Lions must exploit this one Packers weakness from 2024 to dominate Week 1

The Detroit Lions play football in two days. The Super Bowl quest is about to get underway yet again, and the team feels more cohesive than ever before thanks to some major continuity on offense and a healthy defense set to dominate yet again in 2025.

Of course, the Lions are suddenly in a competitive division against the Green Bay Packers. The team just agreed to a major trade and extension for Micah Parsons, one of the NFL's best pass rushers. The two teams are clashing in Week 1, too, adding a lot more suspense to the result of a game that could end up having postseason implications down the road.

Tim Twentyman, the Lions' team reporter, took a dive into the numbers that defined these two teams last season. In that deep dive. Twentyman made an interesting note of one area where Green Bay truly struggled against Detroit in 2024: in third down situations.

"Detroit swept the series against the Packers last season in large part because they were dominant on third down. Green Bay out-gained Detroit 411 yards to 261 in the first matchup in Green Bay Week 7 but were just 3-for-12 of third down, 1-for-4 in the red zone and had an interception by Kerby Joseph returned for a touchdown. Detroit won 24-14."

"The Lions won the second matchup on Thanksgiving at Ford Field in a shootout, 34-31. Detroit had 391 yards of offense to Green Bay's 298. Both teams were really good in the red zone going 4-for-5. The biggest difference in the contest was Detroit going 7-for-15 on third down and 4-for-5 on fourth down while the Packers were just 1-for-5 on third down."

Lions have to attack Packers in the trenches

These situations in which iron sharpens iron are where the Lions thrived - which shouldn't be shocking, considering the head coach and the then-defensive coordinator for the team. Of course, personnel-wise, nothing's changed all that much for the Lions' defense as we careen towards another showdown with the Packers.

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They have Joseph, Brian Branch, Terrion Arnold, and D.J. Reed in the fold, in addition to Amik Robertson and their rock solid linebacker duo of Alex Anzalone and Jack Campbell. The defensive line has also been fortified again with the return of Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport, and that's where nitty-gritty third down conversions take place, in the trenches.

If Detroit can manage to take advantage of Green Bay's lack of proven playmaking in the air headed into this contest, especially in these third down situations, then it's feasible for them to steal one on the road to kick off their year. Momentum is also always decided on these plays, and the Lions' defense can get a major boost there if they manage to keep the Packers in check on those clutch attempts.