Packers-Lions Preview

SCOUTING REPORT

Lions dangerous, but Packers have too many weaponsIf the Lions have serious intentions of making a run at the playoffs this season, they can't afford a loss that would leave them two games behind the Packers in the NFC North. Numerous offseason additions to Detroit's defense were expected to enhance the scheme and increase the unit's overall level of talent. But the Lions were porous last week, allowing Falcons RB Michael Turner to crack the 200-yard rushing mark while nearly giving up a 100-yard game to backup RB Jerious Norwood. Coach Rod Marinelli needs to get his crew fired up for the home opener against a Green Bay club that's coming off a short rest after a physical game against Minnesota.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
GNB	6-10	419	380	4-4	2-6	4-2	5-7
DET	0-16	268	517	0-8	0-8	0-6	0-12
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Green Bay Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Rodger... 64.7 4434 30 7 Flynn 58.3 58 0 1

Detroit Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Staffo... 53.3 2267 13 20 Culpep... 56.7 945 3 6

Green Bay Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Grant 282 1253 4.4 11 Rodger... 58 316 5.4 5

Detroit Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Smith 217 747 3.4 4 Morris 93 384 4.1 2

Green Bay Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Jennin... 68 1113 16.4 4 Driver 70 1061 15.2 6

Detroit Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Johnso... 67 984 14.7 5 Johnso... 35 417 11.9 3

Full Player Stats: Green Bay | Detroit

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	GNB	351.0
	DET	268.0
Yards Passing	GNB	238.3
	DET	185.0
Yards Rushing	GNB	112.8
	DET	83.3
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	GNB	334.3
	DET	404.4
Pass Yds Allowed	GNB	202.8
	DET	232.3
Rush Yds Allowed	GNB	131.6
	DET	172.1

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Green Bay leads 14-2
Dec 30, 2007	GNB 34, @DET 13
Nov 22, 2007	GNB 37, DET 26
Dec 17, 2006	GNB 17, @DET 9
Sep 24, 2006	GNB 31, DET 24
Dec 11, 2005	GNB 16, @DET 13
Sep 11, 2005	GNB 3, DET 17
Dec 12, 2004	GNB 16, @DET 13
Oct 17, 2004	GNB 38, DET 10
Nov 27, 2003	GNB 14, DET 22
Sep 14, 2003	GNB 31, @DET 6
Nov 10, 2002	GNB 40, @DET 14
Sep 22, 2002	GNB 37, DET 31
Nov 22, 2001	GNB 29, DET 27
Sep 9, 2001	GNB 28, @DET 6

The spotlight was on Aaron Rodgers at Lambeau Field on Monday night, and the quarterback delivered a win for the Green Bay Packers in his first career start.

If the Detroit Lions play defense like they did in their opener, Rodgers may not have too much trouble with an encore.

The Packers try to continue their recent domination of their NFC North rivals when they visit Ford Field on Sunday, with an eye on exploiting a Lions defense that allowed more than 300 rushing yards in Week 1.

Rodgers became the first quarterback other than Brett Favre to start a game for Green Bay since 1992 on Monday night, and had plenty of eyes on him after the Packers dealt Favre to the New York Jets this summer to make good on their commitment to Rodgers.

The first-round pick out of California in 2005 went 18-of-22 for 178 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 35 yards and another score -- following that one up with his first Lambeau Leap. He didn't turn the ball over as the Packers opened their season with a 24-19 win over Minnesota, beginning to answer questions about whether they could duplicate last year's 13-3 record with a different quarterback at the helm.

"It's just important for him to focus on playing football, because of the landscape that's been created here with his opportunity to play quarterback now for the Packers," coach Mike McCarthy said. "We're aware of it. I can't say it enough. Aaron, really our whole football team, we just need to stay focused on what we can control, and that's our next opponent."

It wouldn't be surprising if they found it easy to control the Lions based on Detroit's performance at Atlanta on Sunday.

Playing against a rookie quarterback in Matt Ryan and a first-time NFL head coach in Mike Smith, the Lions fell behind 21-0 in the first quarter and eventually gave up a franchise-record 220 yards rushing to the Falcons' Michael Turner.

Atlanta rolled up 318 yards on the ground, making it look like not much has changed for a Lions defense that gave up a league-worst 27.8 points and 393.6 yards per game last year.

"It happened," Lions coach Rod Marinelli said, "and it was bad."

Green Bay has made a habit of exposing Detroit's defense in recent years, winning five straight and 13 of the last 15 against the Lions. The Packers totaled 71 points in two meetings last season, racking up 481 total yards during a 37-26 win at Ford Field on Thanksgiving Day.

They're hoping their rushing attack will be at full strength Sunday, even though they'll be playing on the road after a short week. Ryan Grant had 12 carries for 92 yards against the Vikings, but was dealing with a sore hamstring and may be limited again this weekend.

"It's just something that we're being cautious with," McCarthy said. "It's unfortunate for him. I know he's a little frustrated with it, but he was not at full strength."

Another problem for Green Bay on Monday was penalties. The Packers had 12 infractions that cost them a Week 1-high 118 yards -- not a good sign for a team that was penalized for 1,006 yards last season, second-most in the league.

"We were sloppy," right tackle Mark Tauscher said. "It's kind of a first game, you're playing a lot more. I think we weren't very fundamentally sound, obviously. When you get that many penalties, from a fundamental standpoint, we weren't as sound as we needed to be."

Penalties didn't hamper the Lions in their opener, but they have plenty of other issues. In addition to the defensive woes, they managed just 62 rushing yards of their own and allowed three sacks of Jon Kitna.

Rudi Johnson's role in the backfield could increase in his second week with the Lions, losers of eight of their last nine games.

"You just have to hang tough," Marinelli said. "We are what we believe we are and I've got a great belief in this team, a very strong belief in this team. We'll pull together, hang together, and we're going to come out fighting."

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