The Green Bay Packers (2-1) and Detroit Lions (2-1) will begin Week 4 in the NFL with a crucial early season battle in the NFC North on “Thursday Night Football.” The winner in primetime will move to 3-1 and sole possession of first place in the division.
Can the Packers build on the momentum created during a dramatic fourth quarter vs. the Saints on Sunday, or will the Lions win a fourth straight game against the Packers?
Buy Packers TicketsHere’s how the staff at Packers Wire believes the Week 4 showdown against the Lions will go down:
Zach Kruse (2-1): Lions 24, Packers 20
The Lions will challenge the Packers in big and important ways. On offense, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs are legitimate playmakers who can stress areas of weakness (slot coverage, run defense), and the Lions offensive line may negate the Packers’ biggest strength (pass-rushing). On defense, the Lions have a game-wrecking pass-rusher (Aidan Hutchinson), a strong run-defending front (allowing 3.2 yards per carry) and an emerging do-everything defender (Brian Branch). The Packers should get back Aaron Jones and Christian Watson, and having the full arsenal of weapons around Jordan Love gives the Packers a real chance to turn this into a shootout of sorts, but I think the Lions will end up being too physical at the line of scrimmage for the young Packers. Considering six of the last eight games between these two teams have been one-score games, I’ll go with the Lions…by four.
Brandon Carwile (2-1): Lions 27, Packers 21
This is a tough Detroit team that will be Green Bay’s most difficult test so far this season. There’s a chance running back Aaron Jones is back in the lineup this week, but he will be greeted by the Lions’ 5th-ranked run defense. With the way the Packers are blocking for their ball carriers right now, they may be forced to air it out, which is perfect timing as wide receiver Christian Watson also hopes to make his return. However, Jordan Love will still be riding high off last week’s comeback and will throw an interception that hurts his team’s chances of winning. The defense will play well for the most part, but Jared Goff will take what they gave him. Green Bay also didn’t fair too well against rookie Bijan Robinson and now they have to find a way to contain Jahmyr Gibbs. It will be an exciting game in primetime, but the Packers lose a close one.
Paul Bretl (2-1): Lions 24, Packers 20
This is a tough matchup for the Packers right now and a big reason why is because of the run game on both sides of the ball. Green Bay has really struggled to find any sort of consistency in the run game and they’re going up against a Lions’ defense that bottled up Bijan Robinson and is allowing just 3.2 yards per carry this season. Not being able to move the ball on the ground will put the passing game in predictable situations against a defensive front that features Aidan Hutchinson while the Packers are dealing with injury unknowns at offensive tackle. On the flip side, the Green Bay defense is going up against a Lions offense that wants to run the ball and has been effective in doing so with Jahmyr Gibbs. I’m not sure over four quarters the Packers can contain that group, which will help set up play-action, where Jared Goff has been very good, especially on downfield throws, and it will give Detroit the opportunity to control the clock.
Brennen Rupp (2-1): Lions 20, Packers 17
Romeo Doubs announced Aaron Jones would be back. Christian Watson said the plan was for him to be out there on Thursday night. Matt LaFleur quickly threw water on that by insisting that both players still needed to be cleared. Even if both players are back, they will more than likely be on a snap count. That could still leave David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, and Jaire Alexander on the sideline for the NFC North tilt. Rasheed Walker has performed admirably during his first two starts at left tackle. The former seventh-round pick may be in for a long evening if Aidan Hutchinson, the reigning NFC Defensive Player of the Week decides to line up across from him all night. Green Bay hasn’t been able to get the ground game going and if Jones isn’t back, AJ Dillon’s showing through three weeks doesn’t inspire much hope that they’ll be able to get it going against a team that just limited Bijan Robinson 33 yards rushing. Give me the Lions winning their fourth straight matchup against the Packers.
Season prediction records
| Writer | Record | Prediction | Score |
| Zach Kruse | 2-1 | Lose | 24-20 |
| Brandon Carwile | 2-1 | Lose | 27-21 |
| Paul Bretl | 2-1 | Lose | 24-20 |
| Brennen Rupp | 2-1 | Lose | 20-17 |
