Why one potential advantage for the Packers against the Lions likely won't be an advantage at all
There's one potential advantage the Green Bay Packers could have on Sunday night against the Detroit Lions that might not be an advantage at all. If the Seattle Seahawks beat the Los Angeles Rams earlier on Sunday, the Lions will be eliminated from the playoffs. That would mean that Sunday night's game between the Lions […]
There's one potential advantage the Green Bay Packers could have on Sunday night against the Detroit Lions that might not be an advantage at all.
If the Seattle Seahawks beat the Los Angeles Rams earlier on Sunday, the Lions will be eliminated from the playoffs.
That would mean that Sunday night's game between the Lions and the Packers wouldn't be a "winner gets in" game. Detroit would no longer be playing for a playoff spot. So in theory, they wouldn't be as motivated to beat the Packers (Green Bay is in the playoffs with a win).
Good for Green Bay, right?
Well, not necessarily.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell made it clear this week that he doesn't care if Detroit is competing for a playoff spot — he's playing to win no matter what.
And while he'll be disappointed if the Lions don't make the playoffs, he'll take a lot of pride in playing spoiler and keeping Green Bay out of the playoffs.
"Either we’re playing to get in or we’re playing to be spoiler, and that’s it," said Campbell this week (via The Detroit Free Press). "So either way, we win."
This shouldn't come as a surprise. Campbell is a fierce competitor and that's the main reason his team is in a position to possibly make the playoff this week after a 1-6 start to the 2022 season.
But he'll be going up against one of the fiercest competitors of all time in Aaron Rodgers on Sunday night. And while I'm sure the Packers would love to play an uninspired Lions team, they'll be ready to go regardless of who's lining up against them on Sunday night in Green Bay.
Featured image via USA TODAY Sports
