Bay’s defensive line were at winning individually.
Is now a good time to mention Micah Parsons, the All-Pro pass rusher who the Dallas Cowboys dealt to the Packers late last month? Parsons, one of the NFL’s best defensive players, gives the Packers some much-needed star power. General manager Brian Gutekunst has constructed a young, well-rounded roster, but the Packers lacked a dominant defender up front. That’s no longer the case. Parsons may be slowed by a sprained back — heck, his availability is still a question — but the four-time Pro Bowler, who can line up on the inside to stress Detroit’s interior, operating in a limited capacity is still a scary sight.
Packers to watch
▶ Matthew Golden, WR: For the first time since they drafted Javon Walker in 2002, the Packers left the first round with a receiver, selecting former Texas standout Matthew Golden with the 23rd overall pick in April’s draft. Golden is most known for his speed, posting the second-fastest 40-yard dash time among all players at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine (4.29 seconds). He leaned on that attribute to be a big-play threat for the Longhorns in 2024, notching 987 yards and nine touchdowns on 58 catches. His 17 yards per reception ranked 16th among the 107 receivers who were targeted at least 80 times last season, and his contested-catch rate (61.1%) was 20th among that same group. Reports out of training camp indicated he was meeting first-round expectations. He’ll have a formidable test in Week 1, matching up with Detroit’s talented tandem at outside cornerback, in veteran D.J. Reed and second-year man Terrion Arnold.
▶ Elgton Jenkins, C: Much like the Lions are moving Glasgow from guard to center, the Packers are doing the same with Jenkins, who has played left guard for the majority of his seven seasons in Green Bay. Jenkins has 369 career snaps at center, including 72 in 2024, with six starts at the position. He filled in at center against the Lions in Week 9 last year, starting in place of the injured Josh Myers, who left for the New York Jets in free agency this offseason. Jenkins did well as a pass-blocker in that game — he didn’t allow a single pressure on 42 dropbacks — but he struggled some as a run-blocker, finishing with a 49.3 grade from Pro Football Focus. Defensive tackle DJ Reader had a strong training camp for the Lions, and he’s still one of the NFL’s best run-stuffers. Keep an eye on that duel in the middle.
▶ Edgerrin Cooper, LB: If you’re constructing a list of players from the NFC North who are trending up, Cooper should be one of the first names mentioned. A second-round draft pick out of Texas A&M in 2024, Cooper made an instant impact as a rookie, tallying 87 total tackles (13 for loss), 12 pressures, 3½ sacks and an interception. He also finished with 39 stops, which are tackles that result in a failed play for an offense; Chicago’s T.J. Edwards (52), Detroit’s Jack Campbell (47) and Minnesota’s Blake Cashman (45) were the only linebackers in the division with more. His overall defensive grade from PFF (85.6) ranked 19th among all defenders in the league who appeared in 10 or more games. He wasn’t just good for a rookie. He was straight-up good by general NFL standards.
Facts and figures
â–¶ While it’s true the Lions have won three consecutive games at Lambeau Field, the Packers have their own promising streak, having won their last 12 home openers in a row. The trend, beginning in 2013, includes three victories over the Lions (2016, 2020 and 2021).
â–¶ Packers quarterback Jordan Love has a passer rating of 86.2 in his six games against the Lions, a tick under his career mark of 95.1. Love, 27 in November, is the biggest X-factor. If he performs similar to how he did in 2023 (37 big-time throws, per PFF), the Packers are in business. If it’s a repeat of last season (only 17 big-time throws), they may not realize their full potential. The ball is in Love’s court.
rsilva@detroitnews.com
@rich_silva18
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