Detroit Lions def. Green Bay Packers: Week 10 Reaction
By Erik Lambert
Nov 15, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers tight end Justin Perillo (80) catches a pass in front of Detroit Lions safety Glover Quin (27) during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. Detroit won 18-16. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Droughts have to end at some point. People have been saying that in California for months and it finally looks like they might be right. So were Detroit Lions fans who kept saying the curse that hovers over their team when it comes to beating the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field was bound to fall sooner or later. They were finally right too, after 24 years, and it was not short on the ugly.
The Lions still looked like the 1-7 team they were going in, but it was clear they had caught a Packers team that is suddenly suffering from an identity crisis. With both teams trying hard to lose the game, in the end Detroit got a couple more favorable bounces in the 18-16 upset.
Here are some takeaways from the action.
Aaron Rodgers must really miss Jordy Nelson
Throwing for 333 yards and two touchdowns is not a bad day for any quarterback, right? Well it’s important to have context. Aaron Rodgers needed to throw the ball 61 times to reach that total. Last year would’ve taken half as many passes. So what has changed from then to now to make this so difficult for the MVP? Simple. Two words.
Jordy Nelson.
More than ever it’s clear the Packers haven’t been able to completely shake the loss of their All-Pro wide receiver, who tore his ACL in the preseason. Without him the passing game has looked out of sync and it’s costing them games.
Matthew Stafford showed why he’s unlikely to get traded
When GM Martin Mayhew was fired, immediately there was speculation that the Lions were positioning themselves to clean house after the season ended. That included the coaching staff and top players like Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford. Some experts felt Stafford was a prime trade candidate, while others said dealing a Pro Bowl quarterback at age 27 was foolhardy. His play in Green Bay reinforced the latter argument.
While not perfect, Stafford was the reason Detroit won the game, keeping them in the lead despite breakdowns on defense and the special teams in the second half. The team cannot abandon him. He still has time to realize his full potential.
Lack of pass rush is draining already limited Packers defense
In trying to assess what is ailing Green Bay, much of the blame should be leveled on the defense. They continue to struggle against the run (116 yards allowed per game) but now are suffering limitations to their pass rush. Despite playing at home against a Lions team that had allowed 22 sacks in the first eight games, they failed to produce any at all.
So far they’ve managed to manufacture pressure (23 sacks). However, since the bye week at the end of October, they have none. That is a serious problem for a team with supposed Super Bowl aspirations.