Game Overview ::
By mike johnson >>
- We will get our first look at the Lions offense since former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson’s departure. Most of the Lions offense remains intact, with the main loss being the retirement of All-Pro center Frank Ragnow and the biggest addition being rookie third wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa.
- Detroit’s defense looks to bounce back from a season in which they were decimated by injury and welcomes back All-Pro edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson. The Lions also lost defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who is now the head coach of the Jets.
- The Packers look to kick off 2025 with better luck within their division after a season in which they had an 11-6 overall record, but a 1-5 record within the NFC North.
- Green Bay’s offense was one of the more run-heavy units in the league in 2024, but that may change this season thanks to the addition of first-round pick Matthew Golden, a wide receiver out of Texas.
How detroit Will Try To Win ::
The Lions are an interesting case study for 2025 as they have a massive change in their coaching ranks after losing both coordinators to head coaching jobs following a season that saw them post a league best 15-2 regular season record. Detroit’s offense has been dominant for the last couple of seasons, and its aggressive defensive scheme has served them well (except when decimated by injuries). This brings up the question of what we will see from the Lions after their embarrassing playoff loss to the Commanders and subsequent change in coaching staff. Head coach Dan Campbell is the ultimate leader and unlikely to smother his new staff, yet he will likely have a hand in determining what the team’s approach will be, and his M.O. of aggressiveness and competitiveness is something that he will not allow to change.
The Lions return their elite running back duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery as well as most of their dominant offensive line. Detroit’s offense has generally operated from a run-first standpoint. They can move the ball consistently with chunk plays on the ground, opening everything else up. This week’s matchup against Green Bay will be especially interesting considering the Packers recent blockbuster move. We get our first look at Micah Parsons in a Green Bay uniform after the Packers traded two first round picks and DT Kenny Clark for the right to pay Parsons $188 million over four years. The addition of Parsons and the loss of Clark drastically change the makeup of the Packers defense. Parsons is an elite edge rusher, but a huge liability in run defense. Meanwhile, Clark’s presence was a huge factor in the Packers ranking 7th in run defense DVOA and 3rd in yards per carry allowed in 2024. The addition of Parsons will make a massive impact on many games this season, but the Lions in Week 1 is likely going to expose some of the holes in that plan.
As for the passing game, the last time we saw Jared Goff, he was having all of his shortcomings exposed by the Commanders. The reality is that Goff is best when his team is in control of the game and he isn’t forced to be more than he is capable of. Without question, Detroit’s approach in this game will be to lean heavily on their running game early and expose the new weakness of Green Bay’s defense. Through this approach, the Lions will open up some play action passing opportunities and get the Packers defense on their heels. The majority of Detroit’s passing will likely be focused on Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta in the short to intermediate areas. We could also see an expanded route tree for wide receiver Jameson Williams after he finished the 2024 season strong and has drawn rave reviews all summer. The ascension of Williams and the addition of preseason sensation Isaac TeSlaa in the third round of the NFL Draft give Detroit a scary wide receiver trio to complement their already dominant running game. The one potential change in approach for the Lions offense, which would not surprise me, would be a greater focus on their top offensive weapons – Gibbs, ARSB, and Williams – rather than their more spread-the-wealth approach we have seen in past seasons. The elite play designs of Ben Johnson allowed them to get a lot of people involved creatively, but this year, I would expect them to rely more on their talent and less on their scheme. That being said, for Week 1, the focus is almost certainly going to be on the running game until and unless the Packers show an ability to slow them down.
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