Detroit Lions-Green Bay Packers Preview: To Know the Enemy, Ask a Packers FC

The Detroit Lions-Green Bay Packers game is approaching (whether Lions fans like it or not), and most people on both sides know what to expect.

It's going to be Aaron Rodgers and a good receiving corps against the Lions' above-average pass rush and below-average secondary.

But that's just me. I know the Lions a lot better than I know the Packers, so why not fill in the gaps in my knowledge with someone who knows the Packers a lot better than the Lions?

In that spirit, Packers Featured Columnist Zach Kruse and I exchanged a list of five questions about the other's team.

Kruse, as you'll see below, is a fan and writer who gets it. He's confident about his team, yet understands that the Lions are not just "the Lions."

Below are his answers to my five questions.

Check out my answers to his five questions here.

Dean Holden: The Packers and Lions played an ugly, mistake-ridden game at Lambeau Field last year, in which the Packers came out on top with a sloppy-but-dominant 26-0 win. This year, the Lions are facing many of the same injury concerns as last year, and the Packers are coming off a game in which mistakes and penalties were a theme. What are the odds we’re looking at another game in which neither team comes out feeling very good about itself?

Zach Kruse: If you had asked me this two weeks ago, I would have said the odds were fairly low. The Packers had only committed eight penalties in the first two games, and I had thought that they had exorcised their penalties demon from a year ago.

Then Monday night happened—18 penalties and numerous mistakes that made even the calmest Packers’ fans want to bang their head on the wall in disgust.

That said, I’m going to say the chances of that repeating are still fairly low. I think you’re going to see a very motivated and refocused Packers’ team Sunday, and that might mean trouble for the Lions.

However, I think Detroit is coming off a very respectable loss in Minnesota. I thought if you took away a few mistakes from the Lions—namely the two red zone interceptions and the fumbled punt return—Detroit has a solid chance of beating the Vikings in the Metrodome.

A loss is a loss, but it’s clear the Lions are making progress. If they can have a similar performance Sunday at Lambeau Field, and stay in the game for 60 minutes, the Lions and Packers can both come out of the game feeling pretty good about their respective teams.

DH: Last year, the Lions were able to get to Aaron Rodgers with great consistency, with six sacks in two games. This year, the Lions are averaging just under three sacks a game, while the Packers have given up three all season. So who has more to prove, the Packers’ improved O-line, or the Lions’ improved D-line?

ZK: I think the Packers offensive line still has a lot to prove. The three sacks the Packers have allowed is a misleading stat, as the offensive line still has yet to put together a good performance over 60 minutes.

While Chicago didn’t register a sack Monday night, they still drew numerous holding and false start penalties against the Packers’ offensive line. Three separate times a holding call in Chicago territory either eliminated points or put the Packers in long yardage situations.

To be honest, this is still a unit that gave up 50 sacks a year ago. They have a lot to prove before anybody starts forgetting that.

And really I think the Lions defensive line has proved a lot already. With all the talent they brought in, you knew they were going to be significantly better. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Lions’ defensive line recorded two or three sacks Sunday.

DH: With Ryan Grant out for the season, who is the running back the Lions should be most cautious of coming into Lambeau?

ZK: By default, the Packers running back that will get the most touches should be Brandon Jackson. He’ll split carries with converted fullback John Kuhn, but Jackson will get the opportunity to catch four or five passes out of the backfield in the Packers’ pass heavy attack.

Jackson has had success in the past against Detroit, too. In week 17 last year, Jackson rushed for over 100 yards in mop up duty for Ryan Grant. In all reality, however, don’t expect any Packers’ rusher to reach 100 yards Sunday.

Don’t sleep on Kuhn though. He’s not going to run away from anyone, but he knows how to find a hole and he’s a load to bring down for any defender.

DH: There has been lots of talk about the Lions needing to open up the playbook and take more shots downfield. How vulnerable is the Packers’ secondary right now with Atari Bigby and Al Harris on the PUP list, and Charles Woodson and Nick Collins battling lingering injuries?

ZK: The Packers’ secondary has played well despite the injuries. It looks like Collins will be able to play and Woodson has been battling a toe injury for two years now, so I wouldn’t expect any decrease in play from those two.

When the Packers get in trouble in the secondary, it’s usually when quarterbacks have ample time in the pocket. The only times Cutler really hurt the Packers was when he had time to let his receivers get open downfield. The Packers’ have been able to apply sufficient pressure for most of the season to help cover up any deficiency in the secondary.

But don’t overlook the fact that the Packers have two rookies playing significant roles in their secondary.

In my opinion, Morgan Burnett and Sam Shields haven’t been picked on as much as I thought they would be going into the season. If the Lions can create one-on-one opportunities against Shields and Burnett, I think Detroit could have some success throwing the ball downfield against Green Bay.

That’s where Calvin Johnson could play a huge role. In five career games against the Packers (he sat out last years 26-0 loss at Lambeau), Johnson has 28 catches for 378 yards and six touchdowns. He always seems to burn the Packers.

DH: Five Lions starters are missing practice this week with varying levels of injury. Some will play, some won’t. Of Matthew Stafford, Jahvid Best, Nate Burleson, Louis Delmas, and DeAndre Levy, who would you LEAST like to see taking the field against your Packers this weekend?

ZK: I’m glad Matthew Stafford won’t be playing. After last week, I’d be considerably more worried about this game if Stafford was suiting up Sunday. I think Stafford is going to be a really good quarterback when and if he can stay on the field.

And to be fair, I think it’s almost impossible to grade out the Lions improvement without him playing full time. He’s the franchise quarterback, and everything the Lions have built is to surround him.

Shaun Hill is a fine replacement—probably the best backup in the division. But the Lions talent level takes an obvious hit when he’s playing instead of Stafford.

Really it’s a shame he’s not playing Sunday. However, something tells me that Stafford and Aaron Rodgers will have plenty of battles over their respective careers in the NFC North.

Read more about the Packers from Zach Kruse here.