Penei Sewell must get back on track for Lions after latest Micah Parsons quote

The Detroit Lions felt the full force of the Green Bay Packers' new Micah Parsons-led pass rush in their Week 1 opener, as both quarterback Jared Goff and right tackle Penei Sewell looking nothing like the team who dominated the NFC to the tune of a 15-2 record last campaign.

Instead, the Lions lost 27-13 in a game that was not nearly as close as the scoreline would indicate. Sewell came out as a firm loser in his first post-trade duel against Parsons, as his sack and multiple pressures forced on just 29 snaps showed what a unique talent he is.

Parsons is looking for a new rival after his trade away from the Dallas Cowboys brought an end to his biannual matchups against Philadelphia Eagles great Lane Johnson. Parsons has designated Sewell as the worthy opponent against whom he will continue to sharpen himself.

"I'm not gonna be able to get rid of him," Parsons said after his most recent duel with Sewell. "He's a hell of a player. I told him, I said, 'You're my new rivalry now. I don't got Lane no more. It's gonna be you. I'mma see you twice a year, so you might as well buckle up.'" Sewell can't afford to many repeats of Week 1.

Lions RT Penei Sewell must play better vs. Packers' Micah Parsons

Sewell was uncharactaristically poor against Parsons and the Packers, as Goff's first interception came on a play where Sewell was pushed back into his lap. His low Pro Football Focus grade suggests that Sewell had one of the worst games he's had since his rookie season.

The entire Lions offensive line put together a terrible performance, so much so that it illustrated just how dependent on that line this entire operation is. Jahmyr Gibbs never got out of first gear in this game, and the notoriously immobile Goff was unable to operate with Parsons breathing down his neck.

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Sewell doesn't have very many chances to ease his way back into competency, as the Lions' next two games are against another division rival in Ben Johnson's new-look Chicago Bears and a Baltimore Ravens team that is regarded as elite despite the fact they started the season off with a loss.

Lions fans had better hope that Parsons isn't just Sewell's kryptonite, as there will be plenty of one-on-one matchups that could determine the course of the division in both of their futures.