By Charlie Portelli
The Lions
have opened the 2013 season in impressive fashion and will look to keep it
rolling into week 5. There the problem lies; a trip to illustrious Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers who are coming off a bye week. While the
Lions have looked like an NFL team capable of making the playoffs thus far, the
true test for them will be this Sunday in Green Bay where they will ultimately
fall short.
Every NFL
team struggles at Lambeau because it is simply one of the toughest places to
play for a road team in all of sports, but the Lions have taken those struggles
to a whole new level losing their last 22 contests there. To make matters
worse, the Packers are in desperation mode early sitting at 1-2 staring up at
the Bears and Lions who are both 3-1. Also, since taking over the Packers in
2006, Mike McCarthy has led his team to a 6-1 record following a bye week.
The Lions have themselves in a nice spot to grab an early stranglehold on the division should they defeat the Packers. They are already 2-0 in the division with wins over the Vikings and Bears at home. The offensive line has been much better than expected with both tackles and the right guard as first time starters in this league. The Lions should be able to move the ball on the weak Packers defense and if Reggie Bush is running through huge holes untouched for 7-8 yards like he was last week, the road victory is plausible.
The thing
is Aaron Rodgers is not going to let that happen. He is perhaps the most dangerous
quarterback in the league and can make you pay in so many ways. He is also
unfazed by pressure and is annually among the league leaders in passer rating
against the blitz. The Packers have been chomping at the bit to get back to
Lambeau field and continue their winning ways after blowing a three score lead at Cincinnati
two weeks ago. They get a team in the Lions coming off of an emotional high
following their win over the Bears last week, primed for a letdown.
In a quarterback and head coach driven league, the Packers have a huge edge in both.
In a quarterback and head coach driven league, the Packers have a huge edge in both.
Packers win, 34-24.
As legitimate as I believe the Lions are right now, I also don't think they can pull it out at Lambeau. The Packers are 1-2 and coming off a bye week, so they are borderline desperate at this point and this is a must-win for them.
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