Which Detroit Lions players are key to a victory over the Green Bay Packers.
The Detroit Lions face their biggest game yet in an NFC bout with the Green Bay Packers. The Packers may or may not be the toughest team they’ve played yet, but there’s little doubt that the stakes are the highest they’ve been this season. The Lions, at 11-1 on the season, are somehow clinging to just a one-game lead in the NFC North over the 10-2 Minnesota Vikings. The Packers are right there, too, riding a four-game winning streak and holding strong at 9-3 overall.
If the Lions beat the Packers on Thursday night, it basically makes it a two-team race in the division. If they lose to Green Bay, it’s up for grabs for anyone.
Detroit heads into the game beat up badly on defense. Four major contributors from last week’s game—DJ Reader, Josh Paschal, Levi Onwuzurike, and Malcolm Rodriguez—are not expected to play this week, and that’s on top of already missing Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, Alex Anzalone, and Derrick Barnes.
So it will take a herculean effort from Detroit’s supporting cast to pick up the big Thursday night win. Today’s Question of the Day is:
Which Lions player is key to beating the Packers?
My answer: I think it’s on Alim McNeill to have the best game of his career. The interior of Green Bay’s offensive line is the weakest part of their offense, yet the Packers have been relying heavily on Josh Jacobs as the centerpiece of what they do. With DJ Reader’s status still up in the air, its entirely possible McNeill is going to face a heavy percentage of double teams in this game. While it would be nice to rely upon some of the depth pieces to take advantage of those matchups, the Lions are simply too shorthanded to rely on those reserves. They need McNeill to play like an elite interior defender capable of eating and beating double teams.
Additionally, given that the Packers’ offensive tackles are strong pass protectors—and the Lions are shorthanded on the edge—it’ll also be on McNeill to make Jordan Love uncomfortable in the pocket.
I understand that’s all a lot to ask of McNeill, but desperate time call for heroic performances, and McNeill is capable.
Which Lions player do you think is key to a victory over the Packers? Scroll down to the comment section and let us know.
