The Detroit Lions are on an extended bye week. After playing an early Sunday game at home in Week 4, Matt Patricia and the Lions get an extra day of rest and preparation before facing the Green Bay Packers on Monday night in Week 6.
It’s eerily similar to the course of events for the San Francisco 49ers, just pushed back one week. And the extra rest on the early bye sure worked well for the Niners.
San Francisco destroyed the Cleveland Browns on Monday night, 31-3. The Browns were coming off a huge win over a quality opponent, winning in Baltimore to take over the division lead. The Lions have a chance to do the exact same thing to the Packers, who bested a good Cowboys team at AT&T Stadium in Week 5 to get back atop the NFC North.
The Lions do have to hit the road for the game, of course. But playing in Green Bay has not been a problem for the Lions of late; it’s been over three calendar years (Sept. 25, 2016) since Detroit lost in Wisconsin.
If the Lions indeed emulate what the 49ers did with their elongated early bye, Detroit will be in first place in the NFC North after six weeks.
