4 Lions that can have the most success against the Packers
There's nothing like that Week 12 turnaround. I feel like we just got done watching the Detroit Lions comeback win over the Bears and now we're about to watch them take on the Packers on Thanksgiving day. Life comes at you pretty fast in the NFL. As we've been doing for the past weeks, it's […]
There's nothing like that Week 12 turnaround. I feel like we just got done watching the Detroit Lions comeback win over the Bears and now we're about to watch them take on the Packers on Thanksgiving day. Life comes at you pretty fast in the NFL.
As we've been doing for the past weeks, it's time to dive deep into the stats and analytics and try to predict which four Lions could have the biggest days. Lets start on the defense.
Aidan Hutchinson
Hutchinson sure found the best way to get to the quarterback last week didn’t he? A sack fumble to end the game was huge. I think things are lined up for him to have a bigger day against the Packers for multiple reasons.
The first one is kind of simple. The Packers are banged up at running back. Both Aaron Jones and Emmanuel Wilson are not going to play and A.J. Dillon has been limited in practice all week. This could cause the Packers offense to be a little one dimensional on Thursday. Thus giving Hutchinson more chances.
He should succeed in those chances because the Packers offensive line has really struggled lately. Jordan Love has been sacked 12 times in the last four games alone.
Packers right tackle Zach Tom will give him some trouble, but Hutchinson should be able to take advantage of an otherwise suddenly susceptible offensive line. Hutchinson also put a sack and a half and three quarterback hits on Love in the teams first meeting back in September.
Jahmyr Gibbs
Jahmyr Gibbs wasn't really Jahmyr Gibbs the last time the Lions played the Packers. We were still very much living in that world where fantasy footballers were complaining about his usage on a daily basis. David Montgomery had a big game last time with 121 yards and three touchdowns. I'm not saying he can't have another big day, but I think the Packers run defense could have a bigger issue with Gibbs.
The Packers are allowing 134.7 rushing yards per game this season and the bulk of the touchdowns they've allowed have been on the ground as well. That's not the reason why I say this though. The reason is because the Packers have allowed a lot of explosive plays on the ground.
The Packers have allowed 32 runs that have gone over 10 yards this season. That's the fifth most in the NFL.
You can see that for comparison sake, the Lions only have 12. Jahmyr Gibbs has been a big play machine once the Lions started utilizing him more often. In the past four games he's had one carry a game that's gone for 14 or more yards. He's a had a carry a game that's gone for 20 or more yards in three of those games. He should be able to have another one or two against the Packers.
Penei Sewell
Sewell has been incredible all season long and that should continue against the Packers on Thursday for multiple reasons. The Packers aren’t getting home a ton. They’re blitzing a lot and they’re getting hurries, but they’re just not getting home a lot. The Packers now have to face the best offensive line in the game after a few consecutive weeks of facing middling to low ranked lines.
Sewell stands out becasue he hasn't allowed a sack yet and he had one of his best pass blocking days of the season against the Packers in the teams first meeting. Sewell graded out at 80.4 in pass blocking that day. That's his third highest pass blocking grade of the season.
Kalif Raymond
That’s right. But it’s not where you think. It’s not on offense, its on special teams where the Packers are allowing 13.3 yards per punt return. That’s third in the league. Lions head coach Dan Campbell talked about how Raymond is so close to breaking one not long ago. Raymond could have a shot here.
The Lions might also want to put him out there on kick return where the Packers have allowed the fourth most yards in the NFL.
Raymond might not break one for a touchdown, but the Lions should at least win the field position game because of Raymond and the Packers special teams unit.
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