DEEP DIVE

The Green Bay Packers head into Monday Night Football against the Detroit Lions with a 4-1 record, and they currently sit atop the NFC North rankings. Meanwhile, the Lions sit at 2-1-1 and have looked better than many anticipated.

The Packers and Lions are the NFL’s longest continuous rivalry (thanks to the Chicago Bears and Packers not meeting in the strike-shortened 1982 season), having faced off twice a year since 1932.

Despite the fact that Sophie Turner recently claimed herself to be a Chicago Bears fan, if the Queen of the North wanted to be the true Queen of the NFC North she may want to consider bending the knee to Sir Aaron Rodgers, first of his name, discounter of double checks, slayer of Lions and Vikings and Bears.

After the Packers missed the postseason last year, they’re happy to be off to a 4-1 start. However, every team in the NFC North is currently above .500. Tonight’s game against a division rival should help the Packers separate themselves from the group if they can come away with a W.

STOP talking shit about different NFC North teams

The Vikings are STRONG

The Bears are POWERFUL

The Lions

The Packers are EXCITING

— Andrew (@Gucci_Gotch) September 4, 2019

Rumors swirled all offseason of Aaron Rodgers not gelling with new head coach Matt LaFleur, but winning cures all and those stories seem to have quieted. LaFleur has insisted all year that he would operate a Running Back By Committee (RBBC), but injuries forced Aaron Jones into the workhorse role to fantastic results last week against the Dallas Cowboys. Fantasy owners are praying to the fantasy football gods that usage continues into tonight’s game.

The Packers have invested heavily on the defensive side of the ball both in the draft and free agency and that has largely paid off through the first quarter+ of the season as they are currently the #8 ranked defense in terms of total points per game allowed.

The Packers will be without Devonte Adams, as he recovers from a turf toe injury. Now is the time for Marques Valdez-Scantling or Geronimo Allison to curry favor with Rodgers in the effort for a true number two wideout to emerge.

As for the Lions, the second year under Matt Patricia has had mixed results so far. Many expected the Patriot defect to turn his new team into New England Midwest and it has come to fruition to an extent, but not always. Sometimes, the head coach might be wondering why he ever left the comfort of Bill Belichik’s sleeveless hoodied shadow.

The passing game, lead by Kenny Golladay, has resulted in a career-high for Matt Stafford in throws that have traveled at least twenty yards in the air at 22 percent. Kerryon Johnson has also performed admirably as the Lions workhorse back. The Packers have struggled against the run so far this season. Look for the Lions to try and capitalize on that with Johnson. Lion cub TJ Hockenson has cleared the concussion protocol and will look to continue the impressive start to his rookie season.

On the other side of the football, the Lions defense has not met expectations so far this season. Look for Rodgers to show he still has something left in the tank, despite being without his favorite target in Adams.

Thanks to their early success, Lions fans seem to be confident going into tonight’s road match against the Packers.

Other fans understand what’s at stake for this divisional matchup…

Should the Lions pull off the upset on the road tonight at Lambeau Field, these will surely sell out in Detroit.

Meanwhile, the Packers are coming off a win against Dallas and have confidence in their new free agent Linebacker additions in Za’darius Smith and Preston Smith.

Packers fans expect the Lions fans who traveled to the game to look like this most of the night…

Eventually, the Packers fans will have to stop coasting off Aaron Rodgers winning the Super Bowl in 2010, but today is not that day. Today, they remain savage.

The Lions Slayer! from GreenBayPackers

detroit_irl from GreenBayPackers