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Five things to know as Lions play Packers

The Lions only get one Monday Night Football appearance this year and plan to make the most of it.

Detroit (2-1-1) will face the Packers (4-1) in a huge NFC North division battle. It will be the Lions’ first conference game while the Packers beat the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings to open the season.

Lions coach Matt Patricia refuses to budge off his belief that this game isn’t bigger than others.

“It’s really just that the next game is always the biggest game. I think certainly from that standpoint, the only thing that does really affect anything along those lines – but the next game is always the biggest game – it’s just when in the season is it,’’ Patricia said. “I think as the season goes and the farther you get along in the season then from that aspect of it those games are always critical from that point. They’re all important. We only have so many of them. That’s just kind of the way the NFL works. Really for us, it’s staying within the moment. I think that’s the biggest thing.”

The Lions have won two straight at Lambeau and three of the last four there. For years it seemed like they’d never win again at the Packers. Kicker Jason Hanson never won a game there in his 21 years with Detroit. But after losing 22 straight games in the state of Wisconsin (includes 3 games in Milwaukee 1992-1994) the Lions snapped the streak with the win on Nov. 15, 2015.

No excuses now.

Five things to know about Lions matchup at the Packers:

1. Matthew Stafford knows his work will be cut out for him  “They’ve got guys up front that wreak havoc on the game and guys in the backend that are really sticky in coverage and do a great job when the ball is in there of going and making plays on it,’’ Stafford said. “We’ll have our work cut out for us. It’s always a tough environment to go play there. It’s a lot of fun playing there. It’s a great stadium, but they’re a really good football team.” Stafford said it’s key to limit turnovers against the Packers, just like in every game.

2. Aaron Rodgers is back to being Aaron Rodgers. He’s thrown six touchdowns against just one interception in the 5-1 start for the Packers. The offense looks to be revived under new coach Matt LeFleur. “One of the fiercest competitors with just this calmness about him that’s pretty amazing. I think, when you step on the field and see what he can do and operate at such a high level. Just really unphazed by so many things that are happening around him and just continues to make these great plays. It’s pretty unbelievable,’’ Lions coach Matt Patricia said. “One of the things that they are doing that they’ve been known for, but I think he’s just doing a great job this year are some of the free plays that he’s getting. Whether it’s substitutions or – his cadence is amazing, so he gets the hard counts, he gets guys to jump. They’re really converting those into touchdowns.’’

3. Packers running back Aaron Jones was named the NFC offensive player of the week after scoring four rushing touchdowns in the win at Dallas on Sunday night. He also caught 7 passes for 75 yards. “They are running the ball very well, and obviously Aaron Jones is one heck of a back. It puts a lot of stress on you,’’ Lions defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni said. “It puts a lot of stress on the defense because regardless of what level of football you’re at, I think as a defensive coach you preach to stop the run, and they’re running the ball very well. Of course, they have a great quarterback, they have a Hall of Fame quarterback who is playing extremely well. They do have a nice play-action concept off of those stretch runs. You have to bring your A-game and you have to be at your best because it’s just very difficult to stop.”

4. The Lions’ run game must continue to evolve. Their 186 rushing yards against the Chiefs (125 by Kerryon Johnson) helped keep them in that game. “I mean the last couple games that he’s played, he’s really been beginning to trust the scheme that are going on in front of him. I think he’s beginning to trust himself in kind of what we’re asking him to do. He’s done a really nice job,’’ Lions offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said.

5. Coming off the bye week, the Lions are healthier. Tight end T.J. Hockenson, finished concussion protocol, and is expected to play. After missing the loss against Kansas City, cornerback Darius Slay and wide receiver Danny Amendola will return. Defensive linemen Mike Daniels and  Da’Shawn Hand will be sidelined, per Saturday’s injury report. For the Packers, wide receiver Davante Adams is out. 

PREDICTION: Lions 27, Packers 24. Detroit have the advantage of an extra week of rest and preparation. 

Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford has found recent success at Green Bay

Five things to know about Stafford’s records against Packers

ALLEN PARK — Matthew Stafford has played well against the Packers in recent years, with the Lions winning four straight against them and three of their last four at Lambeau Field.

The Detroit Lions quarterback will get his next shot on Monday night when the Lions play the Packers at Green Bay in their first NFC North matchup of the season.

“The toughest part about playing Lambeau — I say it all the time — is playing the Packers. It’s not the environment, it’s not all that, you’ve got to play the Packers they’re a good football team,’’ Stafford said on Wednesday. “They’ve got a really good defense this year, got an offense that’s explosive, they’ve got a great quarterback. They do a good job of playing great at home, it’s on us to play a little better.’’

The Packers (4-1) are tops in the NFC North with the Lions (2-1-1) in second place. It’s the first division game this season for Detroit.

“All the games count and no doubt a division game against a really good football team, it’s going to be a fun atmosphere. Monday night will be a whole bunch of fun. We’re going to have some young guys that I’m sure first time playing on Monday will remember it for a long time playing at Lambeau, excited to get out playing again,’’ Stafford said.

He can climb up the record charts with a good game.

Five things to know:

1. Stafford has seven wins against the Packers, tied for the 12th-most in NFL history. A win would bump him into a tie for eighth-most. A win would also mark his fourth win at Lambeau Field which would put him in a tied for seventh all-time. He’s 7-10 all-time against Green Bay.

2. Stafford has thrown for two or more touchdown passes in nine straight games against the Packers. With two touchdown passes on Monday night he would join Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino as the only players in NFL history to throw at least two touchdowns in 10 straight games against a singular opponent.

3. With one touchdown pass, he’ll become the quarterback with the most TD passes against the Packers in NFL history. His current total of 34 is tied with Johnny Unitas. 

4. Stafford needs only 58 passing yards against Packers to move into first place all-time in that category. He is already among elite company. Three of the top five in passing yards against Green Bay are Hall of Famers: No. 1 Fran Tarkenton, No. 3 Unitas, No. 5 Bobby Layne. Also, Vinny Testaverde is at No. 4.

5. Stafford needs 352 passing yards to reach 40,000 for his career. Also he needs just four touchdown passes to reach 250 for his career. It comes as no surprise that Calvin Johnson was on the receiving end of the most (56) with Golden Tate (22) in second and Marvin Jones Jr. (19) in third. (Titus Young, a blast from the past, ranks in the top eight of receivers with most touchdown passes from Stafford with nine.)

(Photo courtesy of Detroit Lions)

Detroit Lions: Jarrad Davis’ 5 thoughts on defensive play in first 4 games

Improvement is all about the details

ALLEN PARK — At the quarter pole mark of the NFL season, the Detroit Lions have extra time to reflect. It’s their bye week. Their next game is Monday, Oct. 14, at Green Bay.

Coming off a tough 34-30 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Lions are 2-1-1. The loss showed they can hang with one of the elite NFL teams.

Five thoughts from Lions’ middle linebacker Jarrad Davis on Monday:

1. Davis says they understand a few things about themselves after four games. “We’re definitely a team that’s going to fight no matter what. It doesn’t matter what people say about us, what people feel about us, we’re definitely going to fight no matter what the circumstance is,’’ Davis said. “We know what we have, in a sense we’re kind of like a newly seeded plant, we’re starting to blossom a little bit but we’ve got to keep watering, got to keep giving ourselves that light, we’ve got to keep making sure we pay attention to the things that are going to make us grow and get better and ultimately come out and perform to the best of our ability and do exactly what we know we can do on Sundays.’’

2. Details, he repeatedly said details are key to improving in the final 12 games. “Just improve on the details of the game, how we’re calling plays, how we’re getting lined up, what we’re communicating pre-snap and everything like that, also post-snap just making sure we’re always talking out there and we’re always aware of what’s going on around us,’’ Davis said.

3. On Sunday, the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes gained 15 yards running up the middle on a fourth-and-8 play late in the game. It was a key moment in the loss. “It’s definitely tough, it’s like the old saying just one play doesn’t define the game. We had multiple opportunities after that play to get them off the field and we still let those guys get down there to the 1-yard line, it comes down to making sure we take care of the details,’’ Davis said.

4. Davis also discussed what they could do to improve on a play like that. “We’ve just got to make sure we keep the quarterback in the pocket and also as a defense, got to make sure that we get back, get our heads back, the crowd kind of tells you what’s going on with their energy but we’ve got to be aware of what’s going around us, and make sure we can get back and make a tackle before he gets a first down. It’s a collective effort across the board making sure we’re always aware of what’s going on and what the situation is,’’ Davis said. The Lions’ defense is ranked 27th in the NFL, allowing 405.5 yards per game.

5. The players will get a few days off to rest before getting to work next week, preparing to play the Packers at Lambeau Field. “The opponent we’re playing the following week after this bye week, they’re playing this week and we’re not so we have to find a way to get the edge while also taking care of our bodies and getting our time off when we can,’’ Davis said. The Packers (3-1) play at the Cowboys (3-1) on Sunday.

(Photo courtesy of Detroit Lions)