Sports Take

Green Bay Packers made a statement to the rest of the NFC North, if not the entire NFL despite the average performance throwing the ball by Jordan Love, going 16/22 and 188 yards passing adding on 2 touchdowns, and less than expected run game by Josh Jacobs (66yds on 19 carries). Packers defense was the story bar none, holding the Lions passing attack to 225 yards while only giving up 13 points, with the only touchdown given up when the game was already essentially decided. Picking up 4 sacks including the first sack for the new man Micah Parsons. The more impressive stats come by way of stopping the run, giving up just 2.1 yards per carry. With the Lions averaging 409 yards per game last season, the Packers limited them to 246 total yards. Defense wins championships, the issue for the Packers is the ability to continue holding the ball and extending drives after picking up 14 first downs and having a 40% success rate on third downs.

Total plays were lopsided to the Lions 65-47, truly to only reason the Packers won this game was a combination of the defense playing well, and the Lions offense working out kinks with a new offensive coordinator. However the old cliche is valid for a reason, defense wins championships. It’s pretty obvious you’ll win more games if you don’t let them score.

If the Packers are able to fix the offense, and become a dynamic team with dangerous passing attack and devastating run game, there’s a chance of a reemergence of Titletown in February.