On Thursday night, the Green Bay Packers faced a crucial test against the Detroit Lions, the NFC North leaders, at Ford Field.
It was a true “contender vs. pretender” matchup, as the Packers sought to prove they could hang with the top team in the NFC.
Although Green Bay ultimately lost in a close 31-34 game, they gave Detroit one of their toughest challenges of the season.
The Lions secured their 12th win thanks to a daring last-minute call by head coach Dan Campbell.
After the game, Packers head coach Matt LeFleur
emphasized that Green Bay would need to “earn the right” to return to Ford Field for a potential postseason meeting, especially if they can make it past the Wild Card round.However, despite the loss, it wasn’t a defeat that left the Packers feeling hopeless.
The team fought hard throughout the game, and with a few fewer mistakes, such as a crucial fumble by wide receiver Christian Watson, the outcome might have been different.
Kenny Clark, the veteran defensive lineman for Green Bay, sent a pointed message to the Lions after the game. Unlike LeFleur, who took a more measured approach, Clark expressed full confidence that the Packers would eventually face Detroit again and would be ready to defeat them when that time came.
His ominous warning to the Lions indicated that Green Bay felt capable of getting another shot at the NFC North leaders.
While Green Bay’s 2023 season has been a mixed bag, there are some encouraging signs for the future.
Aside from their blowout loss to the Lions in November, the Packers have remained competitive in every game.
Their three other defeats have all been by five points or fewer, even as quarterback Jordan Love has dealt with injuries and growing pains in his first season as the starter.
However, one of the concerning trends for Green Bay is that all of their losses have come against strong opponents: the 12-1 Lions twice, the 10-2 Eagles, and the 10-3 Vikings.
This shows that the Packers are struggling against elite teams, which is a worry for their long-term goals, especially if they’re aiming for a Super Bowl.
Their only victory over a team with a winning record was a win over the 8-5 Houston Texans, a team that many believe is not yet ready for a deep playoff run.
Despite these concerns, Packers fans can still find reasons for optimism.
The defense has shown signs of improvement, particularly in stopping the run, and Love’s continued development after a rocky start to the season gives hope for the offense.
His ability to avoid interceptions in recent weeks is another positive sign.
Although Green Bay has yet to prove they can beat the top-tier teams consistently, Thursday’s performance against Detroit shows they’re headed in the right direction.
As the Packers continue to battle through the remainder of the regular season, the potential for a postseason run remains alive.
While they’ll need to clean up mistakes and continue progressing, they are not far from being able to compete with the league’s best.
Thursday night’s game against the Lions was a testament to the team’s resilience, and with some adjustments, the Packers believe they have the potential to turn things around and challenge the top teams in the league.
Daniel Arwas is a sports writer who covers the NFL for Heavy.com.
He started his career in 2022 and has also written about NFL and college football for Gridiron Heroics and The Hammer.