Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions: Breaking Down Detroit's Game Plan

First place in the NFC North is on the line when the Green Bay Packers visit Ford Field to face the Detroit Lions. 

What: Green Bay (1-1) at Detroit (1-1)

When: Sunday, September 21, 1 p.m. ET

Watch: Fox, Kevin Burkhardt and John Lynch with the call

When these two teams last met, the Lions feasted on a depleted Packers squad on Thanksgiving. Detroit won 40-10 in a game Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers and dynamic wideout Randall Cobb both missed with injuries. 

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

It's tough to glean much from that game, and it's also difficult to strip much from the earlier meeting in Green Bay last year. The Packers won that game 22-9 as the Lions offense ground to a halt without Calvin Johnson. 

Rodgers and Johnson are both active participants in this one, so both teams will have their offensive catalysts. 

This is a very important game for Detroit. If the Lions hope to dethrone the Packers as division champs, they must take care of business at home.

Here's how the two teams rank in terms of yardage:

	Rush	Pass	Run D	Pass D
Lions	28th	4th	2nd	9th
Packers	26th	13th	31st	6th

That chart reveals one of Detroit's keys to victory. 

Run and Run Some More

Detroit's rushing offense has not impressed in the early going. Gaining just three yards per carry in the first two games ranks the Lions 29th in that metric and 28th overall in yards. 

Despite that relative lack of success, they must attack Green Bay's porous run defense. 

The Packers have allowed eight runs of more than 10 yards, twice as many as the Lions. Going back to last season, the Packers ranked 30th in surrendering those big play runs, per Sporting Charts. 

The Lions offensive line is coming off a subpar game against a very good Carolina front seven, but Detroit has a great chance at redemption this week. Green Bay has just two run stuffs, which Sporting Charts defines as attempts terminated behind the line of scrimmage. 

The Packers' anemic defensive line is quite exploitable. In watching their games against the Seattle Seahawks and the New York Jets, the front line (primarily three, but the Packers use a variety of fronts) is routinely moved backward. 

It is also vulnerable to being spread out. Here's a play from the Jets game where New York took advantage of the Packers defense inexplicably creating too much space to run. 

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

It's 3rd-and-2, but the Jets opt to use 11 personnel to force the Packers into a nickel package. There are just two-down linemen in the game, and the outside linebackers are playing the 8-technique, with their inside shoulder on the outside shoulder of the formation. Note how deep the safety is to the left of the formation, as well as the six yards the inside backers are allowing as a cushion.

The Jets have six blockers to handle the six-man front and only need two yards. Because of the gaping line splits, this is easy sledding for running back Bilal Powell.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

Even though the center whiffs on his block to his immediate right, there is still a huge running lane right up the middle. A crushing block by pulling right guard Willie Colon, coupled with an excellent second-level block by left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson (No. 60), clears open one of the biggest holes you'll ever see at the NFL level. 

Powell gets tripped up by the first man to touch him but still gains 11 easy yards. If he makes the first man miss, something both Reggie Bush and Joique Bell excel at for Detroit, he's doubling that total at minimum. 

The Lions must make the Packers pay for their ponderous defensive alignments and inability to hold the line of scrimmage. 

Stop the Intermediate Attack

It's a real challenge to shut down Rodgers and the prolific Green Bay passing attack. He's one of the most talented players in the league regardless of position, and his confidence and precision have often proved lethal to the Lions. 

Rodgers is 9-1 in his starts versus Detroit, with a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 19-5. 

However, a look at his passing chart in the first two games reveals some blueprint for how to limit his effectiveness. 

Credit: Jeff Risdon

Most of his success comes in the intermediate passing game, throws between 10 and 19 yards. He has not found success throwing deep.

Given Detroit's depth issues in the secondary, one of the best ways to combat targets in this area is to drop linebackers deeper while also bringing safeties up a couple of steps. 

The Lions pass rush plays a part in this too. If the front can generate pressure to keep Rodgers from having time to challenge the corners deep, the safeties will have more opportunities to cheat into that range where Rodgers clearly loves to throw. 

Preventing the receivers from turning the inevitable catches in that range into bigger plays is also paramount. The Jets found that out the hard way, thanks to Jordy Nelson on his magnificent 80-yard, game-winning touchdown last week. 

It's not easy to take Rodgers out of his comfort zone, but given how little success Detroit has had in past years it's worth a shot to mix things up a bit. 

Special Teams Must be Special

Poor special teams cannot take all the blame for last week's misery, but it certainly contributed to Detroit's dismal performance in Carolina. 

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

Rookie kicker Nate Freese missed two first-half field goals, both from 49 yards. The second attempt wasn't even close. Instead of heading to halftime tied, Detroit trailed. There was tangible frustration from the offensive players in coming up empty on otherwise impressive drives. 

The errant kicker wasn't the only problem. Return man Jeremy Ross got one opportunity to run back a kickoff. After spurting out for 33 great yards, he fumbled, and Carolina recovered. Even more ignominious: Carolina Panthers kicker Graham Gano recovered the fumble.  

Freese somehow remains the kicker, though he's on very thin ice. Detroit brought in several veterans to work out this week, but coach Jim Caldwell is standing by the shaky seventh-round pick...for now.

"

Looks like Freese gets a shot Sun. Team has a list if they need it. @JLasiewicki: @ttwentyman Are the Lions any closer to a Kicker decision?

— Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) September 17, 2014"

The hope is that Freese will respond to the pressure and find his range once again. He started training camp poorly before proving to be quite effective in preseason games, which does lend some optimism. 

Ross will likely find little room to run. Green Bay has allowed just 14 yards on five punt returns this season. By comparison, the Lions have surrendered 38 yards on just four returns off punter Sam Martin's leg. 

New addition Danny Gorrer could provide a spark. Signed to replace Nevin Lawson, who was injured on punt coverage last week, Gorrer is most familiar to Detroit fans for his work on special teams:

"

It gets worse at Ford Field, as Bucs Danny Gorrer blocks punt. Bucs first and 10 at Detroit's 11. #Lions

— Paula Pasche (@paulapasche) November 24, 2013"

Perhaps he will make a mark with his new team in a similar manner. The Lions need to find sparks wherever they can to handle the dangerous Packers. 

All statistics are from NFL.com unless otherwise noted.