Lions coach Dan Campbell speaks to fans from the field during open practice at Family Fest at Ford Field. Syndication Detroit Free Press
The Green Bay Packers, at 4-6, have little hope of catching the 8-2 Detroit Lions for the top slot in the NFC North. With seven games remaining, Green Bay is barely a game out of the final NFC Wild Card place. Of course, in order to get there, the Packers must play outstanding football for the rest of the season.
“The rest of the season” begins Thursday, when they face the Lions for the first time since 2013. The last time the two teams met this season came in Week Four, again on a Thursday night, and Green Bay lost.
Related: The Green Bay Packers release a key special teams player and re-sign one more familiar running back before of their Thanksgiving game against the Detroit Lions.
The Packers gained only 27 running yards on 12 tries in their Week Four loss to Detroit at Lambeau Field, as they were basically blasted out 34-20 after trailing 27-3 at halftime. Packers quarterback Jordan Love completed 23 of 36 throws for 246 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions in that game.
The setback also started a four-game losing trend for Love and the rest of Green Bay’s offense, who struggled to establish consistency, especially in the first half. For a time, many questioned whether Love was the franchise quarterback the Packers envisioned when they drafted him.
However, over the last three games, including the loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Love and the offense have begun to work it out, prompting Lions head coach Dan Campbell to say some very complimentary things about Green Bay’s young quarterback ahead of their Week 12 Thanksgiving meeting.
Coach Campbell discussed how much Love and the Packers offense have developed since the last time they faced the Lions in an interview with Michigan Live:
“I just think he’s hitting some of these throws, man.” Really, I think he’s always been quite poised. Some of these connections have not been made; they have not been able to connect at vital times. He appears to be creating those.
“He appears to be calm. He’s definitely athletic. He has a strong arm.”
It’s clear from the last three games that Love and the offense are finding their stride. They’re not flawless, but they’re connecting on more big-time throws and are actually entertaining to watch.
On Thanksgiving, Love and the passing game will undoubtedly be the focal point of the Packers’ offense. This is because Aaron Jones and Emanuel Wilson are both out with injuries sustained in Green Bay’s win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
In order to compensate for their loss, the Packers added James Robinson to their practice squad and Patrick Taylor to their active roster. Both running backs previously played for the Packers earlier this season.
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Despite their problematic running back situation, Green Bay will want to establish the run early:
I believe they will continue to want to — I believe, for the most part, they are no different from everyone else. They follow these ideas in the run game, and they play pass off of it to boot off of it. Even if it keeps you honest, they’ll want to do some of that.
“We got to play this top down, we can’t give up any of these chunk plays, because they are having some success with those.”
The absence of Jones, in particular, will be a significant setback for the Packers, but they must still establish the run in order for Love and the passing game to be more effective. Dillon, on the other hand, has been playing quite well recently.
And it is in the trenches where the game on Thanksgiving will be won or lost. Love and the running backs will struggle to execute their tasks if the offensive line performs like it did in Week Four, when Love was sacked five times.
The Lions are aware that Love and the offense have been improving, but they will be ready. The offensive line for the Packers must also be prepared.
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I believe people will continue to want to — at least for the time being.
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