Lions CB Darius Slay Key vs. Packers' Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson

The Detroit Lions must know that finally winning the NFC North will likely require beating a healthy Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. 

Week 3 of the young 2014 season provides that opportunity. 

The numbers and results between the two clubs are staggeringly one-sided when Rodgers starts and finishes the contest. The Packers have averaged 29.7 points over the nine games, with Rodgers throwing 19 touchdown passes against just four interceptions. Most importantly, Green Bay has a perfect 9-0 record. 

Detroit's only two wins versus the Packers since 2006 have come when Rodgers left in the first half of a 2010 contest due to a concussion and last year with Rodgers still nursing his fractured collarbone. 

Expect emerging cornerback Darius Slay, the Lions' second-round pick in 2013, to have a big say in whether Detroit can finally get over the hump and beat Rodgers on Sunday. He'll see plenty of ultraproductive receiver Jordy Nelson, who leads the NFL in targets (30) and receiving yards (292) after two weeks. 

His importance to the game's outcome is magnified by Detroit's injury situation in the secondary.

Slay will need to hold together a cornerback group featuring only three healthy players and newcomer Danny Gorrer, who was signed this week after the Lions learned rookie Nevin Lawson (toes) would join nickelback Bill Bentley (torn ACL) on season-ending injured reserve. 

"I'm just going to continue to do what I've been doing, keep working," Slay said Wednesday, via the team's official site. "Doing my job, and that's defend whoever is in front of me."

Like all great cornerbacks, confidence pours out of Slay. And he has good reason for belief early on; his impressive physical skills are finally translating over to results on the field. 

At the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine, Slay ran the 40-yard dash in a blazing 4.36 seconds, which ranked as the fastest time at his position and fifth fastest overall. Among cornerbacks, only Josh Robinson (4.33 in 2012) has run a faster time in Indianapolis over the last three years. Slay also stands 6'0" tall, with 32.25" arms. 

His speed and length have helped place him among the best young cornerbacks of the early 2014 season. 

	Rec/Target	Yrds	YAC	PD	Rating
vs. NYG	3/8	14	4	2	45.8
at CAR	3/7	42	6	1	62.8
TOTAL	6/15	56	10	3	51.0

According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), opposing quarterbacks—in this case, Eli Manning and Cam Newton—have so far targeted Slay 15 times, completing just six passes for 56 yards and zero touchdowns. He has allowed just 10 yards after the catch, defensed three passes and committed a single penalty. 

His coverage grade at PFF (plus-2.9) ranks ninth among cornerbacks this season. He is also second in passes defensed (three) and seventh in completion percentage against (40.0). Among cornerbacks with at least 10 targets, he is 11th in opposing passer rating (51.0).

Slay has been especially impressive covering down the field. 

In his first game in the offense of former Packers assistant Ben McAdoo, Manning tested Slay on vertical routes twice, but neither was completed. The Giants continued to go after the second-year corner, but Slay's longest completion allowed in the opener was just nine yards. 

Last week, Newton missed on his only deep attempt against Slay, who ran stride for stride with Jason Avant down the far sidelines on third down. His biggest mistake came in the fourth quarter, when Avant got him turned around on another third-down play. The completion moved the chains and led to Carolina's final touchdown. 

Slay can't afford many mistakes Sunday, especially against Nelson. 

	Rec/Target	Yards	YAC	TD
at SEA	9/14	83	25	0
vs. NYJ	9/16	209	87	1
TOTALs	18/30	292	112	1

Through two weeks, Nelson is on pace for 144 receptions, 240 targets and 2,336 yards. Such a projection will be impossible to sustain, but it does highlight both his individual production early on and the trust Rodgers continues to have in his No. 1 receiver. 

Nelson is currently ranked first in receptions (18), yards (292) and first downs (13). He is second in yards after the catch (112) and fourth in missed tackles forced (three). His three receptions over 20 yards rank seventh. 

"Great receiver, top five on my list," Slay said of Nelson. "Great ball skills deep down the field. Good jump-ball guy. He can change the game real quick. Anytime Aaron is scrambling around, that's his target guy. He trusts him a lot."

Nelson's 209-yard performance against the New York Jets in Week 2 gave him 14 career games with at least 100 yards. The Packers are now 12-2 in those games. Green Bay is also 7-0 when Nelson catches two or more touchdown passes. 

Bottom line: When the Rodgers-to-Nelson connection is on, the Packers are nearly impossible to beat.  

Slay will be tasked with keeping Nelson under wraps Sunday. It will be a new challenge, as he did not face Nelson on a single-coverage snap over two games against the Packers last season. 

How he handles the opportunity could swing the game either way. 

If he can limit the production of one of the game's best quarterback-receiver combinations, the Lions will have a good chance of both beating a healthy Rodgers for the first time and gaining an early foothold in the division race. If Rodgers and Nelson pick on the young but confident corner, the Detroit defense could be in for a long afternoon.

Slay versus Nelson: a battle of talented youth versus reliable production. Game on. 

Zach Kruse covers the NFC North for Bleacher Report. 

Follow @zachkruse2