Lions vs. Packers

▶ Kickoff: 1 p.m. Thursday, Ford Field, Detroit

▶ TV/radio: FOX/97.1 FM

▶ Records: Lions are 7-4; Packers are 7-3-1

▶ Line: Lions by 2½

▶ Series: Green Bay leads, 107-78-7, including postseason (Last meeting: Sept. 7, 2025 — (at) Packers 27, Lions 13)

Richard Silva of The Detroit News breaks down the Lions’ Week 13 matchup against the Green Bay Packers.

Key matchup

DETROIT’S OFFENSIVE LINE VS. GREEN BAY’S DEFENSIVE FRONT

What the Packers do is no secret, and they do it well. Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s unit ranks 29th in blitz rate (17.9%) but 10th in pressure rate (23.2%), often opting to send only four pass rushers, and yet still affecting opposing quarterbacks. The Packers blitzed on five occasions in their win over the Lions in Week 1, according to Pro Football Focus. They sacked Jared Goff four times and pressured him on 16 of his 43 dropbacks. Micah Parsons (60 pressures), of course, is the head of the snake. He’s complemented most by Rashan Gary (37).

The Packers are also difficult to run against. They rank sixth and seventh, respectively, in rushing yards allowed per game (96.5) and attempt (3.9), and that’s despite having a stacked rate (eight or more defenders in the box) of 19.8%, the 11th-lowest percentage in the NFL. Green Bay’s linebackers have been solid contributors against the run; Quay Walker has 19 run stops, and Edgerrin Cooper has 13. Cooper had 3 in Week 1. Walker had 2.

Pivotal for the Lions will be their offensive line, especially their interior. Rookie Tate Ratledge called the season opener “probably the worst game I’ve ever played in my life.” The group has certainly taken steps over the last three months. But has it improved to the point where it can effectively run the ball against the Packers, which is really the key for the whole offense to open up?

Packers to watch

▶ Jordan Love, quarterback: Love, on pace to throw four to five interceptions, is taking better care of the ball this season than he has at any other point in his career. He’s also still found a way to be a difference-maker, ranking eighth in big-time throws (18), which are defined by PFF as “a pass with excellent ball location and timing, generally thrown further down the field and/or into a tighter window.”

▶ Christian Watson, wide receiver: Playing without Tucker Kraft for the last three games (the tight end tore his ACL earlier this month), the Packers have done well in spreading the ball around, with Watson (16), Romeo Doubs (15) and Dontayvion Wicks (14) leading the team in targets since Week 10. Watson has 283 yards and two touchdowns on 17 catches through his five appearances this season. It’s a small sample size, but Watson’s catch rate in 2025 (70.8%) is much better than it was through his first three campaigns, at 57%.

▶ Xavier McKinney, safety: The interceptions haven’t been as frequent this season, but McKinney has still managed to be an effective player against the pass. Among the 64 safeties in the NFL who’ve played at least 250 coverage snaps, McKinney’s passer rating allowed (54.2) ranks fourth. He’s surrendered 13 catches (18 targets) for 136 yards, per PFF.

Facts and figures

▶ Thursday will provide the 23rd Thanksgiving matchup between the Lions and Packers, the most for any two teams in league history. The Lions hold the all-time advantage, at 12-9-1, though the Packers have won five of the seven meetings on the holiday since 2000. Detroit’s last victory over the Packers on Thanksgiving came in 2013, when former quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for 330 yards en route to a 30-point victory.

▶ The Packers are 40-6 under coach Matt LaFleur when the defense forces multiple turnovers. They’ve had two of those games this season, both coming in the last couple weeks; the Packers had two takeaways and beat the New York Giants in Week 11, and they had three takeaways in a win over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 12. The Lions have eight turnovers this season, tied with three other teams for the third-fewest in the NFL, behind the Philadelphia Eagles (six) and Packers (seven).

rsilva@detroitnews.com

@rich_silva18

Want to comment on this story? Become a subscriber today. Click here.