Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions: Aaron Rodgers Is a Lion Tamer

The Green Bay Packers have faced the Detroit Lions nine times with Aaron Rodgers as their starting quarterback. The Pack has won eight of those games, with the only loss coming after Rodgers suffered a concussion which forced him from the game in 2010 in Detroit.

There is a reason why the Packers beat the Lions so often with Rodgers at quarterback. His performance. Rodgers has thrown 18 touchdown passes, compared to just five interceptions for 2,285 yards in those nine games. That also gives No. 12 a robust quarterback ranking of 111.4 in those contests.

Rodgers has been the Packers starting quarterback since 2008, which is two years after head coach Mike McCarthy came to Green Bay. McCarthy has also been very successful versus the Lions, as he is 13-1 in his career against Detroit.

In 2006 and 2007, which were the first two years with McCarthy as head coach, the Packers were still quarterbacked by Brett Favre. No. 4 fared well against the Lions as well, as he was 23-9 versus the Lions as the signal caller of the Packers in his 16-year Green Bay career, and he never lost to the Lions in Wisconsin in 16 games there.

Favre also beat the Lions twice in the playoffs.

Overall, Favre threw 54 touchdown passes, compared to 37 picks for 8,254 yards. That all added up to a 87.3 quarterback rating.

Those are nice stats, but Rodgers has taken that to a new level against Detroit.

Part of the reason for his success against the Lions is the play of his current receivers on the Packers.

In 2012, wide receiver Randall Cobb had 16 receptions for 176 yards and a touchdown in two games versus Detroit.

In his career against the Lions, wide receiver James Jones has 36 receptions for 510 yards and four touchdowns.

Wide receiver Jordy Nelson has also had some success versus Detroit, as he has 21 receptions for 316 yards and four touchdowns in his career against the Lions.

The wide receivers aren't the only targets who Rodgers likes to utilize against the Lions. Tight end Jermichael Finley has also put up some nice numbers.

In his career versus the Lions, Finley has 28 receptions for 328 yards and four touchdowns.

As you can see, Rodgers likes to spread the wealth around when facing the Lions.

He is also deadly accurate, as he has completed 176 passes in 257 attempts (68.48 completion percentage) in his career versus the Lions.

Rodgers has also hurt the Lions with his legs, as he has rushed for 117 yards in 19 attempts and one touchdown in his career against Detroit.  That touchdown came on a 27-yard scamper last season at Lambeau Field, as the Packers beat the Lions 27-20 on a cold, snowy night in early December.

On Sunday, the Packers and Rodgers will be attempting to beat the Lions for the 22nd straight time in the state of Wisconsin. Based on the great success Rodgers has had being a lion tamer in the nine games he has played against Detroit, odds are strong that the winning streak will continue.